Math 211

• Classes: Tue,Thu; 2:00--3:15. Classes start Tue Jan 22.
• Location: Mathematical Sciences Building, M-315.
• Office Hours: Tue, Thu; 12:30--1:30.
• Exams:
• The final will be held in MSB315 on Wed May 7th at 3:30 to 5:30PM (practice questions).
• The first midterm is tentatively scheduled for Thu Feb 28 (practice questions).
• The second midterm exam will be on Thu Apr 3rd (practice questions).
  
• Homework: Will be set once a week on Thursday -- to be handed in the following Thursday.
• Syllabus:
• Textbook: Differential Equations, third edition; by Blanchard, Devaney and Hall.
• Outline: The purpose of this course is to develop the basic theory of differential equations and apply this to some examples drawn from physics and elsewhere. You will learn methods for finding exact solutions to certain specific types of differential equation as well techniques to describe the behaviour of solutions to differential equations for which explicit formulae are difficult or impossible to find. The topics that I intend to cover are:
• 1.1 Modelling via differential equations
• 1.2 Analytic technique: separation of variables
• 1.3 Qualitative technique: slope fields
• 1.4 Numerical technique: Euler's method
• 1.5 Existence and uniqueness of solutions
• 1.6 Equilibria and the phase line
• 1.7 Bifurcations
• 1.8 Linear equations
• 1.9 Integrating factors for linear equations
• 2.1 Modelling via systems
• 2.2 The geometry of systems
• 2.3 Analytic methods for special systems
• 2.4 Euler's method for systems
• 3.1 Properties of linear systems and the linearity principle
• 3.2 Straight-line solutions
• 3.3 Phase planes for linear systems with real eigenvalues
• 3.4 Complex eigenvalues
• 3.5 Special cases: repeated and zero eigenvalues
• 3.6 Second order linear equations
• 5.1 Equilibrium point analysis
• 6.1 Laplace transforms
• 6.2 Discontinuous functions
• 6.3 Second-order equations
• Note: This syllabus may be subject to modest alterations in content as the semester progresses.
• Assesment:
• Homework assignments will contribute to 10% of your grade. It is important that you hand them in on time.
• There will be two mid-sessional exams. The first will be worth 20% and the second will be worth 30%.
• There will be a final exam, which will be worth 40%.
• Q-center: Are you struggling in the course? A limited amount of help is available from the Q-center (and from me during my office hours, of course).

Homework