MATH 246, Fall 2001
Differential Equations for Scientists and Engineers
TuTh 3:30-4:45 pm, MTH 0101

Instructor:
Professor Jian-Guo Liu
MTH 3313, 5-5148, Or CSS 4311, 5-4831, jliu@math.umd.edu,
http://www.math.umd.edu/~jliu
Office Hours: ThTh 1-2pm (or by appointment)

Weekly Homework Assignments: ps-file , pdf-file
Mathematica Assignments: Set F , due Nov 29.

Exams: There will be three Midterms (Oct 2, Nov 8, and Dec 4) and
a Final exam (Thursday, Dec 13, 1:30 - 3:30 in Room MTH0403).

Grading: Homework 10%, Mathematica Assignments 20%, Midterms 15% each, Final exam 25%.

Prerequisite:
MATH 141 (Calculus II), or permission of instructor.
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to ordinary differential equations. The course introduces the basic techniques for solving and/or analyzing first and second order differential equations, both linear and nonlinear differential equations, and systems of differential equations. Emphasis is placed on qualitative and numerical methods, as well as on formula solutions. The use of a mathematical software system (MSS), either Mathematica or Matlab, is an integral and substantial part of the course.
Course Catalog Listing, Fall, 2001

Textbook:
Elementary Differential Equations (Seventh Edition) by Boyce and DiPrima, John Wiley and Sons, 2000.
Differential Equations with Mathematica (Second Edition), by Coombes, Hunt, Lipsman, Osborn & Stuck, John Wiley and Sons, 2000.

Course Schedule and Syllabus ps-file, pdf-file

Mathlematica Peer Training Classes, Fall 2001

These classes are offered by Office of Information Technology. There is a fee of $10.  You need to have a WAM account. Seating is on a space available basis.  More information can be found at http://www.oit.umd.edu/units/tel/pt/

Syllabus:

Introduction
     Some basic mathematical models; Direction fields
     Solutions of some differential equations
     Classification of differential equations
First Order Differential Equations
     Linear equations with variable coefficients
     Separable equations
     Modeling with first order equations
     Differences between linear and nonlinear equations
     Autonomous equations and population dynamics
     Exact equations and integrating factors
Numerical Methods
     The Euler or tangent liner method
     Improvements on the Euler method
     The Runge-Kutta method
Second Order Linear Equations
     Homogeneous equations with constant coefficients
     Fundamental solutions of linear Homogeneous equations
     Linear independence and the Wronskian
     Complex roots of the characteristic equation
     Repeated roots; Reduction of order
     Nonhomogeneous equations; Method of undetermined coefficients
     Variation of parameters
     Mechanical and electrical vibrations
Higher Order Linear Equations
     General theory of n-th order linear equations
     Homogeneous equations with constant coefficients
     The method of undetermined coefficients
     The method of variation of parameters
The Laplace Transform
     Definition of the Laplace transform
     Solution of initial value problem
Systems of First Order Linear Equations
     Review of Matrices
     Systems of linear algebraic equations; linear independence,
     eigenvalues, eigenvectors
     Basic theory of systems of first order linear equations
     Homogeneous linear systems with constant coefficients
     Complex eigenvalues
     Fundamental matrices
Nonlinear Differential Equations and Stability
     The phase plane; Linear systems
     Autonomous systems and stability
     Almost linear systems
     Competing species
     Predator-Prey equations