MATH 207 A: Introduction to Differential Equations

Intro to Differential Equations

Math 207 A Spring 2022

Instructor:  Kirill V. Golubnichiy

Office:  Padelford C-541

Zoom:  https://washington.zoom.us/j/5939823453

e-mail:  kgolubni@math.washington.edu

Office Hours:  Friday 10am-12pm (at my office), MSC or by appointment

Objectives:  This course will introduce you to differential equations. We will focus on applications, namely setting up, solving and interpreting differential equations.  From time to time we will mention some of the underlying theory.  There are three main topics we will cover:

• First order differential equations. Autonomous, separable and linear equations which arise in physics and biology.
• Second order differential equations. Second order constant coefficient differential equations which come up in the study of mechanical and electrical vibrations.
• Laplace transform. A technique which enables us to solve constant coefficient differential equations by converting them into an algebraic problem.

Text: The recommended textbook is Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, by William E. Boyce. Any edition is fine. Older editions cost less. Other editions are Elementary Differential Equations or Introduction to Differential Equations. A paperback version containing only the chapters needed for Math 307 is available for purchase in the bookstore. If you plan to take Math 309, there is a hardbound text with the same title by William E. Boyce and Richard C. DiPrima which covers the material from both courses.

Lecture notes:

https://sites.math.washington.edu/~sylvest/courses/math307/LectureNotesAndVideosA21.html

Math Study Center Information:  The Math Study Center (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (located in Communication (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. B-014) is a great place for students to work on math, whether or not they need help. It is not a tutoring center in the traditional sense. It is a comfortable place and a supportive atmosphere for students to come together and study, in groups or individually. There are on staff a number of tutors (both graduate student TA's and advanced undergraduates) who will sit down with students and answer questions to help them get unstuck. The MSC does not provide long blocks of uninterrupted one-on-one tutoring. Textbooks, calculators and other study materials are available to be checked out for in-room use.

Grading:  Your grade will consist of:

Attendance:  I will not take attendance during lectures.  However, you are responsible for the information covered in class.

Homework:  Homework assignments will be assigned and collected via Webassign (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. Homework will be due at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesdays. 

Exams: For the midterms and final, you are allowed to bring a single sheet of handwritten notes on one side of an 8.5"x11" sheet of paper.  Turn this sheet of notes in with your exam.  You are allowed a non-graphing calculator without symbolic capabilities.

Resources for Students with Disabilities:  Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.

Religious accommodations:   https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/syllabi-guidelines/

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 or uwdrs@uw.edu. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions.  Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS.  It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.