Math 198, section 3 Fall 2011

Lectures MWF 10:10 - 11am sec 3 in SC-1117

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Instructor: Associate Professor Eric Schechter. (You may address me as "Dr. Schechter"; that's pronounced "doktur shektur.") Office: SC-1529 (in the top floor of the Math Building). Office hours: MWF 12:15-1:15pm without appointment; available at some other times by appointment. Office phone (when I'm there): 322-6651. Email: eric.schechter@vanderbilt.edu. Additional info at this link.

The undergraduate catalog's description of the course:
Methods of Ordinary Differential Equations. Linear firstorder differential equations, applications, higher order linear differential equations, complementary and particular solutions, applications, Laplace transform methods, series solutions, numerical techniques. Prerequisite: multivariable calculus. Credit is not given for both 198 and 196 or 208. [3] (MNS (applies to Mathematics and Natural Sciences requirement))
Textbook: Fundamentals of Differential Equations, 8th edition, by R. Kent Nagle, Edward B. Saff, Arthur David Snider.

Supplements. In addition to covering a large portion of the textbook, we will also cover two or three brief supplements that I will distribute in class. They will also be available online (watch this space). The first one, on families of curves and constructing differential equations, can be found here. An introduction to complex numbers can be found here.

Style of material: I emphasize computations, not proofs. On the tests, you may use a calculator, but no books or notes. (When we get to Laplace transforms, I may include a small reference table of formulas on the test.) I recommend that you practice on many odd-numbered problems in the textbook; their answers can be found in the back of the book.

Attendance is recommended for most students, but after the first few days I will not be taking attendance; feel free to skip class if you feel that you understand the book and can get someone else to bring your homework to class. I will make allowances for missed tests and late homework if you have an excuse that I find acceptable (e.g., illness), but I find some excuses to be unacceptable (e.g., a family gathering, or your best friend's wedding -- tell them to get hitched on a weekend!). Students with disabilities should notify me at the beginning of the semester.

Homework is to be done individually, not as a team. However, you may study together on problems similar to the homework. For instance, if I assign problem number 20, you might study problem 19 with a classmate; it's likely to be similar in method. Use blue or black pen or pencil, in print or cursive, or type if you prefer -- but make it legible and unambiguous, so that it's easy to read.

Grades will be calculated as follows:
Four 50-minute tests Sep 16,  Oct 10,  Oct 31,  Nov 28 each worth 15% totalling 60%
Homework (frequent)   totalling 20%
Final exam 9-11am Tues Dec 13   20%
     
      100%


Answer keys for graded tests: Test 1 - Test 2 - Test 3 - Test 4 - Final exam
Answer to Reduction of Order practice

Some important dates:
* First day of classes: Wednesday, August 24th
* End of drop/add period: Tuesday, August 30st
* CLASSES MEET ON LABOR DAY
* Deficiency reports due: Wednesday, October 5th
* Fall Break (No classes): October 6th-7th
* Last day to drop a course: October 14th
* Sunday, November 6th, set your clock back an hour
* Thanksgiving Break (No classes): November 21st-25th
* Dead week begins: Friday, December 2nd
* Last day of classes: Thursday, December 8th


Common errors in undergraduate mathematics




Homework list and Final Exam Study Guide

Assigned homework for credit are listed below. The final exam will consist of problems similar to some of the ones that are listed in BOLDFACE. I will omit the topics (very few) that are in italics.

# Sec page problems due
1 1.2 13-14 4, 6, 8, 10, and 20a Fri Aug 26
2 curves 8 (G), (I), (J) Mon Aug 29
3 2.2 43 10, 12, 18 Wed Aug 31
4 2.6 74 18 Fri Sep 2
5 2.3 51 12, 20 Mon Sep 5
2.6 74 22
6 2.6 74 10, 16 Wed Sep 7
7 2.6 75 30, 32 Fri Sep 9
8 2.4 61 2, 4, 6, 8 Mon Sep 12
9 2.4, 2.5 page 62 #12, 24 and page 67 #10 Wed Sep 14
Complex numbers (no written assignment)
10 4.2 165 4, 20 Fri Sep 23
11 page 173 #20 and page 200 #12, 20 Mon Sep 26
12 4.7 202 48 Wed Sep 28
13 6.3 337 6, 8 Wed Oct 5
14 8.3 445 22 Mon Oct 17
15 8.2 434 2, 4, 6 (radius of convergence, not interval), 32 Fri Oct 21
16 8.3 445 18 Wed Oct 26
17 8.6 Solve 3(x2+x)y'' + (2-x)y' + y = 0, with Frobenius series centered at x=0. If you don't see the pattern, give the first four terms of each of the two series. If you solve this problem correctly, your answer will be fairly simple-looking, and you'll be able to check it by plugging it back into the problem. Mon Oct 31
18 7.2 360 14, 18, 20 Fri Nov 11
19 7.4 375 24 Mon Nov 14
20 page 394 # 26 and page 403 # 4, 12 Wed 16 Nov
21   413 2 Fri 18 Nov