| Professor: Andrius Tamulis | Location and Time: D34012, Mon., 7:30p - 10:20p |
| Phone: 708.534.4548 | Office hours: Mon., Wed., Thurs., 6-7 p.m. |
| Office: F1648 | Class Web Site: http://www3.govst.edu/a-tamulis/Fa08/DiffEq |
| email: a-tamulis@govst.edu |
Henry Edwards and David Penney. Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems: Computing and Modeling. 4/E. Prentice Hall.
A basic course in differential equations covering existence, uniqueness, homogeneous equations, first order and simple higher order equations, linear constant coefficient equations, and simultaneous equations. Introduction to numerical analysis concepts and available computer packages for numerical solutions. Prerequisites: MATH355; MATH440 is recommended.
| Sept. 8 | Introduction, Chapter 1 |
| Sept. 15 | Chapter 1 |
| Sept. 22 | Chapter 1 |
| Sept. 29 | Chapter 2 |
| Oct. 6 | Chapter 2 |
| Oct. 13 | Chapter 3 |
| Oct. 20 | Chapter 3 |
| Oct. 27 | Midterm Exam |
| Nov. 3 | Chapter 4 |
| Nov. 10 | Chapter 5 |
| Nov. 17 | Chapter 5 |
| Nov. 24 | Chapter 6 |
| Dec. 1 | Chapter 6 |
| Dec. 8 | Chapter 7 |
| Dec. 15 | Final Exam |
Most of the grade will come from in-class work, homework, and a project, though there will be an in-class exam and a final exam. Each assignment will be graded on a scale 0-10, with 9 being an A, 7 a B, 5 a C, etc. Each exam will be curved and a 0-10 scale grade assigned. Your class grade will be determined as follows:
| Attendance: | Attendance will be based on the attendance form. | 5% |
|---|---|---|
| Group work: | Mostly in-class. | 20% |
| Homework: | Homework will be assigned and collected weekly. | 35% |
| Exam: | 10% | |
| Project: | Details to be announced. | 15% |
| Final: | 15% |
Attendance sheets will be passed out at the beginning of every class period and collected at the end. Students are expected to fill out the form with integrity, answering questions about their preparation for the class, as well as about their participation in class. Be sure to prepare for the questions about the reading and homework. The attendance grade will be based partially on the form and partially on the student's actions in class.
Homework is of great importance in any math class. Work at home, with ample time and accessible resources, provides the best means to learn course material. Homework will be assigned collected weekly. If you are having problems with the homework, come and see me. It is up to you to start the homework early enough to tell if you are having difficulties with it.
In order to develop writing skills, each student will type up some (one or two) of the homework problems from each assignment. These parts of the homework assignments should be emailed to me instead of being handed in. I will then put them together into a homework solution document for the class to use; thus this assignment should be written up with all the explanations and details a fellow classmate might need to understand the solution. Use the example problems in your text as a writing guide. You should use Microsoft Word and the Equation Editor. To use Equation Editor, choose "Object..." from the "Insert" menu, then choose "Microsoft Equation 3.0" from the "Object type" list that appears. Some "tips and tricks" for the equation editor may be found in http://www.dessci.com/en/products/ee/ee_tips.htm. I find tips #10 and #11 to be the most important.
The rubric is below. It applies to any problem, whether on a homework, quiz, or exam.
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This class requires a time commitment, as do all your classes. Be sure that you are prepared to put in the work, both in class and especially outside of class, to make this a good educational experience.
Mathematics classes build on themselves. It is difficult, if not impossible, to "catch up" and "cram" for a final exam. You need to put in the work as you go along.
Between class meetings, you will be expected to 1) go over the work done in the previous class; be sure that you can both do the work and that you understand how and why the work is done the way that it is, 2) read the section concerning the topic that will be covered in that meeting, and be able to ask and answer questions about it, and 3) do all assigned homework.
College students realize that education is important; students who attend Governors State University have made a commitment to their education; thus I expect that students will attend class as a matter of course.
College level mathematics classes require you to understand the subject. It is not enough to know what steps to follow to do a problem; that is not understanding, it is memorization. You will need to understand why you are doing the steps that you do. This will help you retain the knowledge, as it is not simply a memorized fact that can be forgotten or incorrectly remembered. Also, this will allow you to extend your understanding to new situations, both in the classroom and beyond it.
Students who have a disability or special needs and require accommodation in order to have equal access to the classroom must register with the designated staff member in the Division of Student development. Please go to Room B1201 or call (708) 534-4090 and ask for the Coordinator of Disability Services. Students will be required to provide documentation of any disability when an accommodation is requested.
This syllabus is subject to change for pedagogical or other reasons, at the discretion of the professor.