TEN LESSONS I WISH I HAD LEARNED

BEFORE I STARTED TEACHING

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
GIAN-CARLO ROTA
April 24, 1997

Introduction

Gain-Carlo Rota was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

(MIT), where he was and remains the only person ever to be appointed Professor
of Applied Mathematics and Philosophy. He taught a difficult but very popular course in probability. He also taught Applications of Calculus, differential
equations, and Combinatorial Theory. His philosophy course in phenomenology
was offered on Friday nights to keep the enrollment manageable. 1 2

Mistakes
1. Most of the material now taught in an introductory differential equations
course is hopelessly obsolete.
2. Reduce to a minimum the discussion of first order differential equations
at the beginning of the course.
3. Linear differential equations with constant coefficients are the bottom line.
4. Teach changes of variables.
5. Forget about existence and uniqueness of solutions.
6. Linear systems with constant coefficients are the meat and potatoes of the
course.
7. Stay away from differentials (differential forms).
8. Avoid word problems.
9. Motivate the Laplace transform.

10. Teach concepts, not tricks.

1 more

on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gian-Carlo_Rota
a side note, he would not teach without a can of Coca-Cola, and handed out prizes
ranging from Hershey bars to pocket knives to students who asked questions in class or did
well on tests.
2 On

While we understand that we train as Physicists and not Mathematicians, a

more abstract and thorough treatment of it would only help the future generation of scientists to be more prepared to not only use Maths to solve problems
in Physics but also use it to have a better understanding of it. As we find you,
Prof. Mannan, a sort of saviour of our kind (Aspiring Physicists), we have
decided to ask you to consider this. 3 4

3 a more detailed explanation of the above can be found at http://www.ega-math.narod.

ru/Tasks/GCRota.htm
4 We would like to know what you think of it. If you would like, you could share your
thoughts by sending an email to maxwelldemons101@gmail.com