MATH 2400: Intro to Differential Equations Fall 2019

Sections 05-08
Instructor: Dan Stevenson TA: Jesica Bauer

Office: EATON 415 TA’s Office: EATON 316W

Email: steved8@rpi.edu TA’s Email: bauerj6@rpi.edu

Office Hours: Monday 10-11:30am, TA’s Office Hours: Monday 12:30-2pm,

Wednesday 12:30-2pm, Thursday 11:30-1pm Tuesday 2:30-3:30pm

Phone: 518-276-6345 (Math Department)

Meeting Times:
Lecture (all sections): MR 2:00-3:20pm in RICKETTS 203
Section 05 recitation: T 9:00-9:50am in LALLY 02
Section 06 recitation: F 9:00-9:50am in LALLY 02
Section 07 recitation: T 8:00-8:50am in LALLY 02
Section 08 recitation: F 8:00-8:50am in LALLY 02

Course Description: First-order differential equations, second-order linear equations,

eigenvalues and eigenvectors of matrices, systems of first-order equations, stability and
qualitative properties of nonlinear autonomous systems in the plane, Fourier series, separation of
variables for partial differential equations.

LMS: The course homepage can be found by logging into LMS and selecting the course
[1909_MATH_2400_0508]. All external course communication will be through LMS so please
check in often.

Textbook: Mark Holmes, Intro to Differential Equations, ISBN: 9781593998622.

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able
to:
 Find analytic solutions to wide range of first and second order ODEs
 Use methods of linear algebra to solve systems of ODEs and to determine
eigenvalue/eigenfunction pairs
 Compute Fourier series and use them to solve various forms of the Heat and Wave
equations
 Analyze and solve word problems
 Analyze select equations for stability and behavior around critical points
Course Outline:
1) Introduction: Chapter 1
2) First order ODEs: Chapter 2
3) Second order ODEs: Chapter 3
4) Laplace Transform: 6.1-6.4 (6.5, 6.6 if time permits)
5) Linear algebra methods for systems of 1st order linear equations: Chapter 4
6) Nonlinear ODEs and stability: Chapter 5
7) Fourier series and intro to PDEs: 7.1-7.5 (7.6 if time permits)

Grading:
Event Tentative Date Contribution towards final grade
Exam 1 9/26 18%
Exam 2 10/28 18%
Exam 3 12/2 18%
Final exam TBA 25%
Problem sets ----- 21%

Letter Rubric: The grade cutoffs will be no higher than:

A : 93 A- : 90 B+ : 87 B : 83 B- : 80 C+ : 77 C : 73 C- : 70 D+ : 65 D- : 60

Exams: The material for an exam will be posted on LMS as the date of the exam nears. Missing
an exam should not be taken lightly and makeups will only be given to students with an excused
absence documented by the Student Success office. It is up to the student to notify the instructor
of the excused absence before the exam begins.

Final Exam: The final exam will be cumulative and will be held on a date and time determined
by the Office of the Registrar. All students must take the final exam at the time scheduled by the
Office of the Registrar. Exceptions will only be made if there is a scheduling conflict as defined
here, or if a student is excused by the Student Success office. Please note that the Student
Success office will only issue an excuse for final exams for extreme circumstances, such as
hospitalization, and not for travel. Thus, students should not make end-of-semester travel
arrangements until the final exam schedule is posted or should only schedule travel for the time
period after the last day of final exams, which is (?).

Problem Sets: Will be assigned weekly and collected for credit. Please make every effort to
submit HW on time as late submissions will be penalized. Students are encouraged to work
together on the problem sets but must submit their own work. Evidence of copying will result in
an academic integrity violation and a 0 on the assignment.

Calculator Policy: Graphing calculators and CAS may not be used on any of the exams.

Attendance: Students are responsible for all material covered in lectures and recitations whether
they are present or not. Attendance is expected but will not be checked.
Grade Appeals: If upon reviewing an exam or problem set a student feels that his or her work
was graded incorrectly, then the student may submit a grading appeal to the instructor. The
student should submit, in writing, an explanation of the grading issue along with the original
exam or problem set. The student should not make any marks on the original exam or problem
set. Students have one week after the exam or problem set was returned to submit an appeal. This
time period will not be extended for students who fail to attend the class in which the exam or
problem set was returned.

Academic Accommodations: Any accommodations granted by the D.S.S. must be presented to

the instructor by Monday 9/9. Students who require extra time or alternative testing spaces must
consult the instructor in advance of an exam to ensure proper arrangements are made.

Academic Integrity: The instructor and institution take matters of academic integrity very
seriously. In addition to any resulting judicial processes as outlined in the student handbook, the
first instance of academic dishonesty will result in the lowering of the grade of the assignment.
The second instance will result in a reduction of the student’s final grade.

The above is subject to change