Course Information

Course: Math 250 A and B, Differential Equations, Spring 2005, Central College.
Professor: Tom Linton, 129 Vermeer Science Center, (641) 628-5264, email: lintont@central.edu.
Class Meets: Section A MWF 2:00 to 2:50 PM in VSC 141.
Class Meets: Section B MWF 11:00 to 11:50 AM in VSC 143. 
Office Hours: 9 AM Mon, Tues, Fri, 10 AM Thurs, or by appointment.
Text: Differential Equations, A Modeling Perspective, 2nd edition by Borrelli and Coleman
Technology: We will make extensive use of the programs ODE Architect, Mathematica, and perhaps other software related to differential equations. No prior knowledge of these tools is assumed. The class web page is located at the URL http://www.central.edu/homepages/lintont/classes/spring05/diffyqframeset.html and information relevant to this course may come via email. You should check your email and the class web page on occasion. We will also use the on-line course management program  Blackboard to distribute and collect materials for this class, as well as post grades for completed assignments.
Final Exam: Section A 1 PM Thursday May 12, VSC 141.
Final Exam: Section B 3:30 PM Thursday May 12, VSC 143.
Course Overview Differential equations describe how quantities change, and can be used to predict the future values of these quantities. From calculus we know that the rate of change is given by the derivative, thus we will be studying equations involving an unknown function and its derivatives. Many problems in mathematics, engineering and several areas of science lead naturally to such expressions. This introductory course will feature modeling and graphical visualization as central themes, as well as covering the more traditional topics of solving differential equations algebraically.

Goals and Objectives Upon completion of this course, students will:

American Disabilities Act Central College abides by interpretations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that stipulates no student shall be denied the benefits of an education "solely by reason of a handicap."  Disabilities covered by law include, but are not limited to, learning disabilities, hearing, sight, or mobility impairments, and other health related impairments.  If you have a documented disability that may have some impact on your work in this class for which you may require accommodations, please see me and Nancy Kroese, Director of Student Support Services and Disabilities Services Coordinator, (x 5247) during the first two weeks of the semester so that such accommodations may be arranged.
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Grades Grades, based on the letter, or A, A-, B+, B, B-, . . . system, will be based on a weighted curve of the total points in the class. The curve used will be the traditional 100-93 A, 92-90 A-, 89-88 B+, etc. (or an easier curve). The breakdown of the points in the class is given below. There is no extra credit for this class.

Late assignments (homework, projects, etc.) Mock Trail participants, choir tour participants, athletes, and others who must miss a class for participating in a college sanctioned event are required to notify me in advance and complete work including tests in advance of the absence. It is the student's responsibility to communicate with me in advance regarding their absences and determine a schedule for make up work.
I will drop your lowest two homework assignments. In addition, each student will receive four "days" of allowed (penalty free) late assignments. An assignment is late "one day" if it is turned in after I collect it, up to the following lecture period, at which point the 2nd late day begins, and runs up to the next class period, etc. Other than the dropped scores and each student's four days of penalty free lateness, there is no credit for late work. Quizzes missed due to unexcused absences can NOT be made up. You are responsible for all of the material covered in (and turned in during) class each day, even if you are not present, or the assignments do not appear on-line but were given in class.

Exams We will have three midterm exams (100 points each). These exams will most likely follow our completion of chapters 2, 6, and 9, or roughly on the dates February 11, March 23, and April 29. We will also have a cumulative final exam (150 points) on Thursday, May 12 at 1 PM for section A (2 o'clock classtime) and 3:30 PM for section B (11 o'clock classtime).

Homework, Quizzes, Projects, and Activities I will assign and collect homework problems on a regular basis (one or more assignments from each section we cover). Recording "just the answer" will receive little or no credit. You should show and/or explain your work on all assignments for this class. You are encouraged to work together on homework assignments, but this does NOT mean copying the work of others nor answers from a solution set. We will do several in-class activities throughout the semester (where new concepts are introduced, or old notions are examined in more detail). Most of these activities will be done in groups, and all will contain questions similar to homework problems. We may have some (4 to 5) quizzes. We will likely have a few (4 or 5) assignments that utilize software (Mathematica or ODE Architect) and are more involved (both in length and difficulty level) than the homework problems. We will have roughly 400 total points for this portion of your grade.

Participation You are expected to be in class each day. If you miss a day of class, you are still responsible for the materials-activities completed that day. You are expected to participate in class discussions, ask questions, and to be engaged in the day to day actions of the class. There will be roughly 50 points related to your class participation.

Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism (which includes working together on an individual assignment, or editing someone else's work and turning it in with your name on it), or copying answers from other people or books without citing the source is a serious offense and will result in no credit for the work and possibly more serious punishment (failing the class, placing a letter in your file, and withdrawl from school are possibilities).  It is OK to discuss your answers with other groups on group assignments, but  the work you turn in must be your own, not a modified version of someone else's work. Working together does NOT mean copying someone else's work, in fact, a good rule to always follow is:

When you require help on a problem, you should only have your helper
look at what you have done, and give you advise. You should never look at what they have done.

Central College's Academic Honesty Policy
Plagiarism and cheating of any form are serious offenses and may result in an F for the assignment, the course, or expulsion from the college.  The details of Central's Academic Integrity policy are found in the Student Handbook, on the web. A copy will be sent to you via e-mail during the first week of the semester. It is your responsibility to read and understand the contents of that policy before you submit work to be graded. Questions regarding the policies and enforcement of the policies may be addressed to me during class or during office hours.



Class Materials

ODE Architect
The reference manual for the ODE Architect Tool in PDF format.
A general tip sheet.
Adding labels to plots and using ODE Architect to "find" a maximum value.
Example file for spotlight 2 (bond.odx).
Mathematica Notebooks
Some reminders for experienced users and tips for new users.
A look at a few examples of plots, function definitions, solving equations, and generating lists of related values.
Plotting numerical solutions to single first order ODEs and their direction fields.
Solving differential equations and plotting many solutions with Mathematica.
Step functions with Mathematica.
Example file for spotlight 2 (bond.nb).
Other
A look at solving IVPs with piecewise defined driving terms.
Guessing driven solutions and short-cut formulas worksheet.


Schedule Relevant information will be added to this schedule as we progress through the semester. An up to date version is available on line at http://www.central.edu/homepages/lintont/classes/spring05/diffyq/index.htm#schedule.
 

Week
Dates
Section(s)
Assignment and due date
1 1-17 to 21 Chp 1
 Work through the ODE Architect Tutorial
1.1 #4,11,14,23,32,33,37 due 1-19
1.2 #2,4,10,11 due 1-21
2
 1-24 to 28
 Chp 1, 2
 1.3 #3,10,16,17,23,30,36*,37* due 1-26
1.4 #2,6,9,13,15b due 1-31
* do these problems in groups with 3 people per group
hand in separate (one copy per group).
3
 1-31 to 2-4
 Chp 2
 Spotlight on Cold Medicine due Fri 2-4
2.1 # 4,7,12,16,21,23 due Wed 2-2
2.2 # 1,2,12,17,19,23,31,33,35 due Fri 2-4
4
 2-7 to 11
 Chp 2
 2.3 # 4,8,12,16,22 due Wed 2-9
2.4 # 2,5,8,12,19 due Wed 2-16
5
 2-14 to 18
 Chp 2
 Exam 1, chp 1, 2.1 to 2.4
2.5 # 1,4,10,16,21,24
2.6 # 1,3,4,6,8 due Mon 2-28
6
 2-21 to 25
 Chp 2
 2.7 # 3,6,8,9,12,17,20 due Fri 3-4
spotlight 2, bond.odx, bond.nb
7
 2-28 to 3-4
 Chp 2
 2.8# 6,12,14,20,24,32,34 due Wed 3-16
BIBO activity
8
 3-7 to 11
Spring Break!
9
 3-14 to 18
 Chp 2
 2.9 #2,5,8,11,16a due Mon 3-21
10
 3-21 to 23
 Chp 3
 3.1 # 4,5,6,8,12 due Wed 3-30
11
 3-30 to 4-1
 Chp 3
 3.2 # 3,4,10,14,16,20,21,32,36 due Mon 4-4
Spotlight 3 numerical solutions
12
 4-4 to 8
 Chp 3
 3.3 # 4,6,10,11,12,14,15,20,24 due Fri 4-8
13
 4-11 to 15
 Chp 3
 3.4 # 2,6,8,12,15,18,20 NOT due
exam 2 practice and answers
14
 4-18 to 22
 Chp 3
 3.5 # 2,6,8,12,18,22,26 due Wed 4-27
Worksheet for Fri 4-22, due Wed 4-27
15
 4-25 to 29
 Chp 3
 3.6 # 6,8,10,18,26. Due Mon 5-2
16
 5-2 to 6
 Chp 3
 3.7 # 2,4,6,8,20 due Fri 5-6
Review questions for after exam 2
17 May 12
Cumulative final exam