Math 266: Elementary Differential Equations
Spring 2007

• Instructor: L. Peterson
• Section information:
            Section 2, class number 3196, 12:00 noon-12:50 P.M., MWF, Witmer 305
            Section 3, class number 3197, 1:00-1:50 P.M., MWF, Witmer 302
• Prerequisite: Math 265 (Calculus III) and proficiency in a programming language
• Office: 322 Witmer Hall.
• Office hours: I will announce my office hours in class and post them on my Web site. Please fill in the information below.
   
            Mondays:
   
            Tuesdays:
   
            Wednesdays:
   
            Thursdays:
   
            Fridays:
   
  These office hours do not apply during university recesses and holidays, on Reading and Review Day (May 4, 2007), or during final exam week. Additional office hours, including hours on Reading and Review Day and during final exam week, are available by appointment or, when possible, by drop-in.
• Phone numbers: 777-4609 (office), 795-8984 (home), 777-2881 (Mathematics office)
• Messages: If you cannot reach me, you may leave recorded messages at my 777-4609 number. You may also leave a note for me in the Mathematics office, Room 313 Witmer Hall.
• E-mail address: lawrence.peterson@und.nodak.edu
• URL for Web site: http://www.und.nodak.edu/instruct/lapeters. Use of the Web site is optional. I will announce all assignments in class as well as on the Web.
• Textbook: One of the following two textbooks:
  • Fundamentals of Differential Equations, Sixth Edition, by R. Kent Nagle, Edward B. Saff, and Arthur David Snider (Pearson Addison Wesley, 2004).
  • Fundamentals of Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, Fourth Edition, by R. Kent Nagle, Edward B. Saff, and Arthur David Snider (Pearson Addison Wesley, 2004).
  You only need one of the above two books. These books are the same except for the fact that the second book has three extra chapters. We will not use these extra chapters in this course. Please read the textbook as the course progresses. You may purchase the text at Barnes & Noble in Grand Forks. The textbook may also be available at the Dakota Textbook Company, 415 North 42nd Street, Grand Forks, or from other distributors. If Barnes & Noble has run out of copies of the book, they may not order any more copies unless you go to the textbook counter and ask them to order a copy specifically for you. You only need one of the two textbooks.
• Course content: This is an introductory course in ordinary differential equations. Upon completion of this course you should be able to solve many differential equations by using the techniques we cover during the course.
• Study time: You should plan on spending at least two hours of study outside of class for each class period. If you are spending less than this amount of time, then spend some extra time reading the book or doing problems above and beyond those that I assign.
• Tutorial help: You may come to see me in my office for help with questions or difficulties that you may have. Tutorial help is available in the University Learning Center (Room 201, Memorial Union).
• The Mathematics Learning Center: You may also wish to visit the Mathematics Learning Center (Rooms 310 and 312, Witmer Hall); the tutors in the Mathematics Learning Center may not be experienced with the material in this course, however.
• Grading:
  • Midterm exams: 60%
  • Final exam: 30%
  • Homework: 10%
• Grading scale: 90% A, 80% B, 70% C, 60% D
• Homework: I will assign and collect homework problems regularly. I will grade selected problems (approximately three to six problems per week, usually taken from the even-numbered problems that I assign). Homework is due at 4:20 P.M. on the announced due date for the given assignment. It is best to hand homework in when I collect it in class. Otherwise, you may bring your homework solutions directly to me in my office. If the door to my office is closed, please give your papers to the staff in the Mathematics Department office. Do not slide assignments under the door of the Mathematics Department office. You may hand in late homework up through 4:20 P.M. on the next business day following the announced due date, but I will reduce your score by approximately fifty percent in this case. I encourage you to work in groups, but do not copy other people's solutions. Some assignments may involve work in the Mathematics Computer Laboratory.
• Solution keys: A file folder in the Mathematics Learning Center (Rooms 310 and 312, Witmer Hall) will contain solutions to past homework problems. You may borrow them for a few minutes at a time. Feel free to photocopy them. There are photocopiers on the second floor of Witmer Hall and at the Chester Fritz Library.
• Exams: There will be three midterm exams and one final exam. The midterm exams will occur in class during regular class periods. The final exam will be comprehensive with an emphasis on the material that we cover after the third midterm.
• Computers: You may not use computers or calculators during exams, but I recommend that you buy a scientific calculator or a graphing calculator. Graphing calculators are generally better than ordinary scientific calculators.
• Absences from exams: If you will be absent from an exam, call me in advance.
• Attendance policy: I want you to succeed in this course. Please attend all class sessions if possible. Please be respectful and considerate of other people in the class.
• Changes to policies: Course policies, including all policies described in this syllabus, are subject to change. I will announce any changes to the policies.
• Comments and concerns: Let me know if you have any comments about the class. If you have emergency medical information to share with me, if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, or if you need accommodations in this course because of a disability, please make an appointment with me. If you plan to request disability accommodations, you are expected to register with the Disability Support Services (DSS) office (190 McCannel Hall, 777-3425 voice/TTY).

              Jan. 10  1.1               Mar.  5  7.4
              Jan. 12  1.2               Mar.  7  Review
                                         Mar.  9  Exam II
              Jan. 17  1.3
              Jan. 19  1.4               Mar. 19  7.4
                                         Mar. 21  7.5
              Jan. 22  2.2               Mar. 23  7.5
              Jan. 24  2.3
              Jan. 26  2.4               Mar. 26  7.6
                                         Mar. 28  7.6
              Jan. 29  2.4               Mar. 30  9.1
              Jan. 31  3.4
              Feb.  2  4.2               Apr.  2  9.2
                                         Apr.  4  9.3
              Feb.  5  4.3
              Feb.  7  Review            Apr. 11  Review
              Feb.  9  Exam I            Apr. 13  Exam III
              
              Feb. 12  4.3               Apr. 16  9.4
              Feb. 14  4.4               Apr. 18  9.4
              Feb. 16  4.4               Apr. 20  9.5
              
              Feb. 21  4.5               Apr. 23  9.5
              Feb. 23  4.6               Apr. 25  9.6
                                         Apr. 27  9.7
              Feb. 26  4.6
              Feb. 28  7.2               Apr. 30  9.8
              Mar.  2  7.3               May   2  Review

• Final Exam:

  Section 2 (12:00 noon-12:50 P.M.): 1:00-3:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Section 3 (1:00-1:50 P.M.): 10:15 A.M.-12:15 P.M., Friday, May 11, 2007

  Each final exam will occur in the section's regular classroom.

Lawrence J. Peterson home page

Mathematics Computer Lab

Mathematics Learning Center

Department of Mathematics

University of North Dakota

Contact Person: Larry Peterson
E-mail: lawrence.peterson@und.nodak.edu
Phone: (701) 777-4609
Date of most recent update: 5 January 2007
University of North Dakota home page