Differential Equations
MTH 256 - Sec 020

MWF 3:00-3:50PM
KIDD 350
Fall 2011

Final Exam:
Wednesday 09:30-11:20 12/7/2011
WITH 109


Professor:

Dr. Nathan Louis Gibson  

Office:

Kidd 352

Office Hours:

MWF 14-14:50

Course Website:   

http://www.math.oregonstate.edu/~gibsonn/Teaching/MTH256-020F11

Text Book:

Boyce and DiPrima, Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, 9th ed., Wiley & Sons.

GTA:

Joshua Kincaid

General Info

While it may not be stated explicitly each day, students are expected to read each section to be covered before class. Questions not addressed during class time should be asked in recitation. Any questions still unanswered may be asked in office hours. Students should also take full advantage of the tutoring services provided in the MLC (Kidder 108).

Students are responsible for any material missed due to absence.

Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Disability Access Services (DAS). Students with accommodations approved through DAS are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through DAS should contact DAS immediately at 737-4098.

Students are expected to be familiar with Oregon State University's Statement of Expectations for Student Conduct. As preparation for this class, you should review the materials covered in MTH 251 and 252.

There are various resources available on the Student Companion Site hosted by the text book publisher. In particular, you may want to look at the Chapter Review Sheets and Web Quizzes.

Grades

Grade Distribution

Quiz 100 Points
Midterm 100 Points
Final 200 Points
Total 400 Points

Grade Scale (by percentage)

A 93
A- 90
B+ 87
B 83
B- 80
C+ 77
C 73
C- 70
D+ 67
D 63
D- 60

Homework

Homework problems will not be collected in this course, however quiz and exam problems will be similar to homework problems. Suggested homework problems are your opportunity to practice what you have learned and to determine which areas you need to work on more before taking a quiz or exam. You are encouraged to study, and work on homework, in small groups.

To be posted as we go.

Chapter 1

  • Sec 1.1: 1, 7, 15-20, 22, 25
  • Sec 1.2: 3, 7-11, 13
  • Sec 1.3: 1-6

Chapter 2

  • Sec 2.1: 16, 17, 20, 31, Read 38
  • Sec 2.2: 1, 3, 8
  • Sec 2.3: 1-4, 7ab, 8ab, 12, 16, 17a, Read 26 and 32
  • Sec 2.4: 1-5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 23, Read 27, 32 and 33
  • Sec 2.5: 3, 7ab, 9, 15a, 20, 21
  • Sec 2.6: 1, 2, 5, 6, 15, 21, 26, 27

Chapter 3

  • Sec 3.1: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9-12, 17, 20, 21, 23, Read 28
  • Sec 3.2: 2-5, 9, 13, 14, 24, 25
  • Sec 3.3: 7, 9, 11, 17-19, 23, 27, Read 28 and 34
  • Sec 3.4: 1, 3, 5, 11-14, 16, 24, 26-28
  • Sec 3.5: 3, 4, 8, 13, 17, 20a, Read 27
  • Sec 3.6: 1, 4, 11, 14

Chapter 4

  • Sec 4.1: 2-4, 7, 8, 11, 15, 17, Read 20 and 26
  • Sec 4.2: Read 1-8, 9, 11-14, 21, 22, Read 39 (See Lab 5), Read 41
  • Sec 4.3: 1, 4, 14, 15
  • Sec 4.4: 2, 5, 6, 13

Chapter 6

  • Sec 6.2: 1-3, 5, 7, 11-14, 16, 18, 24, 25
  • Sec 6.4: (3-7)a
  • Sec 6.5: 1a, 6a, 12a
  • Sec 6.6: 4-11, 15

Computer Examples

To be posted as we go.

  • Matlab Software

  • Chapter 3: cc2plot.m -- This is a Matlab code that I have written to make it easier for you to visualize solutions to 2nd order linear ODEs with constant coefficients. You should have access to Matlab at many of the computer labs on campus. Simply download this file, run Matlab, and at the prompt type help cc2plot. Copy and paste one of the examples to see how it works. Change the input values to try your own examples, or plot those from the book when plots are not provided. See also cc2plotdemo.m

  • Chapter 4:cc4plot.m
    See also: coupledspring.m

  • Matlab

    The following are options for accessing Matlab at OSU:

    1. The Mathematics Department computer lab is located in the Math Learning Center, Kidder 108.
    2. The computer lab in the Milne basement.
    3. You may have access to Matlab through a computer lab or network of your department. In particular, students can download from here.
    4. If you would like to have Matlab at home, consider purchasing the MATLAB Student Edition.

    The following are online resources for learning Matlab:

    Labs (just for fun)

    To be posted as we go.

    • Lab 0: Explore Matlab and Publishing by performing some of the tutorial tasks in Matlab Tutorial and saving the results as an html file.
      It may be useful to see video on Publishing at Tutorial from Mathworks, or the following samples: Note that any changes to a plot using the figure menus (title, axes labels, etc.) can also be performed with commands. To see what these commands would be, make changes to your plot, then click File: Generate M-file.
    • Lab 1: Study a model for harvesting of a fish species by plotting its equilibria via a phase plot and direction field. Please, upload a pdf file including plots produced and answers to all questions to Blackboard.
      See FAQ
    • Lab 2: Experiment with Forward Euler for some nonlinear first order ODEs. Explore concepts of accuracy and stability. Please upload a pdf file including plots produced and answers to all questions to Blackboard.
    • Lab 3: Experiment with cc2plot for some second order, linear, constant coefficient homogeneous ODEs. Upload a pdf file including plots produced and answers to all questions to Blackboard. See Lab3sample.m and Lab3sample.pdf for examples on how to use MATLAB's publish to pdf feature.
    • Lab 4: Experiment with cc2plot for some second order, linear, constant coefficient ODEs representing models of harmonic oscillators. Upload a pdf file including plots produced and answers to all questions to Blackboard.
    • Lab 5: use coupledspring.m to simulate the examples in Sec 4.2 #39c and d. Describe physically what the two sets of initial conditions mean and attempt to argue why the solution is expected. Also simulate the case of the two masses starting at the same position. Simulate for long enough to see any possible repeating behavior. Is the solution periodic? Why or why not? If so, what is the period? For fun, see also Coupled spring model.
    • Lab 6: use cc2plot.m to simulate an impulse response. Use 'exp(-(t-5).^2/a^2)/a/sqrt(pi)' for various values of a (plot this function for a=100, 10, 1 and .1 to see what it looks like). Simulate the ODE \[y''+y=f(t)\] with zero initial conditions on the interval \((0, 25)\). Determine the value of a where the simulation begins to look like the expected solution.

    Supplements

    To be posted as we go.

    Quizzes

    There will be six quizzes during the term. The quizzes are scheduled during the recitation sessions. Problems will be similar to the suggested homework problems for the sections covered. Grades for quizzes will be posted on Blackboard.

    Note: Makeup quiz now posted. Due at the beginning of class on Monday, no exceptions.

    Exams

    There will be one 50 minute in-class midterm exam and a cummulative final exam. No notes nor books are allowed; however, you may use a basic scientific calculator and a 3 by 5 inch index card with handwritten notes on both sides. No make-up midterm exams will given after the scheduled time under any circumstances. Scheduling conflicts with the final exam must be resolved in advance (see AR 16. Note that the times and dates of all final exams are set by the Registrar's Office and are available online as part of the General Catalog and Schedule of Classes.

    Midterm Review

    Sample Midterm Problems

    Final Review

    Last updated: Wed Nov 30 12:48:47 PST 2011