Engineering Differential Equations MATH.2360-201

Spring 2019

Syllabus


General Course Information

Meeting times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday 8:00 - 8:50

Location: Monday, Wednesday, Friday in Olney Hall room 517; Tuesday in Southwick Hall room 317

Prerequisites: Calculus I and II (MATH.1310 and MATH.1320)

Class attendance is not required but is strongly recommended. You are responsible for all information (course material, assignments, changes in exam dates, etc.) presented in class, whether you attend or not.

Student Affairs Information and Services for Students

Student Affairs Information and Services for Students


Contacting the Instructor

Email: stephen_pennell@uml.edu

Phone: (978) 934-2710

Fax: (978) 934-3053

Office: Olney 428J

Office Hours:
M 9 - 10, W 9 - 10, in Olney 428J
F 11 - 12 in Southwick 321.

Meetings at times other than my office hours can be arranged by appointment. See me after class, call me, or send me an email message.


Course Description

Many physical systems can be described mathematically by one or more differential equations. Examples include mechanical oscillators, electrical circuits, and chemical reactions, to name just three. In this course you will learn what a differential equation is, and you will learn techniques for solving some common types of equations. You will also learn techniques for obtaining information about the solutions of equations which cannot be solved analytically. Finally, you will learn how differential equations can be used to describe physical phenomena, and you will use your knowledge of differential equations to analyze these phenomena. These skills will be useful to you in your other science and engineering courses and in your career.

Course Objectives

My goals for this course are for you to I would appreciate hearing your goals for the course.

Core Curriculum Essential Learning Outcomes

This course is designated as satisfying the requirement for the Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (CTPS) and Quantitative Literacy (QL) Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO’s).

Textbook

Edwards, Penney, & Calvis, Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems: Computing and Modeling, 5th ed, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2015. The third or fourth edition can also be used.

Grading Policy

Course grades

Course grades will be based on homework, 3 exams, a project, and a comprehensive final exam. Your pre-final average is based on the homework, 3 exams, and project. The lowest of these 5 scores counts for 8% of your pre-final average, and the other 4 scores each count for 23% of your pre-final average. Your course average is based on your pre-final average and your final exam score. If your grade on the final exam is greater than or equal to your pre-final average, then your pre-final average and your final exam score each count for 50% of your course average. If your grade on the final exam is less than your pre-final average, then your pre-final average counts for 80% of your course average and your final exam score counts for 20% of your course average.

Your letter grade for the course will be determined from your course average according to the following table:

Average [93, 100) [90, 93) [87, 90) [83, 87) [80, 83) [77, 80) [73, 77) [70, 73) [67, 70) [60, 67) [0, 60)
Grade A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F

Tentative exam dates


Tentative project due dates


Homework

In order for you to understand the material in this course, it is extremely important that you do the assigned homework problems. Working with your classmates can be a great help, and I strongly encourage it. I also urge you to ask questions about any problems that give you trouble.

Homework problems are due the second class day after we finish covering the material. Late homework will be accepted without penalty up to one week after the due date; late homework will not be accepted more than one week after the due date for any reason. Your grade on a homework assignment will be based on the percentage of the assigned problems you turn in and on the correctness of your solutions to one randomly selected problem. Your lowest three homework scores will be dropped. The last three homework assignments are optional; they will be averaged into your homework grade only if they pull up your average

Academic Integrity

Academic dishonesty is prohibited in all programs of the University and sanctions may be imposed on any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty. Details on UML policy can be found at http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Undergraduate/Policies/Academic-Policies/Academic-Integrity.aspx. Note in particular that any incident which results in some action being taken must be reported to the Provost's Office.

Exam Policy

It is important that everyone take the same exams under the same conditions for maximum fairness and reliability of testing. I therefore do not give makeup exams unless you have a valid reason (for example, illness or religious holiday) for missing the scheduled exam, and I do not allow extra time on exams unless you have a note from Disability Services. If you have to miss a scheduled exam, please let me know ahead of time if at all possible. I am much more likely to be sympathetic if you call me the morning of the exam and say "I have the flu and can't take the exam" than if you come in two days after the exam and say "I missed the exam. When can I take a makeup?"

Cell phone use is not permitted during exams. Sharing calculators or formula sheets is not permitted during exams.

Tips on Preparing for Exams
Tips on Taking Exams

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Steve Pennell | (978) 934-2710 | stephen_pennell@uml.edu



Last Updated: January 28, 2019