TQS 307 Differential Equations, Winter 2009

Administrative Details

• Instructor: Paul T. Allen
• Office: GWP 414
• Phone: 253-692-4315
• Email: ptallen["at"]u["dot"]washington["dot"]edu


• Office Hours:
  
  • Mondays: 9:00-10:00, 15:00-16:00
  • Wednesdays: 9:00-10:00, 15:00-16:00
  In addition, I am available by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If we agree to meet by appointment, please send me an email reminder. This is especially important if we make an arrangement before or after class.


• Course meetings: 10:20 - 12:25, Mondays & Wednesdays
• Exam date: Wednesday, 18 March 2009, 1020-1225, PNK 131

Course Description

• Overview
  This is an introductory course in ordinary differential equations. The goals of this course are: (1) to gain an understanding of how to use differential equations to model phenomena we observe in the world around us, (2) to learn techniques for solving the resulting differential equations, (3) to be able to extract meaningful qualitative descriptions of the solutions to the differential equations and the corresponding phenomena. In working towards these goals we will be making use of tools from calculus and matrix algebra. It is also likely that mathematical software will be used for some parts of the course.
  
  Attendance is mandatory for this class as I will frequently ask students to present material in class. Furthermore, math is a cumulative subject and it is difficult to make up for lost class time. Complete reading and homework assignments before coming to class, so that class time can be a productive as possible. Your participation in class is important for learning - please come prepared to listen and to ask questions!
  
  I expect you to spend considerable time and effort learning outside the classroom. Homework is part of this outside work. Another part is re-reading notes from class in order to make sure you understand everything that happened, and taking the time to figure it out if you do not understand. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of office hours if you have questions, no matter how big or small.


• Homework and Exams
  Each Monday I will distribute a homework assignment due the Wednesday of the following week. Late work is not accepted; if you believe extenuating circumstances justify an exception to this policy, please contact me as early as possible.
  
  I will also ask students to present certain material in class. These presentations will contribute to the "homework" part of the grade.
  
  There will be a cumulative final exam (at the officially scheduled time during finals week). There is a possibility that some portion of the final exam will be "take home", i.e. an assignment due at the beginning of the officially scheduled exam period.


• Grades
  Grades will be based on a percentage of points earned on coursework, weighted as follows:
  • Homework: 60%
  • Final Exam: 40%
  I reserve the right to adjust your grade, at my discretion, based upon class attendance, signs of improvement, inconsistent coursework (such as disregarding a score which significantly differs from all others), or other factors.

Homework Assignments & Course Documents

• Problems from the text

  Section	Problems	Submit	Due	Notes
  §1.1	1,3,4	10-12,14	14 January
  §1.2	1,2, selection 5-22, selection 23-32	21,30,33	14 January
  §1.6	3,7,9,29,30	none	21 January
  §1.8	1-9 odd	6,8	21 January
  Chapter 1 Review	12-14,22,23,27,31,36	15,16,28,35,37	28 January
  §2.1	19	20	28 January
  §2.2	3-6,15,16	11,19	28 January
  §3.1	5,6,8,9,14,16,24,26-29(choose 1)	15,17,18,25,34	4 February	Challenge #35, Algebra #31,32
  §3.2	1-5,13,21-33	6,7,14,24	4 February
  §3.3	1-5, 11, 13-15	6,7,12,16	4 February
  §5.1		4,7	25 February
  §5.2		5	25 February



• Readings from the text
  These are sections to be presented in class.

  Section	Page	Title	Assigned	Presented
  	xiii	Note to the Student	5 January	5 January
  §1.2	21-22	Checking that...	5 January	12 January
  §1.2	31-32	A Mixing Problem	5 January	12 January
  §1.1 and 2.1	11-13, 152-156	Predator-Prey I	21 January	28 January
  §2.2	170-171,176-177	Predator-Prey II	21 January	28 January
  §3.1 and 3.5	235, 316-318	CD Store Problems



• Other activities
  Handouts, worksheets, homework, etc.

  Date	Document	Due date
  7 January	Quiz 1	--
  12 January	Homework 2	21 January
  21 January	Homework 3	28 January
  2 February	Homework 4	11 February (Discuss Warm-up on 4 Feb.)
  2 February	Note 1 regarding the example in class	--
  9 February	Homework 5	18 February
  11 February	Logistic Predatory-Prey Example	--
  11 February	Applet for generating slope fields (link)	--
  18 February	Homework 6	4 March
  25 February	Homework 7	Completed in class
  3 March	Review for Final Exam	--

Statement from Student Health and Wellness

• Statement from the Counseling Center
  The Counseling Center offers short-term, problem-focused counseling to UW Tacoma students who may feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of college, work, family, and relationships. Counselors are available to help students cope with stresses and personal issues that may interfere with their ability to perform in school. The service is provided confidentially and without additional charge to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. To schedule an appointment, please call 692-4522 or stop by the Student Counseling Center (SCC), temporarily located in Cherry Parkes 206. Additional information can also be found by visiting http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/studentaffairs/SHW/scc_about.cfm/


• Statement from Disability Support Services
  The University of Washington Tacoma is committed to making physical facilities and instructional programs accessible to students with disabilities. Disability Support Services (DSS) functions as the focal point for coordination of services for students with disabilities. In compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any enrolled student at UW Tacoma who has an appropriately documented physical, emotional, or mental disability that "substantially limits one or more major life activities [including walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working]," is eligible for services from DSS. If you are wondering if you may be eligible for accommodations on our campus, please contact the DSS reception desk at 692-4522, or visit http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/studentaffairs/SHW/dss_about.cfm/