Math 308
Mathematics for the Physical Sciences, Spring 2020
Basic Information
Instructor: Ari Stern
Email: stern@wustl.edu
Office: Cupples I, 211B
Office Hours: TuTh 12-1:30pm
Homework Assignments
Problem sets will be posted to Canvas approximately weekly, and will be collected at the beginning of class on the due date. You are encouraged to discuss the homework with your fellow students and to collaborate on problems, but your final write-up must be your own. Please make sure that your solutions are written clearly and legibly.
Cecilia Xue (cecilia.xue@wustl.edu) is responsible for grading the homework assignments.
Lectures
Lectures will be held MWF 1-1:50pm, in Rudolph 203. The first class will be on Monday, January 13, and the last will be on Friday, April 24. Class will be canceled for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day (Monday, January 20) and Spring Break (week of March 9-13).
Exams
There will be two in-class midterm exams on Wednesday, February 26, and Wednesday, April 1. The final exam will be held on Wednesday, May 6, from 1-3pm (room TBA).
Grading
Grades will be based on a weighted average of homework (30%, lowest score dropped), midterm exams (20% each), and final exam (30%).
The corresponding letter grade will be assigned using the following scale:
| A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≥90% | ≥85% | ≥80% | ≥75% | ≥70% | ≥65% | ≥60% | ≥55% | ≥50% | <50% |
The scale may be adjusted upward based on the class's cumulative averages. However, it will not be adjusted downward, so your letter grade is guaranteed to be at least that corresponding to your score on this scale. The grade of A+ is given at the instructor's discretion.
Pass/Fail policy: You must earn at least a letter grade of C- to get a P.
Textbook
The text for this course is Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences (third edition), by Mary L. Boas, published by Wiley. I plan to cover Chapters 6, 7, and 13, plus possibly a few additional selected topics as time permits.
The textbook is quite encyclopedic and covers many other topics that you may find useful outside this course, as well as some material from prerequisite courses.
Academic Integrity
All students are expected to adhere to high standards of academic integrity, as specified in the undergraduate student academic integrity policy. Since this course is offered through the College of Arts & Sciences, any violations of this policy will be referred to the College’s Academic Integrity Officer. Violations of this policy include, but are not limited to:
- homework collaboration exceeding that permitted in the Homework Assignments section above (e.g., preparing your final write-up side-by-side with another student rather than independently, copying another student's solutions);
- submitting the work of others as your own (e.g., copying solutions found online);
- exam misconduct (e.g., copying another student's exam or knowingly allowing your exam to be copied, giving or receiving unauthorized assistance, use of unauthorized books/notes or other materials, unauthorized use of electronic devices, etc.).
If you have any questions, or are unsure about what is permitted/prohibited by this policy, please ask me.
In many cases, academic integrity violations are the result of getting behind in coursework and making bad decisions under pressure. Keep up with your assignments, ask questions when you are unsure what is expected of you, and do not give in to the temptation to cut corners.
Catalog Description
Continuation of Math 233 that emphasizes topics of interest to the physical sciences. Topics in multivariable and vector calculus include: vector fields, div, grad, curl; line and surface integrals and connections to electromagnetism; Fourier series and integrals, boundary value problems (diffusion and wave equations); topics from calculus of variations. STUDENTS MAY NOT RECEIVE CREDIT FOR BOTH MATH 308 AND MATH 318. Prerequisite: Math 217 and Math 233, or permission of instructor.