Math 217 (Differential Equations) Syllabus
This is the class webpage and syllabus for Math 217 (Differential Equations) in Fall 2018. Information about this course will be posted here throughout the semester, including lecture outlines and exam solutions. Any changes will be announced in class and posted here.
Course Information
- Instructor: Dr. Tyler Bongers, tyler.bongers@wustl.edu
- Assistant to the Instructor (AI): Ben Castor, bcastor@wustl.edu
- Office hours: 1-2 PM Monday; 12-1 PM Wednesday; 10-11 AM Friday; by appointment or open-door policy; Cupples I 203
- AI's office hours: 5:30-6:30 PM Monday and Wednesday; Cupples I Room 6
- Course location and times: Wilson 214, MWF 9-10 (Section 01) and MWF 11-12 (Section 02)
Course Description
We will roughly follow
Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems: Computing and Modeling (fifth edition) by Edwards, Penney, and Calvis. This course gives an introduction to ordinary differential equations, with an emphasis on using differential equations to model real-world systems. We will cover first-order solution techniques, higher-order linear equations and systems, Laplace transforms, series solutions, and other topics as time permits. You can find substantially cheaper older versions of the textbook as well.
Schedule and Lecture Notes
Please note that the schedule of sections is tentative, and will be kept up-to-date throughout the semester. I will usually post a brief outline of the lecture here after each class session.
| Week Number | Date | Textbook Sections | Notes |
| 1 | August 27 | 1.1 - Syllabus, introduction to ODEs | |
| 1 | August 29 | 1.2 - Solutions via integration | |
| 1 | August 31 | 1.4 - Separable equations | |
| 2 | September 3 | No Class | Labor Day |
| 2 | September 5 | 1.3 - Existence, uniqueness, stability | Homework 1 due; Solutions |
| 2 | September 7 | 1.5 - First order equations, integrating factors | |
| 3 | September 10 | 1.5 - Integrating factors, modeling | |
| 3 | September 12 | 1.6 - Exact equations | Homework 2 due; Solutions |
| 3 | September 14 | 1.6, 2.1 - Bernoulli equations, logistic equation | Exam 1 Review, 5 PM, Hillman 60 |
| 4 | September 17 | Review | Exam 1 (Evening) |
| 4 | September 19 | 3.1 - Second order linear | |
| 4 | September 21 | 3.1 - Solving second order | |
| 5 | September 24 | 3.2 - Independent solutions | |
| 5 | September 26 | 3.3 - Constant coefficients | Homework 3 due; Solutions |
| 5 | September 28 | 3.4 - Mechanical vibrations | |
| 6 | October 1 | 3.5 - Nonhomogeneous equations | |
| 6 | October 3 | 3.6 - Resonance | Homework 4; Solutions |
| 6 | October 5 | 3.5 - Nonhomogeneous equations | |
| 7 | October 8 | Review | Exam 2 Review; 5:30 PM, Hillman 70 |
| 7 | October 9 | N/A | Exam 2 (Evening) |
| 7 | October 10 | 7.1 - Laplace transform | |
| 7 | October 12 | 7.2 - Transforming IVPs | |
| 8 | October 15 | No Class | Fall Break |
| 8 | October 17 | 7.3 - Translation, partial fractions | Homework 5 due on 10/18; Solutions |
| 8 | October 19 | 7.4 - Derivatives, integrals, convolution | |
| 9 | October 22 | 7.5 - Piecewise continuity | |
| 9 | October 24 | 7.6 - Impulses | Homework 6 due; Solutions |
| 9 | October 26 | 7.6 - Impulses and applications | |
| 10 | October 29 | 8.1 - Power series | |
| 10 | October 31 | 8.1 - Power series (cont.) | Homework 7 due; Solutions |
| 10 | November 2 | 8.2 - Series solutions at ordinary points | |
| 11 | November 5 | 8.2 - IVPs and singular points | |
| 11 | November 7 | 8.3 - Singular points and Frobenius solutions | Homework 8 due; Solutions |
| 11 | November 9 | 8.3 - Examples of series solutions | |
| 12 | November 12 | Review | Exam 3 Review; 5:30 PM, Wilson 214 |
| 12 | November 13 | N/A | Exam 3 (Evening) |
| 12 | November 14 | 4.1 - Systems of linear equations | |
| 12 | November 16 | 4.1/4.2 - Matrices and linear systems | |
| 13 | November 19 | Applications of systems/orbital dynamics | |
| 13 | November 21 | No Class | Thanksgiving |
| 13 | November 23 | No Class | Thanksgiving |
| 14 | November 26 | 5.1 - Matrix differential equations | |
| 14 | November 28 | 5.2 - Eigenvalues and eigenvectors | Homework 9 due; Solutions |
| 14 | November 30 | 5.5 - Repeated eigenvalues | |
| 15 | December 3 | 6.1/6.2 - Analysis of systems | |
| 15 | December 5 | Review | |
| 15 | December 7 | Review | Homework 10 due; Solutions |
| 16 | December 11 | N/A | Final Exam Review; 1 PM, Hillman 70 |
| 16 | December 13 | Office hours | 12-3 PM |
| 16 | December 14 | N/A | Final Exam |
| 17 | December 17 | Office hours after final | 11 AM-1 PM |
Homework, Exams, and Grading Scale
Course grades will be determined based on homework, exams, and Participatr.
- Homework: We will have two kinds of homework: online homework via WeBWorK (graded automatically) and hand-graded homework submitted via Crowdmark. Webwork will typically be due on Mondays throughout the semester, and hand-graded homework will be due on Wednesdays. Your lowest hand-graded homework will be dropped. You are encouraged to work together on homeworks, but submitted solutions must be your own individual work; that is, copying is not allowed and will be treated as an act of plagiarism.
Exams: There are three midterm exams, as well as a final. The midterms are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on September 17, October 9, and November 13. The final exam is from 10:30 am to 12:30 p.m. on December 14. Attendance at each of these exams is required and no make-up exams will be given. If something happens that prevents you from taking an exam, you must contact the instructor as early as possible to make alternative arrangements. Adherence to the university's academic integrity policy is expected and required. Calculators are not allowed on any exam. Please check your seat assignment before each exam.
If your percentage on the final exam exceeds any of your midterm exam percentages, then the final exam will automatically replace the lowest midterm. If the course average (over all sections) on any exam is below 75%, then a fixed constant will be added to everyone's exam score in order to make the average 75%; for example, if the class average is 60% and your score is 90%, then 15% will be added to all scores and your adjusted score would be 105%.
Participatr: During each lecture, there will be opportunities to answer questions using Participatr. This is an app that you can download for your smartphone. These questions will be primarily to check understanding and progress, or to do warmup exercises for the upcoming lecture (as well as for your feedback about the problems). You can sign up at the class webpage; there is a fee of $5 for the app.
If you answer at least half of the questions throughout the semester, then you will receive the full 20 points; if you answer at least 30% of the questions, then you will receive 15 points. Otherwise, no credit will be given.
The points for the course will be distributed as follows:
| Partipatr | 20 |
| WeBWorK | 125 |
| Crowdmark | 125 |
| Exam 1 | 150 |
| Exam 2 | 150 |
| Exam 3 | 150 |
| Final Exam | 300 |
| Total | 1020 |
Your final grade will then be assigned from the table below. If you are taking this as pass-fail, then the cutoff for a passing grade is C-. The grade of A+ will be given at the instructor's discretion.
| Grade | Points |
| A | ≥ 900 |
| A- | 850-899 |
| B+ | 800-849 |
| B | 750-799 |
| B- | 700-749 |
| C+ | 650-699 |
| C | 600-649 |
| C- | 550-599 |
| D | 500-549 |
| F | 0-499 |
Learning Resources
There are many resources available to help you succeed in the course - remember that we are here to help you get the most possible out of your time here! Here are some suggestions:
- Attending lecture is strongly encouraged, although it is not required. I always strongly encourage questions during class - if there's a point to clarify, or any confusion, or suggestions of alternative methods, or other relevant thoughts please share them.
- I will have office hours throughout the week. If the fixed times don't work, you can make an appointment. I also have an open-door policy, so please feel free to stop by. Ben Castor will also have office hours for the course.
- Before each exam, there will be an exam review led by Ben Castor; there will be a practice exam for each review. Information about times and locations will be announced later.
- The Calculus Help Room in Cupples I Room 8 is open from August 28 to December 13.
Other Course Policies and Helpful Information
- Access for WeBWorK is through Blackboard via the "Content" link.
- In the event that you cannot attend one of the required exams, please contact the instructor as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements. For arrangements in advance, you must contact me at least one week before the exam; in case of emergency (e.g. illness), contact me as soon as possible after the exam.
- Washington University is committed to providing accommodations and/or services to students with documented disabilities. Students who are seeking support for a disability or a suspected disability should contact Disability Resources at 935-4153. Disability Resources is responsible for approving all disability-related accommodations for WU students, and students are responsible for providing faculty members with formal documentation of their approved accommodations at least two weeks prior to using those accommodations. I will accept Disability Resources VISA forms by email and personal delivery. If you have already been approved for accommodations, I request that you provide me with a copy of your VISA within the first two weeks of the semester.
