Math 3D (44520) - Fall 2019
Introduction to Differential Equations
Lecturer
Dr. Neil Donaldson
Office
RH 472
Office Hours
MW 11--12 + 1--2
Email
ndonalds@math.uci.edu
Lecture Times
MWF 2pm DBH 1600
Teaching Assistant(s)
Shichen Tang
Discussion Times
- Section 20: TuTh 2pm HICF 100M
- Section 21: TuTh 5pm DBH 1500
Office/Hours
RH 425/TuTh 12--1 + W 3--5
Email
shichent@uci.edu
Syllabus
Methods of solution of several types of differential equation. Modeling
of vibrations and resonance. Systems of ODEs. Laplace Transforms.
Power Series Methods.
Course Text
Notes on Differential Equations
by Jiří Lebl, available free! online (see also the host site for other goodies...)
For a more detailed syllabus including assessments click
here
Assessment
The final grade for the course will be tentatively be computed as follows:
45% Final Exam, 25% Midterm, 20% Quizzes, 10% Homework
- Homework Questions
will be set most weeks and collected in discussion.
One homework will be dropped.
- Six quizzes will be given in discussion classes. They will generally assume knowledge of the homework submitted that week. One quiz will be dropped. Homeworks and quizzes will generally occur during the Thursday discussion (except in the week after Thanksgiving - see the syllabus).
- Midterm: during normal class time on Friday 1st November
- Final exam: is in the usual classroom Friday 13th December, 13:30-15:30.
The exam will be comprehensive.
Add/Drop & Enrollment Questions
In Mathematics classes, decisions pertaining to wait-lists, adds, drops, and pass/no-pass changes are
NOT made by Instructors. Refer
here
for information on how to navigate the system. Essentially you have til the end of week 2 to complete all adds, drops and grade changes, all of which is done online.
Class Policies + Grading
- The final exams will be available for you to consult, but not take away, in the Winter quarter.
- No calculators in the quizzes and exams.
- Make sure you have a legible ID card for the exams. If your UCI ID has a smudged picture, bring your driver's license.
Your exams will not be graded without proof of who you are.
- Late homework will not be accepted for credit although we will be happy to discuss its mathematical quality with you.
- You must take quizzes and submit homework in your assigned discussion section.
- The purpose of dropped quizzes and homework is to allow you a day off, for whatever reason, be it fun or serious.
In order to have a second quiz or homework dropped, you must provide documentation to the TA covering AT LEAST TWO assessments.
If you choose to sleep in and miss one assessment early in the term before getting sick later on, you will have wasted
your lifeline.
- Any administrative questions regarding homework or quizzes should be directed to the TA. For exams, speak to the instructor.
- There will be no opportunity for extra credit. Generally speaking, any request to be treated differently to other
students will be granted only in the case of a documented emergency.
- No curving of scores will be done. As a guide to how you are doing, you will receive a letter-grade equivalent with
your midterm score. An overall letter-grade scale will be fitted to your calculated percentage at the end of term in line with the following metrics:
- A grade of C/C- means you are should be able to cope with any class that has this one as a pre-requisite.
- An A grade means two things:
- You know the definitions and theorems well enough to be able to apply them in unfamiliar situations.
- You should be able to teach the core course material. This means being able to explain what the concepts mean, not simply being able to perform computations.
Academic Honesty
Both the Math department and UCI take a dim view of dishonest behavior with regards to assessments: submitting another's work as your own, copying during exams, bringing notes to exams, etc. Harsh penalties are in place for students who are caught; depending on the seriousness you may be given an F for the assessment, for the class as a whole, or even suspended from the University.
Other resources
While office hours and discussion sessions will hopefully be enough to get you through the course, other resources are available. In particular,
- Disability Services Center (DSC) If you have any medical condition which might justify extra time or a quiet location for examinations, talk to the DSC as early as possible.
- UCI Counseling Center an excellent place to start if you're feeling stressed...