Description and Goals
Text: Fundamentals of Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, 6th Edition, by R. K. Nagle, E. B. Saff, and A. D. Snider
Content: Chapters 1-8. A tentative schedule of lecture topics, quizzes, and tests is posted in the link Lecture Topics and Homework. It will be updated regularly. Please check the link regularly.
Quizzes: There will be three quizzes given in class. The quiz schedule will be posted in Lecture Topics and Homework. Quiz problems will be taken straight from the homework. No formula sheet, no notes, no book, no any kind of electronic devices are allowed on quizzes. Makeups for missed quizzes only with written medical excuse.
Exams: There will be two midterm exams and a final exam. The exam schedule will be posted in Lecture Topics and Homework. Exam 1 covers all the topics discussed in class prior to it. Exam 2 covers all the topic discussed after Exam 1. The final exam is cumulative. All exam problems are conceptually the same as the homework problems and/or examples discussed in class. One formula sheet (A4 format) written by yourself, no Xerox, no torn book pages are allowed on exams. On your formula sheet you may write equations, meditation mantras, Math love poems, that is, anything you feel would help you do your best on exams. Any kind of electronic devices are not permitted on exams. Makeups for missed exams only with written medical excuse.
Special accommodation: Students requesting special accommodation for exams must first register with the Dean of Student Office. The Dean of Student Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to me when requesting accommodation.
Student honor code: Zero tolerance to any kind of cheating on written assignments (such as use of any unauthorized written or printed notes, copying solutions from your class mates, and similar). When caught cheating, the course grade is an F, no exception.
Homework
Homework problems are not turned in. Some of them are discussed in class. Solving these problems is essential for understanding the course and attaining a good grade. Do homework regularly as it makes nearly a third of your grade (via quizzes). Don’t count much on “catching up later”. This is usually the fastest way to a disastrous grade.
Grading
Each assignment is graded out of 100 pts (if no extra credit problem is offered). All regular problems are worth the same, that is, each problem gives you 100/N pts, N is the number of problems in the assignment, when solved correctly. There is a small partial credit for incomplete solutions. In your course grade, the quiz average counts 40% and the exam average counts 60%.
G = 0.4 QA + 0.6 EA
where QA = (Q1+Q2+Q3)/3 is the quiz average, EA = (E1+E2+F)/3 the exam average, and F is the final exam score.
Extra credit: One extra non-standard problem in all exams and quizzes, if solved correctly, adds 10-20 pts toward your assignment score. The perfect score can therefore exceed 100 pts when the extra credit problem is solved.
Grading Scale
The grade thresholds
A: G>85; A-: G>80; B+: G>75; B: G>70; B-: G>65; C+: G>60; C: G>55; C-: G>50; D+: G>45; D: G>40; F: G<40
If your score on every assignment exceeds 90 during the semester, the regular final exam is not mandatory. Instead you may take a take-home exam on the very last day of classes and turn it in next day evening (time and place will be announced). The take-home exam covers only the material discussed after Exam 2. Its score counts as the final exam score.
Attendance and Late Policy
No credit for class attendance. You may leave or come any time without asking my permission. However the class attendance is strongly recommended as the material will be presented in the order different from that in the textbook. Also, examples relevant for written class assignments will be discussed along with some of homework problems.