MATH 315A: Ordinary Differential Equations

Course Description

• INSTRUCTOR:
  D. Jakobson
  LECTURES: TR 10:00-11:30, ARTS 145
  Office: BH1212
  Office Hours: Tuesday 4-5pm, Wednesday 1-2pm
  Week of Oct. 20-24 only: Tuesday 1:30-2:30pm, Wednesday 11-12am
  Tel: 398-3828
  E-mail: jakobson@math.mcgill.ca
  Web Page: www.math.mcgill.ca/jakobson

• UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANT
  Rachna Matabudul
  OFFICE HOURS: Thur 18:00-19:00, BURNSIDE 1205
  E-mail: rachna.matabudul@mail.mcgill.ca
• TEXT: Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems (3rd ed.) by Nagle, Saff and Snider.
• SYLLABUS: The course will cover (parts of) chapters 1,2,4,6,7,8 of the Text. Contents: existence theorem. 1st order equations: separable, exact and linear equations, integrating factors, substitutions, homogeneous and Bernoulli equations. 2nd and higher order linear equations: fundamental solutions to homogeneous equations, reduction of order, the case of constant coefficients, method of undetermined coefficients, variation of parameters, Cauchy-Euler equations. Laplace transform: basic properties, inverse transform, solving IVP-s, step functions, Dirac delta, convolutions. Series solutions: ordinary and singular points, recurrences, method of Frobenius, special functions. Elementary numerical methods (as time permits).
• ASSIGNMENTS: There will be several assignments, both written and webwork. Late assignments will not be accepted.
• MIDTERM: There will an in-class midterm on October 30. It will be held at the same time and place as the regular lecture. Solutions: in ps and pdf
• MIDTERM REVIEWS: Monday, October 27, Burnside 1205, 6pm. Tuesday, October 28, Burnside 1205, 6pm.
• FINAL EXAM: There will be a three hour final exam. It will be held on Thursday, December 18, 9:00am in GYM
• FINAL REVIEWS: The review before the final will be held on Dec. 15, 6pm-8pm, in Burnside 1205 (or 1214 if 1205 is closed).
• OLD FINALS: Go to SUMS, then click on "Resources" and on "Math Exam Archive."
• GRADING: If A = assignment mark, M = midterm mark, E = exam mark and F = final mark (all out of 100), then F is the larger of (.9E + .1A) and (.6E + .3M + .1A)
• J. Labute and J.J. Xu's MATH 261/MATH 325 Lecture Notes

• HELPDESK is open in Burnside 911 Monday-Friday generally from 12:30-16:30 (see their web page for details); you can also ask questions by email at helpdesk@math.mcgill.ca
• NOTICE: McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see McGill web page on Academic Integrity for more information).