MAT 303: Calculus IV with Applications

Summer 2004

SUNY at Stony Brook
Department of Mathematics
SUNY at Stony Brook

The course is the introduction to ordinary differential equations. The material covers standard techniques of solving linear differential equations with constant coefficients and systems of differential equations. Differential equations play a profound role in expressing physical laws and have numerous applications in applied science, economics, life and social sciences. A significant part of mathematics has been motivated by Differential and Partial Differential Equations. We will discuss most common applications as well as numerical methods for solving differential equations.

Textbook: Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems: Computing and Modeling, 3rd Edition, by Edwards & Penney, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2004.

Suggested reading : Differential Equations With Applications and Historical Notes, 2nd Edition, by G. F. Simmons, McGraw-Hill, 1991

Note that the second and third editions of the book have similar text, but the problems are different. If you own the second edition, in order to do the homework you'll need to borrow the third edition from a friend, or look at the book in the library, or in the Math Learning Center.

Prerequisite: The completion of one of the standard calculus sequences (MAT 125-127, MAT 131-132, or MAT 141-142) with the grade C or higher in MAT 127 or 132 or 142 or AMS 161. The course will heavily rely on the material covered in the standard calculus sequence. The 200-level courses MAT 203/205 (Calculus III) or AMS 261, and MAT 211 (Linear Algebra) are not required but are strongly recommended.  You must be familiar with basic trigonometric manipulations and techniques of integration. Your proficiency in those areas will be assumed.

Instructor: Anirban Dutta, Math Tower 2-121, Office Hours: Wednesday 10 am to 12 noon, MLC  email: dutta@math.sunysb.edu

Grader: Daniel An, Math Tower 2-107, Office Hours : Monday and Tuesday 5 pm to 9 pm and Thursday 10 am to 12 noon, MLC email: danan@math.sunysb.edu

Lectures: New material is presented each week at the lectures. You are encouraged to read the corresponding section of the text before attending each lecture. Since the duration of the course is only 5 weeks and we would meet for 9 hours a week, it is important that you do not fall behind the class. It might be difficult to make up in a short time. If you miss something, you are encouraged to go to the office hours of mine or of the grader to make it up.

Class schedule:
 
LEC 1 M W Th 6:00 pm - 9:05 pm Physics P113 Dutta, Anirban

Syllabus and Homework : This is a tentative syllabus. But this can be a reference for the time being.

Practice Midterm:

Homework: Doing the homework is a fundamental part of the course and you are supposed to work hard on the problems assigned in order to succeed in the course. Homework will be posted weekly on the web page and will be collected every Thursday in the class. First homework will be collected on July 15. Late homework will not be accepted, no exceptions. Most of the homework problems can be checked using Maple, a symbolic algebra program or Mathematica, a similar software. However, you should not become dependent on Maple since on the exams it will be assumed that you can do analytically all problems on the homework, and no other devices, except pencil and paper, will be allowed on the tests. For the homework, you must also provide analytic solutions to the problems. You are encouraged to study in groups, but one must be careful about not submitting plagiarized homework. Plagiarism is considered as a serious offence. Some of the homework problems would be computer assisted. You can use Maple or Mathematica to solve those problems. These software are installed on most computers in the Math or Main Library SINC Sites. Also, one can buy those software from the Seawolves' Market Place at SAC for installing on one machine for personal use. They are not expensive at all to the best of my knowledge. While submitting a computer aided homework, please submit the codes and outputs and your answers.

Exams:

Make sure that you are available at these times, as there will be no make-ups for missed mid-term exam. Laptops, calculators, books, notes, etc., are not allowed during exams. If you miss an exam for an acceptable reason and provide an acceptable written excuse, the relevant mid-term will be dropped in computing your course grade. Incomplete grade will be granted only if documented circumstances beyond your control prevent you from taking the final exam. The final exam is cumulative and will be based on all material covered in the course.

Grading: Your course grade will be based on your examination performance and homework, weighted as follows: one midterm in class 30%, homework 30% and the final exam 40%.

Help: The Math Learning Center (MLC) is in Math Tower S-240A. This is a place where students can go for help and where study groups can meet. The MLC is open 10 am-9pm Monday through Wednesday,  10am-6pm Thursday and 10am-2pm on Friday. If you want a private tutoring, there should be a list of mathematics graduate students who tutor in the Undergraduate Mathematics Office, Math. Tower, P-143.

Useful information regarding the course will be regularly posted on the World Wide Web, and can be accessed by pointing your browser to

http://www.math.sunysb.edu/calculus

DSS advisory. If you have a physical, psychiatric, medical, or learning disability that may affect your ability to carry out the assigned course work, please contact the office of Disabled Student Services (DSS), Humanities Building, room 133, telephone  632-6748/TDD. DSS will review your concerns and determine what accommodations may be necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential.