Professor: Jeff Blanchard, Noyce 2516, 269-3304, blanchaj (at) grinnell.edu
Text: Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, 10th Edition by Boyce and DiPrima. It is important and expected that you read the text, especially the examples.
Learning Goals:
The course content is clearly a critical component of Differential Equations. The course also has supplementary learning goals regarding problem solving skills, interacting with technical and quantitative material, and working with peers. The learning goals for this course are:
- acquire proficiency in quantitative methods for solving (systems of) differential equations;
- acquire proficiency in qualitative methods for interpreting and analyzing (systems of) differential equations;
- acquire proficiency in numerical methods for approximating solutions to (systems of) differential equations;
- understand the conceptual aspects of the topics covered in Differential Equations;
- improve general problem solving skills;
- improve technical and quantitative reading ability;
- improve skills for acquiring technical and quantitative knowledge;
- improve technical and quantitative communication;
- improve skills required for working with a diverse group of individuals.
Workload:
This class will meet approximately three hours per week. To accomplish the course learning goals students should expect to spend at least nine additional hours per week completing assignments and studying course material.
Partnerships:
A significant course goal is developing the skills to work in a group toward a mutual comprehension of the material. Students will be randomly assigned a daily partner. Please read the note on partnerships.
Seating assignments will be updated at 5:03 pm the evening prior to each class period. Bookmark the following page and refresh the page to see your seat assignment prior to each class session.
Homework:
There will be daily homework, due at the beginning of class (excluding exam days). Homework will be posted on Pioneerweb after each class. There will be two types of problems listed on an assignment: HW and R.The lowest three homework scores will be dropped.
- HW: These four problems require a formal, written solution including explanations and/or justifications of applied concepts and techniques. These are the only problems submitted for grading.
- R: These problems are part of the homework assignment and are required. They are not submitted and therefore not graded.
Instructions for Preparing your Homework:
The homework must be legible and organized to be graded. Follow these guidelines:
- Only submit the four problems marked HW.
- If the homework has multiple pages, please staple your homework. Do not use any other method of fastening the pages together. Unstapled pages will not be graded.
- Write your name on the first page of your homework.
- Number your homework problems.
- The problems should appear in your homework in the same order they appear on the assignment. A problem that appears out of order will likely not be graded.
- Do not divide your pages into columns; rather work entirely across the page so the problems appear in order.
- Turn in neat homework, with legible calculations that are large enough to be read.
- You do not need to compute decimal approximations for your solutions unless explicitly requested in the problem. For example, square roots and trigonometric functions may be perfectly acceptable answers.
Midterm Exams:
There will be two in-class, midterm exams tentatively scheduled forThese midterm exams will test the material covered since the previous exam.
- Wednesday, October 2;
- Wednesday, November 6.
Final Exam:
The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, December 19, 9:00am - 12:00pm. The final exam is three hours and will be comprehensive. Do not make arrangements to leave campus prior to the final exam. (Such situations will result in the loss of a letter grade on the final exam.)
Academic Honesty:
All students must be aware of and comply with the Grinnell College Academic Honesty policy.
In this course students may collaborate on homework assignments provided they submit their own work and identify their collaborators. Any resource (other textbooks or online) must be cited. It is expressly forbidden to look for solutions online, in textbooks, or from other students. It is also an academic honesty violation to solicit assistance from any online forum.
All quizzes, midterm exams, and the final exam are closed notes, closed book, and the student may not consult any resource not provided with the exam.
Attendance:
Absences permitted by the college (athletics, performance, religious observation, etc.) must be coordinated prior to the class period in order to make arrangements for the missed homework or exams. This coordination must be done in person prior to the absence.
Accommodations:
If you are in need of specific learning accommodations, please meet with me early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. If you have not already done so, you will need to provide documentation to and discuss your needs with the Coordinator for Student Disability Resources, John Hirschman (hirschma), located on the 3rd floor of the 3rd floor of Goodnow Hall (x3089).
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