Professor: Jeff Blanchard, Noyce 2516, 269-3304, blanchaj (at) grinnell.edu
Text: Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, 9th 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 Equation;
- 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.
Homework:
There will be daily homework, due at the beginning of class (excluding exam days). Homework will be posted on Pioneerweb after each class. A subset of the problems will be graded. The lowest three homework scores will be dropped.Instructions for Preparing your Homework:
The homework must be legible and organized to be graded. Follow these guidelines:
- Please staple your homework. Do not bring your homework to class with folds and tears holding the pages together. Pages will get lost, and unstapled, ungraded pages will not be considered during an error in grading.
- Write your name on the first page of your stapled 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 for Friday, February 26 and Friday, April 15. These midterm exams will test the material covered since the previous exam.
Final Exam:
The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18, 2:00-5:00 pm. 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:
Students may collaborate on homework assignments provided they submit their own work and identify their collaborators. The midterm exams and the final exam are closed notes, closed book, and the student may not consult any resource other than a calculator provided in class.
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 have specific physical, psychiatric or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Dean for Student Success and Academic Advising, Joyce Stern, located on the third floor of the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center (x3702).
Go to my homepage.