Fall 2010 Course Syllabus

Course: 3045.001.
Course Title: Differential Equations with Linear Algebra.
Time: MWF 10:40-11:50.
Place: Wachman 617.
Instructor: Conrad, Bruce P.
Instructor Office: Wachman 616.
Instructor Email: bruce.conrad@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-2896.
Office Hours: MW 9:40-10:30 or W 16:30-17:20 or by appointment.
Prerequisites: Math 1042 (C or better) is a prerequisite; Math 2043 is a corequisite.
Textbook: "Differential Equations: A Systems Approach," by Bruce P. Conrad. Available online at http://www.math.temple.edu/~conrad, and "Beginning Linear Algebra," by Seymour Lipschutz. Shaum's Outline Series, McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-038037-6.
Course Goals: To introduce the subject of differential equations within the context of linear algebra. I hope that this approach will enhance the understanding of both subjects, differential equations and linear algebra, more than separate course in each subject would.
Topics Covered: To learn about systems of linear ordinary differential equations and first-order nonlinear differential equations, with a few applications. We will devote some time to systems of first-order linear differential equations with constant coefficients, which requires some linear algebra, including algorithms for solving systems of linear equations, finding eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and the exponential function applied to matrices---all topics from linear algebra. The necessary linear algebra will be covered in the course.
Course Grading: Class participation, 10%; Homework, 15%; Tests 1, 2, 3, each 15%; Final Exam 30%.
Exam Dates: Test 1, Oct. 4; Test 2, Nov. 10; Test 3, Dec 1; Final exam, Dec. 13 (10:30-12:30).
Attendance Policy: You must come to class, prepared. Not only does your class participation score depend upon it, but your test courses will most likely suffer if you don't.

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

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Students will be charged for a course unless a withdrawal form is processed by a registration office of the University by the Drop/Add deadline date given below. For this semester, the crucial dates are as follows:

• The first day of classes is Monday, August 30.
• Labor Day is Monday, September 6.
• The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, September 13.
• Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 25.
• The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, November 1.
• The last day of classes is Wednesday, December 8.

During the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester or summer sessions, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the fall or spring semester, or during weeks three and four of summer sessions, the student may withdraw with the advisor's permission. The course will be recorded on the transcript with the instructor's notation of "W," indicating that the student withdrew. After week nine of the fall or spring semester, or week four of summer sessions, students may not withdraw from courses. No student may withdraw from more than five courses during the duration of his/her studies to earn a bachelor's degree. A student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. Students who miss the final exam and do not make alternative arrangements before the grades are turned in will be graded F.

The grade I (an "incomplete") is reserved for extreme circumstances. It is necessary to have completed almost all of the course with a passing average and to file an incomplete contract specifying what is left for you to do. To be eligible for an I grade you need a good reason and you should have missed not more than 25% of the first nine weeks of classes. If approved by the Mathematics Department chair and the CST Dean's office, the incomplete contract must include a default grade that will be used in case the I grade is not resolved within 12 months.