Approximate Course Outline - Spring 20098
MATH-2400. Introduction to Differential Equations

TEXT: W. E. Boyce and R. C. DiPrima, Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, Eighth Edition, Wiley, 2005.

Course home page: http://eaton.math.rpi.edu/Faculty/Cheney/diffeq/diffeq.html

Any changes will be announced in class and on the web site.

Jan. 12-161.3, 1.1, 1.2, 2.1
Jan. 19-232.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 8.1 In 2.3, radioactive decay and mixing only
Jan 26-30 3.1, 3.5, 3.4
Feb. 2-6 3.2, 3.3, 3.8
Feb. 9-13 3.8, 3.6, 3.9
Feb. 16-20 5.5, 10.1, 10.2 Monday classes held on Tuesday
Feb. 23-27 10.3 , 10.4, 10.5 EXAM 1, Wed., Feb. 25
March 2-6 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 10.5 - 10.8 is the hardest part of the course!
March 9-13 Spring Break
March 16-20 6.1, 6.2
March 23-27 6.3, 6.4 Exam 2
March 30 - April 3 6.5, 6.6 GM week, No classes April 1
April 6 - 10 7.3, 7.5
April 13 - 17 7.6, 9.1
April 20-249.2, 9.3, 9.4Exam 3 is Friday, April 24
April 27-May 1 Review Reading period starts April 30
May 4-8 Final Exams

Suggested Problems from the text are available on line.

Learning Objectives

Students are expected to master all the material and techniques presented in the sections listed above. A side benefit is that they should further improve their skills in algebra and calculus, and further develop their abilities to analyze problems using analytical and mathematical reasoning.