Math 3D - Elementary Differential Equations

Class is scheduled for MWF 9:00-10:50am in MSTB 118.
Office Hours: MF 11:00am-11:50am, Rowland Hall 410F.

Course Information
While there is a on the whole accurate syllabus for the course in terms of topics covered, we might not be going over them in a linear fashion in class. Typed class notes will be made available which will reflect what is covered in class exactly and are reflected in the following syllabus. It is your responsibility to determine which sections of the book correspond to the material from the class notes. Consider the textbook as an additional tool at your disposal to obtain a at times slightly different perspective on the material than that from the class notes and as the source of problems for assignments and beyond (according to your needs).

YAQ -- You Ask a Question
Remember that no question is a stupid question! You are welcome to ask questions in class, in discussion, and during office hours and you are required to formulate and send to us one weekly question by email. Latter is called YAQ (You Ask a Question). Please email your questions to both the course's instructor and TA by 5pm of each Friday. Use "yaq" as the subject line for your message.

Assignments
Problems are listed by textbook section.
Week 1 (due by Monday, August 13): 1.1 (1,3,5,18,19), 1.2 (1,7), read Section 1.3 of the textbook, 2.1 (1,16), 2.2 (3,7,17,35,36), 2.3 (1,3,30),
  4.3 (1,9,11,30), 4.4 (1,9,21).
Week 2 (due by Monday, August 20): 4.3 (1,3,12,30,34), 4.2 (9,16), 4.6 (3,11), 4.4 (4,8,14), 5.1 (1,3,9).
Week 3 (due by Monday, August 27): 5.1 (25,36), 6.1 (1,4,5,9,11,15,17,22,36,37), 6.2 (2,5,8,13,15,18).
Week 4 (due by Wednesday, September 5): 6.1 (1,4,6,10,12,15,17,20,37), 6.2 (1,4,5,8,13,14), 7.1 (1,3,8,12,23,35,38), 7.2 (2,5,7,15,31,36), 7.3 (1,6,31,39,43).
Week 5 (due by Monday, September 10): 7.3 (49-54, 55, 69), 7.4 (13,31,34), 7.5 (2,9), 8.1 (2,3,7,20), 8.2 (10,19,41), 8.3 (6,13), 8.4 (4,18,21).

It is highly recommended that you try and solve as many homework problems from the textbook as you need beyond the weekly assignments. Solving homework problems will allow you to test your working knowledge of the material and to identify issues that need resolution in a timely fashion.

Grading and Exam Policy
Remember that you start earning your grade the first day of classes. The best way to obtain a satisfactory grade is simply to work regularly on the material, to be pro-active and engaged, as well as to ask questions as soon as they arise.

Your performance in the exams is more often than not a reflection of your work habits rather than of any great last minute effort. Better study habits also have the added benefit to increase the chances of the knowledge acquired in class becoming permanent and thus of making your life simpler in any subsequent math course you would encounter on your path.

The grade will be based on your performance in the final examination (40%), in the midterm (30%), on homework (20%) and on yaq participation (10%). Quizzes are mandatory and a condition for obtaining a passing grade. They do, however, NOT factor into the grade computation.

Examinations are scheduled for:
- Midterm: Monday, August 27 2012
- Final: Wednesday, September 12 2012

There will be NO makeup midterm examination. If any emergency were to arise which makes it impossible for you to take the scheduled midterms you will need to provide documentation for the cause of the emergency and obtain my approval. If the midterm is missed due to an approved emergency, the final will make up 70% of the grade

Grades are NOT curved but improvement is rewarded.

Cheating will be accepted under no circumstances and whoever is caught cheating will automatically receive an F in the course and her/his Dean will be notified. Only fully documented absences from exams justified in advance will be accepted. Unjustified no shows in an exam will be graded with an F.

A Few Tips
Solve Homework problems regularly. Read about the topic covered in class before coming to class. Ask any questions you might have timely and do not wait until the last minute. Direct your questions to the course instructor and/or to the TA. Discuss the material and the homework problems with your peers and make use of the free tutoring center offered by the Department of Mathematics. Use homework assignments and quizzes to test your understanding of the material and your ability to solve problems within a time constraint.

Communication
Please use your UCI email addresses in all course related communications as I will not reply to messages sent from other accounts.

Textbook
Dennis G. Zill, Differential Equations, Cengage Learning, UC Irvine Edition.