Differential Equations

General Course information

Meeting time: Mon, Wed, and Fri, 10:00 am – 10:50 am

Location: Falmouth 311 (New location)

vLabs link for MATLAB 

 

Office Hour

Location: Southwick 350 O

Time: Mon 2:30-4:00 pm, Tue 2:30-4:00 pm

or by appointment (minhyung_cho@uml.edu)

 

Course Description

Many physical systems can be described mathematically by one or more differential equations. Examples include mechanical oscillators, electrical circuits, and chemical reactions, to name just three. In this course you will learn what a differential equation is, and you will learn techniques for solving some common types of equations. You will also learn techniques for obtaining information about the solutions of equations which cannot be solved analytically. Finally, you will learn how differential equations can be used to describe physical phenomena, and you will use your knowledge of differential equations to analyze these phenomena. These skills will be useful to you in your other science and engineering courses and in your career.

 

Textbook

Main Textbook: Lecture notes and Differential Equations for Engineers by Jiri Lebl (Link)

References: 

1. Differential equations and Boundary Value Problems by C. Henry Edwards, David E. Penney, and David T. Calvis

2. Elementary Differential equations and Boundary Value Problems by Boyce and DiPrima

 

 

Homework

Homework will be assigned every Wednesday and due on the following Wed at 9:59 am. Please show all of your work (writing a list of answers is not sufficient). You are encouraged to collaborate with classmates, but your final write-up must reflect your understanding and you must acknowledge collaborators. Several random problems will be graded. Homework solutions will be posted. No late homework will be accepted. 

 

Tentative Exam Schedule

There will be three in-class midterms and a cumulative final exam. Calculators are not allowed for the exam. One page (standard letter size 8.5 by 11 inch paper front and back) handwritten formula sheet will be allowed on the final exam.

Midterm 1: 2/14 (Wed)

Midterm 2: 3/27 (Wed) (Revised)

Midterm 3: 4/17 (Wed)

Final: 4/29 (Mon) 6:30 pm-8:30 pm

Grading and Attendance

Final grade will be computed according to the following scheme
Written Homework:17.5%
Midterm 1: 17.5%
Midterm 2: 17.5%
Midterm 3: 17.5% 
Final: 30%
Attendance is not count towards your final grade. However, I strongly suggest attending all classes. If you must miss a class due to personal emergency, please notify your instructor as early as you can and set-up a meeting to discuss about make-up.

 

Tutoring

The Centers for Learning and Academic Support Services (CLASS) provide tutoring services, including an online searchable tutoring schedules are available that include resources on all campuses. A tutoring request form is also available if there are no tutors listed for the class for which you need help.

Mathematics Department tutoring Center: Southwick 310,  Mon-Fri 10:00 am-5:00 pm

 

Withdrawing

Please note that the registrar has determined that Apr. 2, 2024 is the last day to withdraw with grade of “W” from a course (Spring 2024 Academic Calendar).

 

Academic Integrity

Academic dishonesty is prohibited in all programs of the University and sanctions may be imposed on any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty. Details on UML policy can be found at 
http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Undergraduate/Policies/Academic-Integrity.aspx. Note in particular that any incident which results in some action being taken must be reported to the Provost’s Office.

Using any online tutoring services including any AI sites for exams will result in an academic dishonesty report to the Provost office. 

 

Athletic Academic Policy

Student-athletes must adhere to the Athletic Academic Policy

 

 

DISABILITIES SERVICES

If you are registered with Disability Services and will require course accommodations, please notify me via the Accommodate semester request process as soon as possible so that we might make appropriate arrangements. It is important that we connect to discuss the logistics of your accommodations; please speak to me during office hours or privately after class as I respect and want to protect your privacy. If you need further information or need to register for academic accommodations, please visit the Disability Services Website

Additionally, Student Disability Services supports software for ALL students (not just those registered with their office). The university has literacy software that allows you to read on-screen text aloud, research and check written work, and create study guides. You can download the software from the IT Software webpage on the UML assistive technologies website.

 

Student Mental Health and Wellbeing


We are a campus that cares about your wellbeing and success.  Your personal health and well-being are of utmost importance to faculty and campus administrators. I’m available to talk about your stresses or concerns related to your coursework in my class. 

Here are some resources to support your well-being:

Counseling Services provide crisis intervention, assessment, referrals, short term individual counseling and group therapy. Call to book an appointment at (978) 934-6800.  

UMatter2 is a university-wide initiative to support students and promote mental health. They can be reached at (978) 934-6671. You will find information at that website on how to access Togetherall, an online community which is a peer-to-peer platform dedicated to mental health support.  

Centers for Learning and Academic Support Services (CLASS) provides advising services including goal setting, course selection, SIS functions, changing majors/minors and course deletions. (978) 934-2936 or Advisement@uml.edu.  

The mission of the Office of Student Life & Wellbeing is to advance the holistic concept for student success by infusing health-promoting actions and collaboration into campus culture. They can be reached at 978-934-4342 or Wellbeing@uml.edu. 
 

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND CLASSROOM COMMUNITY STANDARDS

 

UMass Lowell—and your professor—value human diversity in all its forms, whether expressed through race and ethnicity, culture, political and social views, religious and spiritual beliefs, language and geographic characteristics, gender, gender identities and sexual orientations, learning and physical abilities, age, parenting status and social or economic backgrounds. Enrich yourself by practicing respect in your interactions, and enrich one another by expressing your point of view, knowing that diversity and individual differences are respected, appreciated, and recognized as a source of strength. 

 

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) supports and advocates for students while leading diversity-related programming. At the same time working to create an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals via the LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Contact (978) 934-4336 or Multicultural_Affairs@uml.edu 

 

University Privacy Statement

UMass Lowell recognizes the importance of mutual trust between students and faculty. Neither faculty nor students may record video or audio of a course or private conversation without all parties’ consent. Massachusetts is a two-party consent state, which means it is illegal to record someone without their permission. Recordings of classroom lectures are the intellectual property of the instructor. Instructors have the right to prohibit audio and video recording of their lectures, unless the requesting student is registered with Disabilities Services and recording of class sessions is an approved accommodation. In addition, sharing of or selling recordings of classroom activity, discussions or lectures with any other person or medium without permission of the instructor is prohibited.

Tentative Course Schedule

Date Topic Homework
1/17 (Wed) Introduction HW 1 (Due 1/24 Wed), HW 1 solution
1/19 (Fri) Introduction
1/22 (Mon) Introduction, Integrals as solutions
1/24 (Wed) Integrals as solutions, Separable equations HW 2 (Due 1/31 Wed), HW 2 Solution
1/26 (Fri) Separable equations
1/29 (Mon) Linear equations and the integrating factor
1/31 (Wed) Linear equations and the integrating factor HW 3 (Due 2/7 Wed), HW 3 Solution
2/2 (Fri) Linear equations and the integrating factor
2/5 (Mon) Linear equations and the integrating factor, Exact equations
2/7 (Wed) Exact equations, Bernouli equations HW 4 (Due 2/12 Mon, 4:00 pm) , HW 4 Solution
2/9 (Fri) Bernouli equations
2/12 (Mon) Slope fields, Review
2/14 (Wed) Exam 1, Exam 1 solution , Grade distribution
2/16 (Fri) Slope fields direction_field.m
2/20 (Tue) Autonomous equations
2/21 (Wed) Autonomous equations and Population Model HW 5 (Due 2/28 Wed, 9:59 am) , HW 5 solution
2/23 (Fri) Autonomous equations and Population Model, Euler method
2/26 (Mon) Euler method
2/28 (Wed) Euler method and MATLAB HW 6 (Due 3/13 Wed, 9:59 am) , HW 6 solution
3/1 (Fri) Introduction to Second order linear equations
3/11 (Mon) Introduction to Second order linear equations
3/13 (Wed) Introduction to Second order linear equations HW 7 Revised (Due 3/20 Wed, 9:59 am) , HW 7 solution
3/15 (Fri) Constant coefficient second order linear ODEs
3/18 (Mon) Constant coefficient second order linear ODEs
3/20 (Wed) Constant coefficient second order linear ODEs HW 8 (Optional) (Due 3/25 Mon, 4:00pm) , HW 8 solution
3/22 (Fri) Constant coefficient second order linear ODEs
3/25 (Mon) Nonhomogeneous equations/Review
3/27 (Wed) Exam 2 , Exam 2 solution, Grade distribution
3/29 (Fri) Nonhomogeneous equations
4/1 (Mon) Nonhomogeneous equations
4/3 (Wed) Mechanical vibrations HW 9 (Due 4/10 Wed, 9:59am) , HW 9 solution
4/5 (Fri) Mechanical vibrations
4/8 (Mon) Mechanical vibrations
4/10 (Wed) Mechanical vibrations HW 10 (It will NOT be collected) , HW 10 solution (Revised)
4/12 (Fri) Laplace transforms
4/17 (Wed) Exam 3 , Exam 3 solution, Grade distribution
4/19 (Fri) Laplace transforms HW 11 (Optional) (Due: 4/25 Thur 11:59am) , HW 11 solution
4/22 (Mon) Laplace transforms
4/24 (Wed) Laplace transforms
4/26 (Fri) Laplace transforms
4/29 (Mon) Final (6:30 pm - 8:30 pm)