Syllabus for Math 385, Section C2, Spring 2003

Instructor: Richard Laugesen, laugesen@uiuc.edu
Class meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00-10:50am, in 119 Materials Science Bldg
Web pages
- Homework: www.math.uiuc.edu/~laugesen/385/homework.html
- Quiz topics: www.math.uiuc.edu/~laugesen/385/quizzes.html
- Handouts: www.math.uiuc.edu/~laugesen/385/handouts.html
- Anonymous student feedback: on the course and/or the Iode software and projects
Office: 376 Altgeld Hall, tel: 333-1329
Office Hours: Tuesday 5-6, Wednesday 2-3pm, Thursday 3-4pm or by email appointment.
Tutoring room: Monday-Thursday, 3-5pm in 252 Mech Eng Bldg and 7-9pm in 245 Altgeld Hall. If you do not get satisfactory assistance, let me know the time and date you were there, and the problem you encountered.
Text: C. H. Edwards and D. E. Penney, Differential equations and boundary value problems: Computing and modeling, 2nd edition. We cover most of Chapters 1,2,3 and 9.

This section of Math 385 will have a computer component, using the free software package Iode. A couple of times during the semester the class will meet at an EWS lab, and half the homework assignments will have a computer component. You do not need any prior computing experience, for this. If you are a non-engineering student then you must email me during the first week, giving your Net ID, so that I can create a free account for you.

Homework

Due weekly to the box outside 376 Altgeld

20%

Quizzes

15 minutes each, five times during the semester

Test 1, Solutions, and Information, Practice Test 1 and Solutions (missing the hand-drawn figures)

Wednesday 26 February, in class

15%

Test 2, Solutions, and Information, Practice Test 2 and Solutions (missing the hand-drawn figures)

Wednesday 9 April, in class

20%

Final Exam Information, and Practice Exam (ignore #8 parts (b) and (c)). No solutions available to the Practice Exam, so just ask me if you're not sure...
Location of final exam: 151 Loomis

Tuesday 13 May, 8:00-11:00am

40%

You may not use books, notes, calculators or computers during the tests or exam.

Make up tests will be given only if you present written evidence, as soon as possible, that you did (or will have to) miss an exam for a legitimate reason, e.g. illness or family emergency. Travel and leisure plans are never a legitimate reason. Late homework accepted only if you get an extension from me.

There is no formula fixed in advance for turning your numerical score into a letter grade. But after each test, I will indicate approximate grade ranges, so that you have some idea of how you are doing.

How to Succeed: Always re-work your lecture notes before the next class, checking every step and filling in missing details. (Allow 1 hour for this.) Read the text as you re-work your notes. The text helps give you the big picture. Before each class, ask me about the points you didn't follow in the last class! Go over your HW solutions the day you get them back, debriefing on your successes and your mistakes. Be happy with the successes, learn from the mistakes.