This course can be viewed as a continuation of second-semester Calculus, and is a prerequisite for Mathematical Modeling. It mainly concerns itself with solving an equation which contains a function of a single real variable and the derivative of that functions to find out what the original function was. In doing this, we will run into some very interesting mathematical concepts and constructs. We will use differential equations to solve some of the classical problems in physics and also problems which arise in other fields. When you are finished with this course, you should have a better idea of how to analyze a problem and some appreciation for the mathematics that has been built up in the process of analyzing problems.

Your mark for this course will be based on three in-class tests, each worth 20 points, to be held on Tuesday, February 4; Tuesday, March 3; and Thursday, April 2; a final examination worth 35 points which will take place on Tuesday, May 6 at 3 pm; several graded homework assignments, to total about 20 points; and a project which will count about 20 points. Attendance will be taken each day and will influence your grade, as will other factors, such as willingness to do a little extra thinking or presentation and participation in and outside of class. I sometimes formalize this by giving a certificate worth 2 percentage points for five reasonable trips to the board to present a problem.  I only ask that you present your problem clearly so that everyone can understand your solution. Perfection, while to be aimed at, is not so important to me as the thought process.  These board points may raise your final mark by one level, that is, from a 3.0 to a 3.3.

The final mark is calculated by multiplying each mark by its value, adding the products, and dividing by the sum of the values (a weighted average), then figuring in attendance and extra- credit. I usually use a rough percentage-to-grade conversion like this:

Grade   Percentage

4.0         94% or above, with some extra credit
3.7         88-93%
3.3         84-86%
3.0         80-83%
2.7         78-79%
2.3         74-77%
2.0         70-73%
1.7         68-69%
1.3         64-67%
1.0         60-63%

Week 1  (begins January 13)     Chapter 1,  Section 2.1
Week 2  (begins January 21)      2.2 - 2.4      (Note: January 20 is Martin Luther King Day, no classes)     
                                                                     (Also note: Tuesday, January 22 is the Add-Drop deadline)
Week 3  (begins January 27)      2.5 - 2.6,  Review for test #1
                                                                  (Monday, January 27 is  Last Day for Credit/No Credit)
Week 4  (begins February 3)      Test #1 (Tuesday February 4) will cover Chapters 1&2    OLD TEST #!,  Sections 3.1-3.3
Week 5  (begins February 10)    3.4 - 4.1
Week 6  (begins February 17)    4.2 - 4.5
Week 7  (begins February 24)    4.6 - 4.10
Week 8  (begins March 3)          Review and Test #2 (Tuesday, March 3) OLD TEST #2,  5.1 - 5.2

Spring Break: (Monday, March 10- Friday, March 14)

Week 9    (begins March 17)       5.3 - 5.6
Week 10  (begins March 24)       6.1 - 6.4    (Advising starts for fall 1997 - Last Day to Withdraw with "W")
Week 11  (begins March 31)       6.5,   Review and Test #3 (Thursday, April 2),  7.1
Week 12  (begins April 7)            7.2 - 7.5
Week 13  (begins April 14)          7.6 - 8.2
Week 14  (begins April 21)          8.3 - 8.7 (Begin Student Presentations)
Week 15  (begins April 28)          Student Presentations and Review for Final

Final Exam Tuesday, May 6, 3:00 - 5:00 pm...

Note: Changes to this syllabus to allow for extra topics or more coverage of a topic will be announced in class and updated here.