EASTERN UNIVERSITY
Walter Huddell
Email: whuddell@eastern.edu
Office: McInnis 217, x5530
Office Hours: TTH 2:00-3:00
In addition to these posted hours I am often available at other times. Please do not hesitate to make an appointment with me. I can be contacted best via email or voice mail.
Course Description: A study of linear differential equations of the first second and nth orders with constant coefficients, power series solutions, linear systems and Laplace transforms.
Course Objectives: Upon the completion of this course the student should be able to:
Solve first order differential equations by separation of variables (when possible) and integrating factors.
Solve second and higher order differential equations using methods of constant coefficients and undetermined coefficients.
Use power series to solve differential equations.
Use the Laplace transform to solve differential equations.
Use eigenvalues to solve systems of differential equations.
Text: Boyce and DiPrima, Elementary Differential Equations, 8th Ed.
Attendance Policy: Your attendance is absolutely essential to your success in this class. If you know you are going to be absent, please notify the professor. More than two absences will affect your grade and more than four absences constitutes grounds for failure of the course, per the college policy.
Policy for Students with Disabilities: If you have a documented special educational need, please notify me at the beginning of the semester, or at the time you are first able to document the need, and I will work with you and the academic support center to create appropriate accommodations.
College Policies: All college policies for undergraduate students apply to this class. Please consult the undergraduate catalog or see the professor if you have questions. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense that will seriously jeopardize your grade, since plagiarism or cheating results in a double zero on the assignment in question.
Teaching Methods: This course will involve lecture as well as a good amount of homework to be completed outside of class. The only way to learn mathematics is by doing mathematics and work will be assigned accordingly. Lectures will be informal enough so as too allow students the freedom to interact with the instructor. Questions are welcome and encouraged.
Testing and Grading Procedures: Letter grades will be given using the following breakdown:
97-100 A+
93-96 A
90-92 A-
87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-
77-79 C+
73-76 C
70-72 C-
67-69 D+
63-66 D
60-62 D-
<60 F
Grading will be based on the following percentage scheme:
Exam I: 30%
Exam II: 30%
Final: 30%
Class Participating/Attendance: 10%
Exams I & II will fall on October 6th and November 17th respectively. They will be in class and will be closed book and closed-notes. The class participation portion will be based on homework, which may be checked randomly throughout the semester. All assigned homework is expected to be completed and those assignments that are chosen to be checked will evaluated based the attempt made . The final exam will fall on Thursday December 14th from 12:30-2:30 am.