Math 308 -- Jean Marie Linhart -- MTWRF 10-11:35 am BLOC 128

Math 308 (Ordinary Differential Equations) MTWRF 10:35 am BLOC 128
Instructor: Jean Marie Linhart
Reading assignments to be completed before class	Homework and our textbook	Exams	Outside reading and resources	Extra help	Success at Math

Instructor: Jean Marie Linhart

Section: 200 Office: Blocker 620G
Office Hours: Blocker 620G: MTWTh 1:30 - 2:30, by appointment
Email: jmlinhart@math.tamu.edu (I prefer to receive messages by email)
Phone: (979) 845-5321
Textbook required: Differential Equations: An Introduction to Modern Methods and Applications by James R. Brannan and William E. Boyce
Textbook recommended: Ordinary Differential Equations Using MATLAB by Polking.

Prerequisites

A solid foundation in calculus is required for this course, especially knowledge of integration and integrals.
Integration help

Class Administration

Original First day handout in PDF format, and the final 1st Day Handout in PDF format
Our final decision on the grading percentages was
- Exams: 50%
- Homework: 20%
- Quizzes: 20%
- Matlab: 10%
- Class participation (if counted) 5% (reduces other elements proportionately)
When emailing include your full name, course and section. Here's what I'd like to see in email. Hopefully you already know this!

In Class

Please be assertive in asking questions during lecture.
Please be assertive in paying attention in lecture.
You are responsible for material presented in lecture.
Reading assignments to be completed before class.

The official course schedule for a long semester.

Since we have ~25 class days instead of 42, we will be going a bit faster, and may skip some material.

Homework and MATLAB

Guidelines for working together on Homework and MATLAB

Quizzes

Quizzes are on-line. You may not use calculators on the quizzes. You may not use help from friends to do the quizzes. You may use your notes.

Exams

The two exams are tentatively scheduled for Friday July 22, 2011 and Friday August 5, 2011. If you have a conflict with either of these dates, let me know NOW. We can move the exam dates up a little, but not back. You will not be able to use calculators on your exams.

Exam 2 is over sections 4.1-4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.1 - 5.5 up to the Unit Step Function. Periodic functions will not be covered on this exam.

Our final exam is Weds August 10, 2011 10:30 - 12:30 pm. It is in our regular classroom. The final exam is cumulative, and no calculators are allowed.

Advice from students for doing better on exams:

Study with more people.
Pay attention in class and to the instructor's emails.
Do the suggested homework.
Rework what you didn't understand well.
Write down short examples on the notecard.
Label formulas.
Theorems should be on the notecard.
Keep a running list of things for your notecard rather than trying to compile it all at the last minute.
Write down formulas completely and correctly.

Advice on how to predict what is on the exam (in addition to some of the above):

Old exams are a hint.
Pay attention to problems done in class several times.
Take note of quiz questions; one of those might become an exam question.
Problems tend to be similar to homework/suggested homework.

Current Exam Solutions:

Old Exams:

Old exam solutions:

Extra Help

Math Department Computer Help Summer 2011
Help sessions are Mondays-Thursdays 4 pm - 6:30 pm in Blocker 113
Khan Academy has lots of videos on math and even some on differential equations. Not everything we cover in class is covered there, but you can find linear, separable and exact equations covered. You will need to scroll down to find the DiffEq videos.
Paul's Online Math Notes for Differential Equations come highly recommended.
A former student of mine, Nick Mai, offered up his Differential equations formula sheets. Formula Sheet 1 and Formula Sheet 2
Laplace Transform Table from Paul's Online Math Notes (html)
Laplace Transform Table from Paul's Online Math Notes (pdf)
I'm always happy to see you in my office hours, to answer questions before and after class, and to answer your questions during the lectures.
A funny DiffEq video

General Study Skills

Programs for Academic Sucess Skills with Student Counseling Services
A study skills class students can take for credit
Link to Supplemental Instruction
Student Learning Center Tutoring
Academic Coaching

Thank you to Constanze Liaw, Guido Kanschat, Dr. Pal, Melanie Pivarski, David Manuel, and Art Belmonte for helping me to get set up with Math 308 teaching materials.