TEXT: Edwards and Penney, DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND LINEAR ALGEBRA (4th edition).
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course consists of two related parts, linear algebra (matrices, determinants, vector spaces, eigenvalues, diagonalization) and ordinary differential equations (linear equations, Wronskian, solutions by eigenvalues and eigenvectors). We will cover almost all of Chapters 1-7, and 10 of the book. See the homework link in the course home page for a detailed schedule.
QUIZZES: There will be 13 short quizzes (no quiz the first and
last week of the semester) given on Tuesdays in your discussion sections; the
lowest three quiz scores will be dropped; there will be no
make-ups for missed quizzes. Each quiz will cover the material
discussed in class during the preceding week. The quizzes are
handled exclusively by your TA's.
GRADING POLICY: Grades will be based on quizzes, three midterm
exams, and a comprehensive final exam, contributing as follows:
| 10 quizzes | 3 midterms | final exam | total | |
| percentage of grade |
15% | 45% (15% each) |
40% | 100% |
If your cumulative score is at least 90% you are guaranteed
an A, if your score is at least 75% you are guaranteed a B-,
and if your score is at least 60% you are guaranteed a C- for the
class. In addition, if your score in the final exam is at least
90%, you are also guaranteed an A for the class.
HOMEWORK: Homework will be assigned daily, but it will be neither collected, nor graded. A list with the assignments can be found by following the homework link in the course home page. The quizzes and midterm exams will consist of problems similar to the ones assigned as homework. If you don't do your homework on a regular basis you should expect to do poorly in the course.
MISSED EXAMS POLICY: Missing an exam is permitted only for very serious and unavoidable extenuating circumstances, and only if you notify me (NOT your TA!) in advance. In all cases of absence from exams a written excuse is required. Otherwise you will get a score of 0 on the exam. Even if you are excused from taking a midterm exam, you will not be given a make-up. Instead, the following procedure will apply: at the end of the semester, two grades will be computed for a student who missed a midterm, and the highest of the two grades will be the one awarded for the class; the first grade will be determined by giving appropriate extra weights to the other midterm exams, while the second grade will be determined by giving extra weight to the final exam. Except in truly exceptional situations, a student who misses the final exam will fail the course. There will be no make-ups for missed quizzes.
INCOMPLETES: These will be given only in extraordinary circumstances, and are at my latitude. More precisely, I will consider giving you an incomplete if you have successfully completed all but a small portion of the work of the course and some severe, unexpected event prevents you from completing the course. This means that you must have taken the three midterms and must be doing work at the C level or better. You will have to sign a contract detailing what you have to do to complete the course. I will not give you an incomplete simply because you are behind in your work; in the latter case you should try to drop the course.
S/N GRADE: If you are registered S/N, I will submit a grade of S if your letter grade is C or above, and otherwise a grade of N.
CALCULATORS: During exams and quizzes you will be allowed to use scientific calculators but NOT graphing calculators. A scientific calculator is one that can calculate the values of standard functions, but cannot display the graphs of functions, or perform symbolic manipulations.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance will not be taken into account towards the final grade for this class, however it is very highly recommended. You are responsible for all material covered in class and all assignments. Experience shows that poor attendance most often results in a poor grade.