Math 20D - Introduction to Differential Equations - Fall 2011

| General Info | Calendar | Announcements | Additional Help | Homework | Matlab Homework | Exams | Lecture Summaries|

General Information

Meeting TimeMon., Wed., Fri., 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Location LEDDEN AUDITORIUM
Instructor Dragos Oprea
Course
Assistants
Mark Kempton
  • Section A01, Tuesday 8-8:50AM, WLH 2206
  • Section A02, Tuesday 9-9:50AM, WLH 2206
  • Section A03, Tuesday 10-10:50AM, WLH 2206
  • Office: APM 6414
  • Office Hours: Wednesday 2-4PM, Matlab Thursday 10-11AM, 2-3PM.
  • Email: mkempton at math dot ucsd dot edu.
Jorge Gonzalez
  • Section A04, Tuesday 11-11:50AM, WLH 2206.
  • Section A05, Tuesday 12-12:50PM, WLH 2206.
  • Section A06, Tuesday 1-1:50PM, WLH 2206.
  • Office: APM 6446
  • Office Hours: Monday and Tuesday 3-4PM, Matlab Thursday 11AM-1PM.
  • Email: jlg005 at math dot ucsd dot edu.
Lab Sections are held in APM B432
You will need to go to the lab led by the TA who teaches your section.
  • A50, Thursday 8-8:50
  • A51, Thursday 9-9:50
  • A52, Thursday 10-10:50
  • A53, Thursday 11-11:50
  • A54, Thursday 12-12:50
  • A55, Thursday 1-1:50.
Textbook Elementary Differential Equations, ninth edition, by William E. Boyce and Richard C. DiPrima; published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.;
Required and available at the bookstore and on reserve in the library. We will cover parts of Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 of the text.
Grade
Breakdown
The grade is computed as the best of the following weighed averages:
  • Homework 10%, Matlab 5%, Matlab Quiz 5%, Midterm I 20%, Midterm II 20%, Final Exam 40%.
  • Homework 15%, Matlab 5%, Matlab Quiz 5%, Midterm I 15 %, Midterm II 15%, Final Exam 45%.
In addition, you must pass the final examination in order to pass the course.
Course
Content
Ordinary differential equations: exact, separable, and linear; constant coefficients, undetermined coefficients. Variations of parameters. Series solutions. Systems. Laplace transforms. Techniques for engineering sciences. Computing symbolic and graphical solutions using Matlab.
Prerequisites Math 20C (or Math 21C) with a grade of C- or better.
ReadingsReading the sections of the textbook corresponding to the assigned homework exercises is considered part of the homework assignment. You are responsible for material in the assigned reading whether or not it is discussed in the lecture. It will be expected that you read the assigned material in advance of each lecture.
Calculators Calculator use will not be permitted on exams. Graphing calculators are not required for the course.
Homework Homework problems will be assigned on the course homework page. You may drop the homework in the drop box on the 6th floor of AP&M by 3:50PM on Wednesday.

You may work together with your classmates on your homework and/or ask the instructors, the TA's, or tutors in the calculus lab for help on assigned homework problems. However, the work you turn in must be your own. No late homework assignments will be accepted.

Please adhere to the following neatness guidelines for homework that you turn in to be graded.
  • Write your name and section clearly on the front page of your completed assignment.
  • Clearly number each solution.
  • Write clearly and legibly.
Matlab
Homework
Matlab homework is due Thursdays during section or else in the drop-off box on the 6th floor of AP&M at 4:50PM on Thursday. The Matlab homework page is here. There are four Matlab Assignments, due on Oct 6, Oct 20, Nov 3 and Nov 17.
Matlab
Quiz
There will one Matlab Quiz on December 1.
Midterm
Exams
There will be two midterm exams given in class. The dates are Oct 21 and Nov 18. There will be no makeup exams. A page of notes, front only, is allowed.
Final
Exam
The final examination will be held on Friday, December 9, 8-11AM. There is no make up final examination.
It is your responsability to ensure that you do not have a schedule conflict during the final examination; you should not enroll in this class if you cannot sit for the final examination at its scheduled time.
Academic
Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is considered a serious offense at UCSD. Students caught cheating will face an administrative sanction which may include suspension or expulsion from the university.

Announcements & Dates

Important Dates and Class Holidays:
  • Friday, September 23: First lecture.
  • Friday, October 7: Add deadline
  • Friday, October 21: Midterm I
  • Friday, October 21: Drop deadline
  • Friday, November 11: Veterans' Day
  • Friday, November 18: Midterm II
  • Thursday-Friday November 24-25: Thanksgiving Recess -- No Class
  • Thursday, December 1: Matlab Quiz
  • Friday, December 9: FINAL EXAM, 8-11am

Midterm I

Fall 2008 Midterm I - Solutions.

Midterm I Topics

Midterm I and Solutions

Midterm II

Midterm II Topics

Fall 2008 Midterm II - Solutions.

Midterm II and Solutions.

Final Exam

Final Exam Topics

Fall 2008 Final Exam - Solutions.

Final Exam

Additional Help

If you are having trouble with the homework or have questions about the material, the best way to get help is to attend the office hours offered by me and the teaching assistants. If you can't make the scheduled times, then email us and we'll set up an appointment.

Additional help is given by

Lecture Summaries

Lecture 1: Course introduction. Outline. Classification of differential equations: linear/nonlinear, first order etc.

Lecture 2: Geometric methods. Direction fields, integral curves. Integral curves do not cross or touch. Examples.

Lecture 3: Constant coefficient first order linear equations. Equilibrium solutions. Variable coefficient first order linear equations. Method of integrating factors. Standard linear form.

Lecture 4: More on integrating factors. Examples. Existence and uniqueness of solutions. Discontinuities of coefficients and domain of definition of solutions.

Lecture 5: Separable equations. Examples. Modeling with differential equations: mixture problems.

Lecture 6: Autonomous equations. Criticial points. Phase portrait. Classification of critical points: asymptotically stable, semistable, unstable. Logistic growth.

Lecture 7: Exact differential equations: M+Ny'=0 where M=f_x and N=f_y. Check for exactness: M_y=N_x. Finding the potential function f. The potential function is constant along solutions: f(x,y)=c.

Lecture 8: Second order constant coefficient differential equations and IVP. Characteristic equation. Case of real roots. General solution is found by superposition.

Lecture 9: Case of complex roots. Complex exponentials. Real valued solutions are found by taking real and imaginary part of the complex valued solutions. Oscillations. Case of repeated roots.

Lecture 10: General theory of linear second order homogeneous equations. Superposition of solutions. Wronskian is given by a 2 x 2 determinant. Fundamental pairs of solutions have non-zero Wronskian. Abel's theorem.

Lecture 11: General theory of inhomogeneous equations. Solutions are of the form y=y_p+y_h. Finding the particular solution y_p by undertmined coefficients. The exponential case: x_p=e^{at}/p(a). When exponent is a root of the characteristic equation, x_p=te^{at}/p'(a).

Lecture 12: Undetermined coefficients: polynomial, trigonometric and mixed cases. Midterm review.

Lecture 13: Variation of parameters and examples. I showed how to look for solutions of the form y=u_1 y_1+u_2 y_2, where y_1, y_2 solve the homogeneous equation and u_1, u_2 are functions to be determined. I determined u_1, u_2.

Lecture 14: Systems of first order linear equations. I solved an explicit system. I showed how a first order linear system becomes a second order differetial equation and conversely.

Lecture 15: Matrices and vectors. Products. Determinants. Invertible matrices. Calculating inverses. Solving systems of linear equations. Eigenvalues. Eigenvectors. Characteristic polynomials.

Lecture 16: Linear independence. Span. Basis. General theory of first order systems. Solutions of the form e^{\lambda t} v, where lambda is an eigenvalue and v is an eigenvector. Superposition of solutions. Fundamental set of solutions and the Wronskian.

Lecture 17: Solving homogeneous systems with constant coefficients by finding eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Real distinct eigenvalues: origin can be a saddle (eigenvalues of opposite signs) or node (eigenvalues of the same sign). Unstable or asymptotically stable nodes.

Lecture 18: Complex eigenvalues and spirals. To find real valued solutions, take real and imaginary part of complex valued solutions. Finding the direction of the spiral by computing velocity vectors. Repeated eigenvalues. Finding the fundamental pair of solutions by undetermined coefficients.

Lecture 19: Sketching improper nodes. I showed a diagram summarizing the types of trajectories. I discussed the exceptional cases: zero eigenvalues or purely imaginary eigenvalues.

Lecture 20: Fundamental matrices. Normalized fundamental matrix Phi(t)=Psi(t)Psi(0)^{-1}. Solving initial value problems x=Phi(t) x_0. Exponentials of matrices e^{At}=Psi(t)Psi(0)^{-1}=Phi(t).

Lecture 21: Inhomogeneous systems. Undetermined coefficients. Variation of parameters for systems x'=Ax+g(t). Particular solution given by x_p=Psi(t) integral Psi(t)^{-1} g(t).

Lecture 22: Series methods. Series. Radius of convergence. Taylor series. Examples. Solving differential equations using series: finding recursive formulas between coefficients.

Lecture 23: Laplace transform. Functions of exponential growth. I calculated the Laplace transform of 1, e^{at}, cos (at), sin (at) and t^n.

Lecture 24: Shift rule: Laplace of e^{at} f(t) is F(s-a). Laplace transforms of derivatives. Inverse Laplace transform and partial fractions. Using Laplace transform to solve initial value problems.

Lecture 25: Step functions. Laplace transform of step functions. The inverse Laplace transform of e^{-sa}F(s) is u_a(t)f(t-a). I solved a differential equation involving step functions.

Lecture 26: Final Exam Review.