Math 2584, Fall 2019

You can log in to the online homework following the instructions here. The class key is on your paper syllabus and has been posted to Blackboard.

Important dates

Useful documents and links

• Professor Barton's notes on inverse functions, trigonometry, and exponentials (PDF file)
• Some direction field and phase plane plotters:
  • http://math.rice.edu/~dfield/dfpp.html. This is a particularly nice direction field plotter because you can click on a particular initial point and it will show you the solution; however, it does require you to download a file rather than running in a browser.
  • Professor Barton's direction field plotter
  • Professor Barton's phase plane plotter
  • http://www.directionfield.com/. A very simple direction field plotter; this one will work on the iPad. Beware: this one is very finicky about its input. (For example, you must type "3*x" and not "3x", and "pow(x,2)" and not "x^2".)
  • http://www.mathscoop.com/calculus/differential-equations/slope-field-generator.php Another direction field plotter that works on the iPad; this one is less finicky but has a number of annoying advertisements on the web page.

Course Information

Course Description: First and second order ordinary differential equations, the Laplace transform, and matrix systems of ordinary differential equations.

Prerequisites: MATH 2564 or 2564C (Calculus II) with a grade of C or better. Knowledge of the mathematical concepts learned in Calculus I and~II, especially differentiation and integration techniques as applied to polynomial, rational, exponential, and trigonometric functions. MATH 2574 (Calculus~III) and MATH 3083 (Linear Algebra) are helpful but not required.

Text: WebAssign access for Differential Equations with Boundary-Value Problems, 9th Edition, by Dennis G. Zill, Cengage Learning. All students registered for this class should have automatically been charged for and provided with WebAssign access as part of the University's Inclusive Access program. You can log in to Cengage following the instructions here. If you are taking more than one course that uses a Cengage program such as WebAssign, you can purchase Cengage Unlimited to allow access to many courses at once. (Students begin the course with a trial version of Cengage Unlimited. Students who are not taking any other Cengage courses should simply let this trial expire. For more information, see this video.)

Drill Sessions: Attendance in your drill section is required, and you must attend the section in which you are enrolled. Drill sessions are led by the course assistants and meet once every week, including the first week. In drill sessions you will normally complete laboratory assignments in groups or prepare for exams.

Course grade: Here is how I plan to weigh your grades:

Cell phones: Cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices may be used in class. The expectation is that these devices will be used for taking notes, routine calculations (i.e., calculator apps), accessing course materials, and other course-related uses only. Please do not text or play games in class!

Video recordings: Video recording of lectures is permitted. Any student who wishes to record lectures should sit in the first four rows of the lecture hall and should always aim their recording devices forwards. If you do not wish to appear on video, please sit behind these students.

Homework: All students registered for the class have purchased access to online homework and other instructional resources connected to the required text. An electronic version of the text can be accessed from the online homework site. Instructions for accessing online homework will be given the first week of class and posted on the course web site. Online homework will be assigned from each section of the text and is normally due at 11:59pm on the Sunday following the week the material was covered in class. No online homework scores are dropped.

Group projects: Group lab assignments will be held in drill sections every week (except exam weeks). There will be no makeup group lab assignments. Non-graphing calculators will be allowed on lab assignments. Your lowest score (or two scores) will be dropped.

Tests: There will be three midterms tests and a final exam. I plan to hold midterm exams during class time on the dates indicated in the calendar above. The final exam will occur in our regular classroom at the time indicated on the registrar's website.

Students may use non-graphing calculators and portable timepieces on exams. All other electronic devices, including watches that do anything other than tell the time and date, are prohibited.

If you require accommodations on an exam, notify your instructor as soon as possible, but in all cases at least one week before the exam is to be held. Documentation from the CEA may be required, depending on the nature of the accommodation.

As homework for this course is assigned through WebAssign, exam grading will stress clarity of exposition and other stylistic issues that cannot be assessed by a computer.

Make-up exams: Make-up exam requests also require written documentation as to your conflict. Except in the case of medical or other unforeseen emergencies, make-up exam requests must be made at least one week before the exam is to be held. Make-up exams are at the instructor's discretion; if you do not provide a documented reason why you cannot take the exam at the usual time, if your reason is considered inadequate, or if your request for a make-up exam is not made in a timely fashion, I reserve the right to refuse a make-up exam or to assess a late penalty (deduction from your score).

If you have three or more final exams scheduled for Monday, December 16, then under University policy you are entitled to reschedule one of your finals. If you wish to reschedule the final for our class, please notify me by email before Thanksgiving Break, and I will arrange for you to take a make-up final later in the week.

Make-up exams will be taken in the Mathematics Testing Center maintained by the MRTC. You will be allowed to take your exam on the scheduled exam date at any time when the Testing Center is open. You must finish your exam before the Testing Center closes; it is your responsibility to arrive early enough to allow this to happen.

Incompletes: Only given in extreme circumstances, and only when the student has satisfactorily completed all but a small portion of the work in the course. Students must make prior arrangements with the professor well before the end of the semester.

Inclement weather: If the University is open, the instructor and graduate assistant will make every effort to hold class and drill. On-campus students are expected to be present. Off-campus students should make their own decision based on their individual circumstances and personal safety.

Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty on any exam, quiz, or other graded item will result in a score of zero that cannot be dropped or replaced. Suspected cases of academic dishonesty are referred to the All-University Academic Integrity Board. The following passage is quoted from the referenced website and is the policy in this course:

As a core part of its mission, the University of Arkansas provides students with the opportunity to further their educational goals through programs of study and research in an environment that promotes freedom of inquiry and academic responsibility. Accomplishing this mission is only possible when intellectual honesty and individual integrity prevail. Each University of Arkansas student is required to be familiar with and abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which may be found here. There are harsh penalties for violations as prescribed by the Sanction Rubric. Students with questions about how these policies apply to a particular course or assignment should immediately contact their instructor.

Commercial Note Vendors: Some commercial vendors may reach out to you to sell the notes you take in this class. Notes derived from class lectures are the intellectual property of the instructor. Selling or otherwise sharing these notes outside the class is a violation of the instructor's intellectual property rights and constitute a violation of the University's academic integrity policies. Your continued enrollment in this class signifies your understanding of and your intent to abide by this policy.