arminstraub.com

Fall 2023: Differential Equations I (Math 238)

Overview

Instructor Dr. Armin Straub
MSPB 313
straub@southalabama.edu
(251) 460-7262 (please use e-mail whenever possible)
Office hours MW 10:00am-1:00pm, or by appointment
Lecture MWF, 9:05-9:55am, in MSPB 235
Midterm exams The tentative dates for our two midterm exams are:
Wednesday, October 4
Wednesday, November 15
Final exam Wednesday, December 13 — 8:00-10:00am
Online grades Homework Scores
Exams: USAonline (Canvas)
Syllabus syllabus.pdf

Lecture sketches and homework

To help you study for this class, I am posting lecture sketches. These are not a substitute for your personal lecture notes or coming to class (for instance, lots of details and motivation are not included in the sketches). I hope that they are useful to you for revisiting the material and for preparing for exams.

Date Sketch Homework
08/23 lecture01.pdf Homework Set 1: Problems 1-3 (due 9/8)
08/25 lecture02.pdf Homework Set 1: Problem 4 (due 9/8)
08/28 lecture03.pdf Homework Set 1: Problem 5 (due 9/8)
08/30 lecture04.pdf Homework Set 1: Problems 6-7 (due 9/8)
09/01 lecture05.pdf Homework Set 2: Problem 1 (due 9/18)
09/06 lecture06.pdf Homework Set 2: Problems 2-3 (due 9/18)
09/08 lecture07.pdf Homework Set 2: Problem 4 (due 9/18)
09/11 lecture08.pdf Homework Set 2: Problem 5 (due 9/18)
09/13 lecture09.pdf Homework Set 3: Problems 1-3 (due 9/25)
09/15 lecture10.pdf Homework Set 3: Problems 4-5 (due 9/25)
09/18 lecture11.pdf Homework Set 3: Problem 6 (due 9/25)
09/20 lecture12.pdf Homework Set 4: Problem 1 (due 10/4)
09/22 lecture13.pdf Homework Set 4: Problem 2 (due 10/4)
09/25 lecture14.pdf Homework Set 4: Problem 3 (due 10/4)
09/27 lecture15.pdf Homework Set 4: Problems 4-5 (due 10/4)
09/29 lecture16.pdf exam practice problems (as well as solutions) are posted below
10/02 review get ready for the midterm exam on 10/4 (Wednesday)
10/06 lecture17.pdf Homework Set 5: Problem 1 (due 10/20)
10/09 lecture18.pdf Homework Set 5: Problems 2-4 (due 10/20)
10/11 lecture19.pdf Homework Set 5: Problems 5-7 (due 10/20)
10/16 lecture20.pdf Homework Set 6: Problem 1 (due 10/27)
10/18 lecture21.pdf Homework Set 6: Problems 2-3 (due 10/27)
10/20 lecture22.pdf Homework Set 6: Problem 4 (due 10/27)
10/23 lecture23.pdf Homework Set 7: Problems 1-2 (due 11/6)
10/25 lecture24.pdf Homework Set 7: Problem 3 (due 11/6)
10/27 lecture25.pdf Homework Set 7: Problem 4 (due 11/6)
10/30 lecture26.pdf Homework Set 7: Problems 5-6 (due 11/6)
11/01 lecture27.pdf Homework Set 8: Problem 1 (due 11/15)
11/03 lecture28.pdf Homework Set 8: Problem 2 (due 11/15)
11/06 lecture29.pdf Homework Set 8: Problem 3 (due 11/15)
11/08 lecture30.pdf Homework Set 8: Problem 4 (due 11/15)
11/10 lecture31.pdf exam practice problems (as well as solutions) are posted below
11/13 review get ready for the midterm exam on 11/15 (Wednesday)
11/17 lecture32.pdf Homework Set 9: Problems 1-2 (due 12/8)
11/20 lecture33.pdf Homework Set 9: Problem 3 (due 12/8)
11/27 lecture34.pdf Homework Set 9: Problems 4-5 (due 12/8)
11/29 lecture35.pdf Homework Set 9: Problem 6 (due 12/8)
12/01 lecture36.pdf Homework Set 9: Problem 7 (due 12/8)
12/04 lecture37.pdf complete all outstanding homework
12/06 lecture38.pdf final exam practice problems (as well as solutions) are posted below
12/08 review get ready for the final exam on 12/13 (Wednesday)
lectures-all.pdf (all lecture sketches in one big file)
Overview of all homework problems

About the homework

  • Homework problems are posted for each unit. Homework is submitted online, and you have an unlimited number of attempts. Only the best score is used for your grade.

    Most problems have a random component (which allows you to continue practicing throughout the semester without putting your scores at risk).

  • Aim to complete the problems well before the posted due date.

    A 15% penalty applies if homework is submitted late.

  • Collect a bonus point for each mathematical typo you find in the lecture notes (that is not yet fixed online), or by reporting mistakes in the homework system. Each bonus point is worth 1% towards a midterm exam.

    The homework system is written by myself in the hope that you find it beneficial. Please help make it as useful as possible by letting me know about any issues!

Exams and practice material

The following material will help you prepare for the exams.