Meeting Times: TR 9:30-10:45, 2261 Engineering Hall

Final: 2:45 PM Tuesday May 13

Office Hours: Come any time. Let me know if you have any trouble finding me.

Course Description: We will learn how to solve ordinary and partial differential equations using computers. Historically this has been done using procedural programming languages (usually FORTRAN, but also Pascal, C, and C++). We’ll use engineering applications, which are easier to use and thus more efficient, particularly with respect to development time, and less prone to error. The primary drawback to these applications is speed, but they should be sufficient for most of what you do here, and much of what you might require at work. Equations to be solved include systems of ordinary differential equations, both as initial and boundary value problems, elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations, and eigenvalue problems.

Prerequisites: Math 319, NEEP 271 or CS 310 or consent of instructor

Computers: We will work extensively with computers in this course, so you should set up your account at CAE as soon as possible.

Course Goals: After completing this course, you should be comfortable with the solving differential equations numerically and applying the solutions to realistic engineering problems.

The Applications: We’ll use Microsoft Excel and Matlab. We’ll use these on Windows PC’s, but we could also use UNIX workstations or Macintoshes.

Lectures: You will spend a lot of time in class working on problems. Sometimes I will lecture and then we will experiment with the topics we just discussed, while other class sessions will be devoted solely to working on the homework assignments.

More on homeworks: All homeworks will be emailed directly to me. You shouldn’t have to print anything for this class. For each assignment, you have the option of working alone or completing the assignment with a partner. If you do work with a partner, you must clearly state that you have done so and you must identify your partner.

Every homework assignment should contain the following information: your name, the assignment number, my name, the course number, and the date. Put this both in the body of the email and in the attached files. In addition, each homework problem should be appropriately labeled and the results should be easy to find and clearly described.

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