Synonym: 04534, Section: 001, Northridge 2244
Monday - Thursday  12:15 – 1:30 PM

Course Description : MATH 2420 DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS (4-4-0) . A course in the standard types and solutions of linear and nonlinear ordinary differential equations, include Laplace transform techniques. Series methods (power and/or Fourier) will be applied to appropriate differential equations. Systems of linear differential equations will be studied. Skills: S  Course Type: T

Instructional Methodology : This course is taught in the classroom primarily as a lecture/discussion course. The class will also have a computer lab component.

Course Rationale : This is a traditional introductory course in the standard types and solutions of linear and nonlinear ordinary differential equations and systems of linear differential equations usually taken by mathematics, engineering and computer science students.  

Please make sure you have the necessary prerequisites for this course. That means you need a C or better in Calculus II (or an equivalent course) or an acceptable grade on placement tests. If we feel you are not prepared for this course, we may choose to withdraw you. If you have any questions about your preparation for the course, please come and talk to one of us about it.

Text : Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems by Boyce & DiPrima, Eighth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Publishing.

There is a CD included which contains:  ODE Architect software, ODE Architect Companion, Student Solutions Manual, and an Electronic Version of the entire Seventh Edition.

Calculator :  The use of calculators or computers in order to perform routine computations is encouraged in order to give students more time on abstract concepts.  The software ODE Architect is available for student use.    The ODE Architect software is available during and outside class.  Mathematica software is also available for student use.

There will be 3 exams for 100 points each, 100 points from computer labs, plus a comprehensive final for 100 points during the term.  Homework and other in-class assignments will count for 20-30 points, depending on the amount assigned.

You may earn bonus points on each test, except for the final test, by correcting all errors and turning them in by the announced deadline. If you submit these corrections for every test that you make less than a 90, then we will replace your lowest test grade with the average of that grade and your grade on the final exam. If you take any test late for any reason, there will be a penalty of 10 points off your test grade, from the deadline for the test announced in class until the day graded tests are returned to the class. However, no late tests will be allowed after the graded tests are handed back in class.  There will generally be a 10% penalty for all late computer labs.

If you miss a test, you must try to take it during this “late” period. If you miss this deadline as well, we may consider allowing you to make-up the test or hand in corrections on all tests and replace part of the missed test with your grade on the final, but only in the case of serious illness or emergency. Make-ups of any sort are solely at the discretion of the instructors.  All tests and assignments must be turned in on or before the last class meeting.

Grades will be assigned as follows:

90% or better and a grade of at least 75 on the final

60% - 69%

80% - 89% and a grade of at least 65 on the final

below 60%

70% - 79% and a grade of at least 55 on the final

Withdrawn by student or instructor prior to last withdrawal date on school calendar

Incomplete grades (I) will be given only in very rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of "I", a student must have taken all tests, be passing, and after the last date to withdraw, have a personal tragedy occur which prevents course completion.

You should bring your homework to class every day.  It will be collected regularly.  There may also be in-class assignments or quizzes collected for a grade (as part of your homework grade). There will be a penalty on late homework. Homework that is more than a week late might not receive any credit.   If you do not follow the instructions that will be announced in class about how to organize and submit your homework, you may not receive full (or any) credit for it.

It is the student's responsibility to initiate all withdrawals in this course.  The instructor may withdraw students for excessive absences (4) but makes no commitment to do this for the student. (If you decide to stop coming, you had best make sure that you drop the course. While we MIGHT do this, it is YOUR responsibility. If you fail to do so, you could receive an F on your permanent record.) After the withdrawal deadline, neither the student nor the instructor may initiate a withdrawal. If you are withdrawn by mistake, we will only consider reinstating you if you have taken all necessary tests, are current in your homework, and have not missed an excessive number of classes.  The withdrawal deadline for Summer 2007 is July 31,2007 .

Attendance is required in this course.  It is extremely important for you to attend class regularly. Although we may not take regular attendance, we MAY drop you from the course for excessive absences, although we make no commitment to do so.

Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from the class. ACC's policy on student discipline can be found in the Student Handbook page 32 or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook

All students are expected to actively participate in this class. This can include asking relevant questions in class, participating in class discussions and other in-class activities, helping other students, coming to office hours with questions, and doing other things that contribute to the class.

Please, try to keep up with the homework and with the lecture in class. There just isn't much time to catch up. This means you have to be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to do the homework and to study.

Please, please, please, if you don't understand something, or you aren't clear about something, or if you think I (or the book) have made a mistake (it has been known to happen), or if you have any other questions, please ask. Don't let confusion accumulate. If you don't want to ask in class, come to our office hours (or call) and ask. It is much easier to ask a question now than to miss it on the test.  I expect all students to participate in class discussions and other activities. Trust me, you will get much more out of the class if you become actively involved in it.

It is much more important that you understand the processes involved in solving problems than that you just give me the right answer. If I see from your work that you understand what you are doing, I will usually give partial credit for a problem, even if you made a mistake somewhere along the line. If you don't show your work (unless I believe you could reasonably do it in your head), I may not give you full credit, even if the answer is right. If you can really do something in your head, that's great, but when in doubt, write it down.  It is also very important that you write what you mean. I will correct your notation the first few times, but I will start counting it wrong if you continue to write things incorrectly. In addition, please write clearly and legibly. If I can't read it, I won't grade it.

To do homework and study requires two or three times as much time outside of class as the time you spend in class in order to succeed in this course. If you need more out-of-class help than you can obtain in your instructor's office hours, free tutoring is available in any of ACC's Learning Labs.

Course-Specific Support Services  Sometimes sections  of MATH 0187 (1-0-2) are offered. This lab is designed for students currently registered in Calculus I MATH 2413. It offers individualized and group setting to provide additional practice and explanation. This course is not for college-level credit. Repeatable up to two credit hours.

ACC main campuses have Learning Labs which offer free first-come, first-serve tutoring in mathematics courses. The locations, contact information and hours of availability of the Learning Labs are posted at: http://www.austincc.edu/tutor

Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work.  Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, work, research or self-expression.  Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations; and homework.

Students who violate the rules concerning scholastic dishonesty will be assessed an academic penalty which the instructor determines is in keeping with the seriousness of the offense. This academic penalty may range from a grade penalty on the particular assignment to an overall grade penalty in the course, including possibly an F in the course. ACC's policy can be found in the Student Handbook page 33 or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook .  

Testing Center Policies :  ACC Testing Center policies can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/ .  Deadlines for all tests will be announced in class.  Any tests taken after the announced deadline are considered late.

Student Services :  The web address for student services is:   http://www.austincc.edu/rss/index.htm . The ACC student handbook can be found at:   http://www.austincc.edu/handbook

Instructional Services :  The web address is:   http://www.austincc.edu/faculty/newsemester/ , then click on “Campus Based Student Support Overview”.

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities.  Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office of Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.  Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.

Students who are requesting accommodation must provide the instructor with a letter of accommodation from the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) at the beginning of the semester.   Accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the letter of accommodation from OSD