MA 3311 Differential Equations I

Course Goals: To help students to develop skills and knowledge of standard concepts in ordinary differential equations.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify essential characteristics of ordinary differential equations.
2. Develop essential methods of obtaining closed form solutions.
3. Develop essential methods of obtaining numerical solutions.
4. Explore the use of differential equations as models in various applications.
5. Explore the use of series methods to solve problems with variable coefficients.
6. Explore methods of solving initial value problems by transform methods.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to:

1. Classify ordinary differential equations according to order and linearity, as well as distinguish between initial value problems and boundary value problems.
2. Solve standard constant coefficient nonhomogeneous ordinary differential equations by the methods of undetermined coefficients.
3. Use the methods of Euler, Runge-Kutta, and others to solve differential equations numerically.
4. Formulate and solve application problems.
5. Find series solutions about ordinary and regular-singular points.
6. Determine the solution of difference equation problems by z-transform methods and differential equation problems by Laplace Transform methods.