Effective: 2017-08-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

The general purpose is to give the student a solid grasp of the methods solving and applying differential equations and to prepare the student for further coursework in mathematics, engineering, computer science and the sciences.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: Completion of MTH 264 or equivalent with a grade of C or better.

Course Objectives

• First Order Differential Equations
• Classify a differential equation as linear or nonlinear.
• Understand and create a directional field for an arbitrary first-order differential equation.
• Determine the order, linearity or nonlinearity, of a differential equation.
• Solve first order linear differential equations.
• Solve Separable differential equations.
• Solve initial value problems.
• Numerical Approximations
• Use the Euler or tangent line method to find an approximate solution to a linear differential equation.
• Higher Order Differential Equations
• Solve second order homogenous linear differential equations with constant coefficients including those with complex roots and real roots.
• Determine the Fundamental solution set for a linear homogeneous equation.
• Calculate the Wronskian.
• Use the method of Reduction of order.
• Solve nonhomogeneous differential equations using the method of undetermined coefficients.
• Solve nonhomogeneous differential equations using the method of variation of parameters.
• Applications of Differential Equations, Springs-Mass-Damper, Electrical Circuits, Mixing Problems
• Solve applications of differential equations as applied to Newton's Law of cooling, population dynamics, mixing problems, and radioactive decay. (1st order)
• Solve springs-mass-damper, electrical circuits, and/or mixing problems (2nd order)
• Solve application problems involving external inputs (non-homogenous problems).
• Laplace Transforms
• Use the definition of the Laplace transform to find transforms of simple functions
• Find Laplace transforms of derivatives of functions whose transforms are known
• Find inverse Laplace transforms of various functions.
• Use Laplace transforms to solve ODEs.

Major Topics to be Included

• First Order Differential Equations
• Numerical Approximations
• Higher Order Differential Equations
• Applications of Differential Equations, Springs-Mass-Damper, Electrical Circuits, Mixing Problems
• Laplace Transforms