Math
353:
Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
MTuWThF, 9:30am - 10:45am, Synchronous remote learning class, June 28 to August 8, 2021
Professor Hubert Bray, Mathematics
Department, Duke University
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Fridays, after class, or by appointment.
Text:
"Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems" by
Boyce and DiPrima, 11th edition
Homework: HW
will be assigned out of the text book, which we will follow reasonably
closely. It is in your interests to read the book as we go, and
the HW problems should help you achieve this. You may turn in one
late HW without any penalty, after which penalties will be accessed at
the discretion of the grader.
Midterms: The
two midterms will be on Friday, July 16,
and Friday, July 30. You
will be
responsible for all of the material in sections of the book which have
had HW problems assigned in them.
Final Exam: The
final exam will be on Sunday, August 8, 2021, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the usual zoom link for the class.
Grade: The grade
for the course will be based on the larger of your final exam score and
your course average score, after a "curve" is applied at the discretion
of the instructor. Your course average score will be determined by:
1) 30%: Homework
2) 40%: 2 Class Exams
3) 30%: Final Exam
Note that since most students get very high averages on their
homework, it is usually easier to get a high course average score.
However, if you happen to feel like you under performed on either of
the first two in-class exams, a high grade in the course is still
possible if you do well on the final exam.
Disclaimers: While a perfect score on the final exam may entitle you to
an A+ in the course typically, this also may not be the case if the
exam is easier than usual. More generally, all curves and
interpretations of scores into letter grades are at the discretion of
the instructor. Any letter grades given out on the first two in-class
exams are only meant to serve as a guide and are not used to compute
your course average scores, which are entirely computed by averaging
numeric scores on homeworks and exams, according to the formula above.
While it is our intention to grade all of the homework, we reserve the right to grade portions of the homework,
as needed, to count for the homework as a whole. Late penalties on
homework are assigned (or not) at the discretion of the graders. If you
are turning in late homework, do so as quickly as reasonably possible.
In the very unlikely circumstance that you absolutely cannot be
available to take one of the exams (especially the final exam) on the scheduled day and time, contact the
instructor as far in advance as possible to discuss the situation. All grading policies not explicitly stated here, such as
those covering unusual circumstances, will be determined by the
instructor.
Final remarks: The course as a whole is not on a curve. If everyone
does "A" work in the opinion of the instructor, then everyone gets an
"A" - and the same for any other grade. This is to encourage students
to help each other in the class. Also, your instructor and the other
graders want to help you learn as much as possible so that you can
achieve your goals in academics and in life. If you need help with any
aspect of this course, they are ready to help you as best they can.