MATH150 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations

Spring semester 2007-2008

Dr.Y.M. Chiang/machiang L1 Mon, Wed 13:00 - 13:50, Room 2464: Office hours: Mon.: 16:00-17:00. Tutorials: T1a (Fri. 13:00-13:50 room 2406) and T1b (Fri. 14:00-14:50 room 2406)  (course coordinator) (Ms. Zhang Kan, office room 3215)

Dr.Y.M. Chiang/machiang L2 Mon, Wed 14:00 - 14:50, Room 2464: Office hours: Mon.: 16:00-17:00. Tutorials: T2a (Wed. 13:00-13:50 room 4620) and T2b (Fri. 14:00-14:50 room 2464) (Mr. Zhao De-Gang, office room: 3213)

Dr.K.P. Ho/makho L3 Mon, Wed 11:00 - 11:50, Room 3008:  Office room: 3472. Office hours:  Mon, Wed.: 14:00-15:00. Tutorials: T3a (Mon. 12:00-12:50 room 4505) and T3b (Mon. 13:00-13:50 room 4504) (Mr. Qi You, office room 3474).

Dr.K.P. Ho/makho L4 Mon, Wed 12:00 - 12:50, Room 3008:  Office room: 3472. Office hours:  Mon, Wed.: 14:00-15:00. Tutorials: T4a (Wed. 17:00-17:50 room 2406) and T4b (Fri. 17:00-17:50 room 2504) (Mr. Warwick Yuen, office room 3215).

Final examination will take place in our sport hall on the 31st June at 12:30. Special seating arrangement plan will be posted here in the evening on the 30th June. Each student will be assigned a unique seat in the sport hall.

Sport hall plan, Lecture Session 1, Lecture Session 2, Lecture Session 3, Lecture Session 4.

Course curriculum/schedule, Main  Points, Worksheets, Homeworks, Past exam. papers, 2007/08 Calendar, Publisher's web-site, Chapter review sheets, Quick complex numbers review, Quick calculus reviews, Winplot, Vector Fields, Policy, Grading systems

 Textbook:  Boyce and DiPrima,  Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary value Problems, 8th edition  (Brief solution to most of the exercises are printed at the back of the textbook. More detailed solution to selected exercises are available from the library reserve section under 2-hour loan.) Since our teaching is based on this textbook, so you are recommended to get a copy of it.  (see Amazon.com for readers' comments)
   
Course content: (1) First order differential equations,  (2) Second order differential equations,  (3) Laplace transforms, (4)  Fourier series (5) Boundary value problems. The course consists of lectures, worksheets, tutorials and examination. Each is an integral part of the course and you are expected to try your best to attend all parts.
Grade computation: ALL four sections of MATH150 will use the same grading guidelines to standardize the evaluation policy process. The final grade will be composed of the following:

Mid-term examination: The examination is tentatively set on the 28th March 2008 (19:00-20:30, venues to be determined). No retake will be granted under normal circumstances. The test will usually cover all the material taught up to the week before the test. Policy

Final Examination: May 2008. Students who fail the course will normally not be allowed to retake the examination in the same semester. Policy

Tutorial worksheet. The weekly worksheet is for you to practice and expand upon the material covered in lectures. In completing the worksheet you are encouraged to ask your TA questions, but do not expect the TA to do the worksheet for you. You may also form a small group of students in your tutorial to discuss and collaborate in completing the worksheet. Each worksheet is turned in to the TA at the end of the tutorial and graded on a PASS/FAIL (1 or 0 points) basis. Answers to the tutorial worksheet will be posted by the TA the following Monday. Policy

Recommended Homework: Recommended homework problem are for practice by the student and is not turned in or graded. These problems are practice for the lecture material. Students should do at least some of the recommended problems. Some of the recommended problems will be done in the lectures. Answers to many of the homework problems are available in the back of the book. The ideal situation is for a student to try some of the questions before coming to class. By working out some of the problem before hand a student will learn more from the problems solved in class.

Student Conduct:

1. You should be punctual in attending the lectures, late arrivals are not welcome.

2. Class discussion is highly encouraged, but casual chatting is disruptive and repeat offenders will be asked to leave the lecture room.

3. All mobile phones should be switched off during the lectures or tutorials. Offenders may be asked to leave the lecture room.

4. Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses. Students who commit these offenses may receive zero mark in the homework/test/examination. However, more serious penalty may be imposed, for which you should consult the `Academic Calender'.

Your comments: Please do contact us if you have any questions or problem with the course. Your comments are very welcomed.