SOME OF THIS INFO BELOW IS INACCURATE AND WILL CHANGE
Text: ``Engineering Mathematics'', on-line on the CASA/CourseWare site.
Other texts for supplementary reading if desired : (a) Elementary Differential Equations by Boyce and DiPrima, (b) Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Erwin Kreyszig, (c) Linear Algebra and its Applications by David Lay, (d) Fundamentals of Differential Equations by Nagle, Saff and Snider, (e) Elementary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra, by A.L. Rabenstein.
Online access to course materials: Students will obtain their learning materials (including texts, extra electronic help, online quizzes, etc.) by using a course Access Code. Students can purchase an Access Code in the bookstore for ADD $47.35. After they purchase their Access Code, they can log into CourseWare at http://www.casa.uh.edu, click on their course, and input the code.
Students in all of these classes will have access to enough of the learning materials to get them through the first several days of class, and each time they log into CourseWare, they will be reminded of the need to purchase a course code.
Time and Place: M,W,F 10-11am in CBB 104.
Instructor: Dr. David Blecher (Email: dblecher@math.uh.edu) Be sure to write Engineering Math or 3321 in the email title, else I probably will not open it
Communications: Important information re the course or tests will be given in class, on the class website for the week we are in, or by email sent to your official email address in the uh database (if you are not receiving these emails tell me immediately). If you email me, be sure to write Engineering Math or 3321 in the email title, else I probably will not open it.
Office Hours: outside class or in PGH 622 MWF 11--11:45am; and MW 1-2pmn 622 PGH (this may change so watch this spot) (or call 743-3451 for appointment).
Prerequisites: Math 1432 (Calculus II).
TA's/Graders: : Dustin Richard Bryant (Office hours mon, wed, and Friday 11-12am in PGH 605). His email is brydustin@math.uh.edu
Final exam: The final exam is scheduled for Wed., Dec. 17, 11-2pm, in class. The date may possibly change to the last day of class, Friday December 5, if we finish early.
Last day to drop a class or withdraw without receiving a grade (W deadline) : October 31.
Last day to drop a class with some refund and without hours counting: towards the Enrollment Cap for Texas Residents. : Wednesday September 10.
First day of class : Monday August 25.
Holidays : Labor Day holiday. September 1. Thanksgiving holiday November 26-30.
Tuesday September 2 is the last day to add a class.
Last day of class : Friday December 5.
This is an Honors section, so will be run a little differently to mainstream 3321 sections. In particular it will be a bit more rigorous and theoretical in places, and we will often have extra material beyond what is in the textbook. If you are usually a C student or below in math classes, or are not into focussing hard on abstract concepts, you probably will want to change to one of the non-honors sections. In addition to the homework assigned from the text, I will be giving some homework sets of my own, which the students may find more challenging; and there will be an `Honors test' in class in the last week of the semester in addition to the CASA tests and exams.
In this course we learn how to solve certain classes of differential equations. In the first part, we review first order differential equations. Later we will solve certain nth order linear differential equations. We will need to learn a little linear algebra and matrix theory, and a little about eigenvalues and eigenvectors. We use this to solve certain nth order linear differential equations, and {\em systems of simultaneous linear differential equations}. Finally we look at the Laplace transform, and how it may be used to solve certain differential equations.
Please be sure to study carefully the webpage describing the structure of this course
Additional details/advice: The online Courseware quizzes, but not the in class quizzes and tests, are `communal' to all the Math 3321 classes at UH, and are not made by me (although I may possibly have input into some of the questions). Since the emphasis in our class is a little different to the other sections, these courseware quizzes may sometimes have an emphasis that is not so relevant to us, so may sometimes/often be graded with more of a curve to compensate for this. Attendance is very important; students with bad attendance patterns tend to lose their grip on the course, and plummet or drop out. The tests and exam will be based on the notes given in class, and on the homework. Thus it will really help you to have good class notes. The syllabus is quite long. We need to move fast through the first few chapters so that we get enough time to spend on the more difficult material at the end. It is important to keep up to date. This is important: you are responsible for all the material on the syllabus, and which is tested on in the homework and quizzes, EVEN IF I DO NOT COVER IT IN CLASS. Let me explain. Usually, if I do not cover a topic in class it is because I have no time for it. If you see a topic or method covered in the homework for Section 7.8 for example, which we did not cover in class, you should read the parts of Section 7.8 in the textbook which show you how to do that method. These may well appear on the weekly online quiz or tests and exam, since I do not have any control over the online quizzes, and only partial control of the tests/exam. If you are in doubt, ask me. Indeed, you should try to attempt all assigned homework problems (although we understand if you do not, and some are repetitive so strong students may need to do fewer exercises than others). They are there to help you learn and INTERNALIZE the material. Remember that Math is always easy when you look back on it, AFTER you have spent the time wrestling with the new concepts and doing plenty of exercises. No pain, no gain.
So, a recipe for success is: 1) Do as many problems as possible, 2) Clear up confusions (ask for help if you are lost - we want to help you get found!), 3) Learn from your mistakes - for example, check carefully through your graded work, 4) Give sufficient time to study (particularly for tests).
You are encouraged to work with others, form study groups, and so on. However you should not simply copy homework; your homework should be written in your own words, as your understanding of the solution. Thus no two students work should look the same, since student A's understanding of the logic or flow of the argument will be different to student B's. Homework graders will be looking for academic dishonesty (cheating on your homework, e.g. misrepresenting the work of others as your own (plagiarism)), and if found the entire assignment will receive a (nondroppable) zero. Please read the sections of the student handbook discussing academic dishonesty and the disciplinary actions it entails. There will be mock exams and review sessions given before each test and exam. Please bring comments or complaints to my attention as soon as possible. Don't wait until the end of the semester to bring up a matter which we could deal with and solve early on.
Incompletes: only given to students with at least a C average who are unable to take the Final for unforseeable, unpreventable, documented circumstances.
UH CAPS Statement Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) can help students who are having difficulties managing stress, adjusting to college, or feeling sad and hopeless. You can reach CAPS (www.uh.edu/caps) by calling 713-743-5454 during and after business hours for routine appointments or if you or someone you know is in crisis. No appointment is necessary for the ”Let’s Talk” program, a drop-in consultation service at convenient locations and hours around campus: