MATH 246E, Sect.0801, Spring 1998: Differential Equations for Scientists and Engineers

There is also a page for all three MATH246E sections.

Course Outline

Information about time & place, instructor, textbooks, syllabus, grading policy, Matlab assignments, final exam. This was handed out in the first class.

Assignments

Problem set A: in the Math 246E Matlab supplement should be done by each student (not in teams) by February 5. It will not be collected or graded. Note that the other Matlab assignments will be different from the problems sets B, C, D/E, F in the Matlab supplement.
Solution to problem set A
Assignment 1 was handed out on Thursday, February 5. It was due on Tuesday, February 17.
Assignment 2 was handed out on Tuesday, March 3. It is due on Tuesday, March 17.
Assignment 3 was handed out on April 21. It is due on May 5.
Assignment 4 was handed out on May 5. It is due on May 18.

How to Hand in Assignments

Read the section ``Working with Matlab'' in the Matlab supplement.

For each problem hand in

a printout of the file problemX.m containing the Matlab commands, and comments answering the questions asked in the problem. Also include comments for each plot command indicating which of the attached graphics it produced.
a printout of the file problemX.txt containing the lines of problemX.m together with the corresponding Matlab output (produced by using the Matlab diary command)
a printout of all graphics. Clearly label the graphics and put a comments in the file problemX.m so that it is clear which Matlab command produced which graphic.
(On Glue, WAM typing print figXY.ps in Matlab produces a postscript file figXY.ps of the current figure which you can then send to the printer.)
additional (possibly handwritten) pages containing additional answers not contained in the comments of the file problemX.m

Please study the Solution to Problem Set A to get an idea what the files problemX.m and problemX.txt should look like.

Using Matlab for Differential Equations

You are expected to read these documents carefully and try out the explained commands and examples on the computer (you can copy and paste the commands from the browser into the Matlab window).

Using Matlab for First Order ODEs: How to plot direction fields, solve ODEs numerically and symbolically, plot solutions
Using Matlab for Higher Order ODEs and Systems of ODEs: Solving ODEs numerically and symbolically, plotting the solutions, phase plane plots, vector fields.
Solving ODEs using the Laplace Transform in Matlab
Using Matlab for Autonomous Systems

For further information about Matlab:

Common Problems with Matlab: If you have trouble check this page before asking the tutor.
Matlab Primer (Postscript file, 35 p.): Explains basic Matlab commands (but not symbolic operations, differential equation commands)

Using Computers on Campus

Computer labs where Matlab 5 is available: Check current availability of machines
- WAM: PG2, AVW 1120, CSS 4352, Worcester Hall 0111, EPSL Library 2403
- Glue: AVW 1442, AVW 1454, EGR 0310 (not EGR 0311 as printed in the MATH 246E Matlab supplement)
How to get a WAM account, GLUE account, Printing account
Text editors (for writing m-files): Pico, vi, emacs
Getting started with your WAM Unix account (also applies to Glue account)
Using the Sun SPARCstation (applies to Glue and WAM, also to Glue DEC workstations)
How to print text files for free

Tutoring with Matlab

A tutor (Ali Hirsa) will help students with Matlab. He will not do the problem sets for you, but only help with technical questions about the computers and Matlab. Before you ask the tutor check the page Common Problems with Matlab. The tutoring will be done in the Glue lab in EGR 0310. The schedule is

Monday 1-3
Tuesday 8-10
Wednesday 11-12
Friday 8-10

Tobias von Petersdorff ,

tvp@math.umd.edu