Class Information

Course Title Introduction to Differential Equations I

Instructor Kameryn Williams

Website http://kamerynjw.net/teaching/2018/math302/

Email kamerynw [ at ] hawaii ( period ) edu

Class Hours MWF 9:30–10:20

Room Virtually via Zoom

Office Hours MW 8:30–9:20, F 11:30–12:20

Office Virtually via Zoom and Discord

Textbook Tennenbaum and Pollard, Ordinary Differential Equations, Dover Edition.

Course Description First order ordinary differential equations, constant coeffcient linear equations, oscillations, Laplace transform, convolution, Green’s function.

Prerequisite A grade of C or better in Math 216 or 243 (or concurrent) or 253A (or concurrent) or consent.

Grading Policy

The break-down for your grade is as follows:

  • 20% Midterm 1

  • 20% Midterm 2

  • 20% Final project

  • 20% Online homework

  • 20% In-class work

Grades will be assigned based upon the standard F to A scale. I do not anticipate this happening, but I reserve the right to later move the intervals downward if I decide a curve is necessary.

  • [93,100] A;

  • [90,93) A-;

  • [87,90) B+;

  • [83,87) B;

  • [80,83) B-;

  • [77,80) C+;

  • [73,77) C;

  • [70,73) C-;

  • [67,70) D+;

  • [63,67) D;

  • [60,63) D-;

  • [0,60) F.

Class Structure

Class will be held virtually via Zoom. Information on how to connect can be found on the Laulima site and the Discord for the class.

The weekly structure of the class will be as follows. Mondays and Wednesdays will be used for lecture while Friday will be used for in-class work. Homework for the week will be due by 11:55pm Sundays.

Attendance Policy

A portion of your grade is based on in-class activities.

Homework Policy

Homework will be weekly through WeBWorK. Details TBA.

Exam Policy

There will be two midterms.

Tentative midterm dates:

  • Midterm 1: Friday, February 19.

  • Midterm 2: Friday April 23.

Final Projects

As part of this class I will ask you to do a project about applications of differential equations. You will write about an application of differential equations to a topic of your choice. Details TBA

Virtual Office Hours

Office hours will be held virtually, details to be announced.

Academic Honesty

Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty are not tolerated. This holds for every class, but I want to especially emphasize it here. This class is the gateway to most upper division mathematics classes, and what you learn here forms the basis of what you will do in those classes. If you cheat here it will only come back to hurt you in future classes.

KOKUA Program and Accessibility

Students with disabilities are legally entitled to reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to education. Any student who feels they may need accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the KOKUA Program, the UH Mānoa office for students with disabilities. I am committed to providing students with equal access to this class, and am happy to work with you and KOKUA to ensure reasonable accommodations in my course. Because the accommodations offered are usually forward-looking modifications rather than mitigating poor grades you may have already received due to your disability, it is important to get in touch with the KOKUA Program as soon as you can. Further information and contact details can be found on their website.

Accessibility is especially saliant when the class is ran virtually and everything is mediated through the use of technology, much of which is not adequately designed with accessibility in mind. I ask that you contact me as soon as possible if there is an accommodation you need for any of the online materials for the class, so that we can get it taken care of as soon as possible.

The ADA defines a disability as a medical condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities—including things like walking sleeping, taking care of yourself, learning, and regulating your emotions—or major bodily functions. If you have a medical condition—including mental health conditions—that significantly interferes with your schoolwork, you probably qualify. You do not need to disclose your condition to your instructors to receive accommodations.

Counseling and Student Development Center

The Counseling and Student Development Center offers confidential counseling services to support students with personal, academic, or career concerns.

Food Vault Hawaiʻi

Groups on campus have organized a food pantry, free to use for students at UH Mānoa. All registered students with a valid student ID may access the food pantry. Further information, including location and schedule, can be found here or on this facebook page.