MATH 529, Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences II
Spring 2010, TR 9:30-10:45, Phillips 332
Text: Advanced Engineering Mathematics, 2nd Edition, by M. D. Greenberg
Instructor: Peter J. Mucha
Office Hours: Mondays 9:00-10:00, Tuesdays 8:30-9:30 & 10:45-11:45
Goals
This course is the second half of a year-long sequence in applied and computational mathematics for advanced undergraduate students in the sciences. These courses emphasize differential equations modeling problems in various scientific applications, with both analytical and numerical methods of solution of these equations. The second semester focuses primarily on partial differential equations (Chapters 16, 19 & 20), the essentials of complex analysis (Chapters 21-24), and additional discussion of variable-coefficient and nonlinear ordinary differential equations (Chapters 4 & 7). As needed, additional materials will be presented on or linked to from the course web site.
Course Web Site
The students are responsible for regularly checking with the course information available online (from http://www.unc.edu/~mucha/courses), where additional materials will be presented along with information about assignments and exams. A Recent Changes button is provided at the bottom of each page which lists updates to the online course materials for the current group of pages. That is, if you are already in the Math 529 Spring 2010 group, it lists all updates for that group; in contrast, the (All) link lists all updates site-wide. The bottom of each page also includes a history link which shows the detailed changes made to that page.
Prerequisites & Expectations
It is assumed that the students remember the essentials of Calculus and a first course in differential equations (such as Math 383), including knowledge of and ability to use most of the material in Chapters 1-3 of the Greenberg text, and maintain command of the main material from Math 528, from Chapters 5, 6, 17 & 18. It is also assumed that the students have a willingness to learn some useful computational tools, notably some things we will do using MATLAB and Mathematica.
Class attendance and homework (including some computational assignments) are critical to success in this class. No class will be held during university recognized holidays. Refer to the university calendar for drop dates. No late assignments will be accepted nor make-up examinations given without a validated excuse obtained in a timely manner. In short, be responsible.
Exams
Three in-class exams (75 minutes each) will be given, on Tuesday February 9th, Thursday March 4th, and Tuesday April 13th. The final exam will be at the time designated by the registrar, Saturday May 1st at 8am.
Homework
Homework assignments will be assigned typically every week. All homework will be due one week after it is assigned unless otherwise specified.
Grades
Homework will count for 1/6 of the total course grade. Each in-class exam will count for 1/6 of the total course grade. The final exam will count for 1/3 of the total course grade. It is important to emphasize that grades will not be determined by the "90/80/etc." system that many of you may be used to; rather, the dividing lines between grades will be determined by instructor expectations, and will be communicated after each exam. The grades are not set by a curve.
Honor Code
Students in this class are expected to abide by the UNC Honor Code. All academic work should be done with the high level of honesty and integrity that this university demands. Students must avoid any academic misconduct, including but not limited to: (1) possessing, using, or exchanging improperly acquired written or oral information in the preparation of a paper or in an exam; (2) substitution of material that is wholly or substantially identical to that created or published by another individual or individuals; (3) false claims of performance or work that have been submitted by the student. Students are encouraged to collaborate with one another on homework assignments, as long as each student acknowledges the contributions of collaborators. No collaboration is allowed for exams.
