Class Information
MATH 242 ELEM DIFFENTIAL EQUATIONS
Section: 004
Semester: Spring 2014
Credit Hours: 3

Meeting Information
Classroom Location: Leconte 115
Days and Times: T TH 10:05AM to 11:20AM

Instructor Information
Xinfeng Liu
Email: xfliu@math.sc.edu
Phone: 576-5849
Office Location: LC 422
Office Hours: T TH 11:30AM-1:00PM or by prior appointment


Textbook: Differential Equations (computing and modeling), Fourth Edition, by C. H. Edwards and D. E. Penney.

Prerequisites: A grade of C or higher in Math 142.

Subject Materials: We shall cover most of the material presented in Chapters 1-4 and in Chapter 7 of the text (tentatively).

Learning Outcome: Students are expected to master mathematical concepts and apply these concepts to solve problems of first order and higher order linear ODEs based upon the methods they learn from this class.

Reading: Reading the textbook in advance of the lecture is strongly encouraged. Benifits of this preparation include obtaining a familiarity with the terminology and concepts that will be encountered (so you can distinguish major points from side issues), being able to formulate questions about the parts of the presentation that you do not understand, and having a chance to review the skills and techniques that will be needed to apply the new concepts.

Syllabus

Tentative Schedule

Homework Assignment

Homework and Quiz:
Homework will not be collected, but you are supposed to do them all. REMEMBER: the more problems you do, the better you understand the material. Students are encouraged to work together on homework sets. There will be approximately one quiz per week on Thursday, and no quiz during the exam weeks. There are two to four problems for each quiz. The quiz problems will be either the same as, or very similar to those from the homework. Thus, if a student has made a good attempt at the homework, he/she should do well on the quiz. One lowest quiz grade will be dropped from the final grade calculation.

Exams: There will be three midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam.
Exam 1: Thursday, Febuary 13, 10:05AM - 11:20AM
Exam 2: Thursday, March 20, 10;05AM - 11:20AM
Exam 3: Thursday, April 17, 10:05AM - 11:20AM
Final Exam: Saturday, May 3, 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

The exams are "closed book" – no books, no notes, no graphing calculators, no labtop comptuer or equivalent technology, etc. You may use the scientific calculator. Picture I.D. is required and must be presented upon request. There are no early exams. A make-up exam is only possible for written legitimate documented reasons of illness, family emergency, or participation in a University sponsered event. You must take your exams with the lecture for which you are registered.

Grades:
Quizzes: 25%
Three Midterms: 15% each
Final exam: 30%
Grading Scales: A (90-100%), B+ (86-89%), B (80-85%), C+ (76-79%), C (70-75%), D+ (66-69%), D (60-65%), F (0-59%)

Attendance: Attendance at every class meeting is important - and expected. Students missing more than 10% of the class meetings (4 days) can have their grade lowered.

Academic Dishonesty: Cheating and plagiarism in any form is not tolerated. If a student is caught cheating, I will follow the guidelines as set forth in the USC Honor Code and other University guidelines.

Cell Phone Policy: Please remember to turn off or silence your cell phone prior to class. No texting allowed during class. Computers can only be used to make notes, and playing computer games during class is not tolerated.