Rouben Rostamian

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MATH 404: Introduction to Partial Differential Equations I

Fall 2022 Course information

Class Time/Place:	TuTh 2:30pm–3:45pm, SOND 109
Office:	MP 402
Phone:	410–455–2458
Email:	rostamian@umbc.edu
Office hours:	TuTh 1:30pm–2:30pm

Course content

This is a first course on Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). It provides an overview of the subject from an elementary point of view and introduces some classic techniques for solving initial and boundary value problem. An integral part of the course is the analysis of physical phenomena such as heat conduction, wave propagation, etc., and their formulations as PDEs.

Textbook

J. David Logan, Applied Partial Differential Equations, Springer, (3rd edition, 2015). Available from the UMBC Bookstore, amazon.com, and elsewhere.

Both printed and e-book versions are available. Frankly, I don't see how one can ever seriously study mathematics from an e-book. Do yourself a favor and buy the printed version. Not a good idea to cut corners here.

The course covers the bulk of the book (chapters 1 through 4), with selections of topics from chapters 5 and 6 as time permits.

Prerequisites

You must have completed MATH 225 (Ordinary Differential Equations) and MATH 251 (Multivariable Calculus) with a grade of "C" or better before you can take this class. You should be comfortable with

• Math 225: Separation of variables, integrating factors, and solving second order linear equations;
• Math 251: The directional derivative, gradient vector, vector fields, the Divergence Thorem, and Green's identities.

Homework and exams

I will enter homework assignments on this web page shortly after each class. You are expected to work on all the assigned problems and make sure that you can solve them. Homework assigned on Tuesday and Thursday of each week is due on the Thursday of the following week unless announced otherwise. Selected problems from each homework set will be graded. Each homework set will be worth 15 points.

Late homework won't be accepted; please don't ask for exceptions. However, the two lowest homework grades will be dropped to accommodate unanticipated events.

There will be two exams during the semester, and a final exam at the end of the semester. Exams 1 and 2 will cover the first third and second third of the course; they will be given during the regularly scheduled class times. The Final Exam will be comprehensive—it will cover the entire course—however it will put much greater emphasis on the material toward the later parts of the course.

Homework:	20%
Exam 1:	25%
Exam 2:	25%
Final Exam:	30%

Overall course score will be calculated according to the weights attached to various components as shown in the adjacent table. Letter grades will be determined according to:

if { grade ≥ 85: A}
else if { grade ≥ 75: B}
else if { grade ≥ 65: C}
else if { grade ≥ 55: D}
else F

I will make and grade the exams in a fair and reasonable way, but sorry, no "curving" in this course.

Course calendar and activity log

 

Safety rules during the pandemic

UMBC requires you to wear a KN95 mask that covers your nose and mouth in all classrooms regardless of your vaccination status. This is to protect your own health as well to assure others around you that you respect their health and safety concerns.

Anyone attending class without a mask or wearing one improperly will be asked by the instructor to put on a mask or fix their mask in the appropriate position. A student that refuses to comply with this directive will be asked to leave the classroom. The failure to do so will result in the instructor requesting the assistance of the University Police.

UMBC’s on-campus safety protocols, including masking requirements, are subject to change in response to the evolving situation with Covid-19.

UMBC Honors Code

By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC's scholarly community in which everyone's academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty, and they are wrong. Academic misconduct could result in disciplinary action that may include, but is not limited to, suspension or dismissal.

The PDF document UMBC Policy for Undergraduate Student Academic Conduct spells out the official academic integrity policies for undergraduates.

Student Disability Services (SDS)

Services for students with disabilities are provided for all students qualified under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the ADAA of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act who request and are eligible for accommodations. The Office of Student Disability Services is the UMBC department designated to coordinate accommodations that would allow for students to have equal access and inclusion in their courses.