ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT FLORISSANT VALLEY

COURSE OF STUDY

MTH:240

 

DEPARTMENT:                    Mathematics                      LAST UPDATE:  Summer 2006     

 

COURSE TITLE:       Differential Equations                   CREDIT HOURS:       3

 

LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK:      3                                                   LAB HOURS PER WEEK:  0

 

During the first week of the semester, it is the responsibility of each instructor to furnish, in writing, the course objectives and a course syllabus.  The objectives are stated below.  The syllabus should include instructor information, course information, expected outcomes, course requirements, method of evaluation and an explanation of grading policies, policies on make  up work, ground rules for class participation, a tentative class schedule, withdrawal dates, expected classroom behavior, information on the math learning center, consultation (office) hours, and an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations statement.

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

This course introduces methods of solving differential equations including LaPlace Transforms and differential operators with applications.

 

 

COURSE PREREQUISITE:

 

MTH:230 with a grade of “C” or better.

 

TEXT and CALCULATOR REQUIREMENTS:

 

A First Course in Differential Equations with Applications, 7th Edition, Zil, PWS-KENT Publishing Company, 1993.

 

The use of a TI 83/84 is required of every student in this course.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

The student will…

  1. be able to solve ordinary differential equations by selected methods, including LaPlace Transforms and differential operators.
  2. be able to solve elementary application problems involving differential equations.

 

 

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE:

                                               

The following is a suggested time schedule for covering the core topics in Chapters 1-4, 6 and 7.                                                    

                                                                         

 

 

Suggested Time Allotment

Chapters

Topics and Sections

(Number of weeks)

 

 

 

Chapter 1

Introduction of Differential Equations

1

 

 

 

Chapter 2

First Order Differential Equations

2

 

Sections 2.7 and 2.8 are optional

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3

Applications of First-Order Differential Equations

1

 

Instructor chooses Applications

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

Linear Differentia Equations of Higher Order

3

 

 

 

Chapter 7

LaPlace Transform

3

 

 

 

Chapter 6

Series Solutions of Linear Equations

2

 

 

 

Chapters 5,8,9

Instructors selected topics

3

 

 

 

Test and Review

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

        TOTAL:  16

 

 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

 

Beyond the core content of Chapters 1-4, 6 and 7 (which should represent about 80% of the course), the instructor has considerable flexibility in filling out the course with more applications form Chapters 3 and 5, with additional synthetic methods from Chapter 8, or with numerical methods from Chapter 9.  If the instructor wishes to develop a computer-oriented component for the course, the students have access to IBM-PC computers in the Mathematics and Science Learning Center.