Instructor:

Dr. Stephen B. Robinson
Office: 305 Calloway
Phone: x4887
email: robinson@mthcsc.wfu.edu
home page: http://www.mthcsc.wfu.edu/~robinson/

Office Hours:

Please feel free to drop by for help during my office hours, which are

Monday: 9-10,12-1
Tuesday: 9-10
Wednesday: 9-10,12-2
Friday: 9-10,12-1

You may also meet me at other times, but in that case you should call ahead to be sure that I am available.
 

Prerequisites:

Multivariable Calculus and Ordinary Differential Equations

Text:

Partial Differential Equations, An Introduction, by Walter A. Strauss

Course Content:

We will study the starred sections in chapters 1-6. If time allows, I will also introduce several topics that are not covered in the text.

Homework:

During most class meetings I will suggest homework problems. I expect you to do all of the problems in a timely manner, and I expect you to ask questions promptly when you are having trouble. In fact, I strongly suggest that you read a section and attempt some of its problems before that section is discussed in class. If you do this then you will find that classtime is more meaningful and that your chances of subsequently solving the homework problems is higher. I will not collect and grade homework.

Chapter Quizzes:

At the end of each chapter there will be a take-home quiz. Roughly 80% of the problems on each quiz will be homework problems that I suggested to you as we studied the chapter. The other 20% will be interesting questions that I am just dying to ask.

Your total score on the chapter quizzes will be worth 1/3 of your grade.

Report:

Every student is expected to write a short report on a topic not covered in class. I will provide a list of suggested topics, most of which are discussed in some part of the text. (See handout.) The report should be about 10 written pages not including diagrams. There is no limit to the number of diagrams that you can include. Towards the end of the semester you will be asked to make a 20 minute presentation of your report.

The report will be worth 1/3 of your grade.

Final Exam:

The final exam is scheduled for Friday May the 5th from 2:00-5:00 in Calloway room 3. (See handout for a description of the exam.)

The final exam will be worth 1/3 of your grade.

Evaluation:

If you consistently demonstrate an ability to perform standard computations and solve standard problems, then you have a good chance of earning a C or better. If you can also solve some more difficult problems, and provide some insight as to why the methods work, then you have a good chance of earning a B or better. If you become adept at solving standard and nonstandard problems, and if you can clearly justify all of the methods that you use, then you have a good chance of earning an A. Hard work is a prerequisite for earning a good grade (A, B, or C), but no amount of work will guarantee you a particular grade. Just do the best that you can, and then be proud of the grade that you have earned. If you are ever unsure about a grading policy, or if you are not sure where you stand, then you are welcome to ask.

Important Remark For Graduate Students: Graduate students are expected to live up to a higher standard than undergraduates. This expectation will be reflected in the grading policy.