Description of course: Among all the disciplines of mathematics, the theory of differential equations is the most important one (Sophus Lie, 1894). Differential equations can model many real world phenomena in physics, chemistry, biology, finance, etc. This course introduces students to ordinary differential equations (ODEs): scalar and systems, linear with constant or variable coefficients, linear or nonlinear, first or second order, existence and uniqueness theorems. We will also discuss numerical methods and the use of MATLAB. Optional topics: Difference equations, Laplace transforms, partial differential equations.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this course, students are expected to be comfortable with recognizing different types of differential equations and being able to solve them either analytically or numerically with MATLAB.
Outline of Course Topics: Topics to be covered:
This list of topics may be modified during the semester. Such modifications will be announced in advance during class periods and on ICON; the student is responsible for keeping abreast of such changes.
An Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations, ISBN: 978-0521533911, Author: James C. Robinson, Publisher: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2004, Approximate Price: $88.98 on amazon.com.
Types of Assessments:
Prerequisites:
Requirement: Prior or current registration to MATH:2850 Calculus III.
Class procedures: The majority of each class period will be lecture oriented. Readings may be assigned. Standard out-of-class preparation is at least six hours per week.
Course meeting time and place: 1:30-2:20PM MWF, 213 MLH
Instructor: Prof. Laurent O. Jay
Student Complaints: Students with a complaint about a grade or a related matter should first discuss the situation with the instructor and/or the course supervisor (if applicable), and finally with the DEO (Chair) of the department, school or program offering the course. Sometimes students will be referred to the department or program's Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) or Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). Undergraduate students should contact CLAS Undergraduate Programs for support when the matter is not resolved at the previous level.
Drop Deadline for this Course: You may drop an individual course before the drop deadline; after this deadline you will need collegiate approval. You can look up the drop deadline for this course here. When you drop a course, a "W" will appear on your transcript. The mark of "W" is a neutral mark that does not affect your GPA. To discuss how dropping (or staying in) a course might affect your academic goals, please contact your Academic Advisor. Directions for adding or dropping a course and other registration changes can be found on the Registrar's website. Undergraduate students can find policies on dropping CLAS courses here. Graduate students should adhere to the academic deadlines and policies set by the Graduate College.
UI Email: Students are responsible for all official correspondences sent to their UI email address (uiowa.edu) and must use this address for any communication with instructors or staff in the UI community. For the privacy and the protection of student records, UI faculty and staff can only correspond with UI email addresses.
Course ICON site: To access the course site, log into Iowa Courses Online (ICON) using your Hawk ID and password.
Grading System: In assigning grades, the plus/minus grading system will be used. The A+ grade will be used only in extraordinary situations. Final grades will be awarded based on the following ranges:
| A+ | A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D+ | D | D- | F |
| 100 % to 96.15 % | < 96.15 % to 88.46 % | < 88.46 % to 80.77 % | < 80.77 % to 73.08 % | < 73.08 % to 65.38 % | < 65.38 % to 57.69 % | < 57.69 % to 50.0 % | < 50.0 % to 42.31 % | < 42.31 % to 34.62 % | < 34.62 % to 26.92 % | < 26.92 % to 19.23 % | < 19.23 % to 11.54 % | < 11.54 % to 0.0 % |
Course Grades: The final grade will be based as follows:
The 3 tests and final examination are open books and open notes examinations. Smartphones/computers are not allowed.
Homework: Will be assigned approximately weekly. Presentation of your results is very important. Scratch paper will not be accepted. Do not expect good grades if your solution to a problem is poorly communicated. Like for everything, if you cannot explain something in great details, you certainly have not fully understood it. The importance of doing homework cannot be overemphasized, most of human people learn by doing, not only by watching and/or listening. Late homework may not be accepted, you need to request permission first or to provide a reasonable justification. Late homework is not accepted once a correction is given. Use of symbolic mathematical software or AI tools to solve problems is not allowed.
Free Speech and ExpressionAcademic Honesty and Misconduct: All students in CLAS courses are expected to abide by the CLAS Code of Academic Honesty. Undergraduate academic misconduct must be reported by instructors to CLAS according to these procedures. Graduate academic misconduct must be reported to the Graduate College according to Section F of the Graduate College Manual.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy: Solutions to homework and examinations generated by AI tools are not allowed.
Student Collaboration on Homework: The homework for this course is designed to help you master your knowledge related to the topics covered during lecture. As such, you may discuss on the homework problems with others or use online resources. However, please be aware that to master the skills needed for this class, practice is required and that to do well on the examinations you will need to work many of these problems multiple times without help. Be sure to test your knowledge by doing much of the homework on your own. Students are allowed to partially collaborate with others on homework through discussion for the most difficult problems. However, each student must turn in their own homework and it must not be a copy of someone else homework. Students are responsible for understanding this policy; if you have questions, ask for clarification. Word per word copies will not be tolerated. In extreme cases students may be requested to stop any kind of collaboration with other students.
Date and Time of the Final Exam: The final examination will be held Friday, December 18, 2026, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM in room 118 MLH. Do not plan your end of the semester travel plans until the final exam schedule is made public. It is your responsibility to know the date, time, and place of the final exam. According to Registrar's final exam policy, students have a maximum of two weeks after the announced final exam schedule to request a change if an exam conflict exists or if a student has more than two exams in one day (see the policy here).
Grader: Chenbin Qin, office: B20J MLH, mailbox is in 15 MLH (MacLean Hall), e-mail: chenbin-qin@uiowa.edu.