MATH 441 D3: Differential Equations,
Summer 2018
Prof. A.J. Hildebrand
www.math.illinois.edu/~ajh/441
Final Exam Results and Course Grades
Results are in! The median score was 133/150, the highest scores were
150, 146, 142, 140. You can access your final exam score, and your
total score and course grade, as usual at this link.
The letter grade shown at the end of the online score display
is your official course grade.
Final Words:
This has been a wonderful class to teach, and I am glad to have had this
opportunity. I hope you found it an interesting and rewarding
experience. Enjoy the rest of the summer, and all the best on the rest
of your undergraduate studies here at Illinois!
Welcome
Welcome to Math 441, Differential Equations! I will do my best to make
this class an interesting, enjoyable, and worthwhile experience. Below is
some basic information about this course. If you have any questions, concerns,
or suggestions, feel free to contact me (email ajh@illinois.edu).
Course Basics
- Time/Room: MTWRF 11:00 am - 11:50 am, W 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm,
143 Altgeld Hall.
- Instructor: A.J. Hildebrand, 13 Illini Hall,
email ajh@illinois.edu.
- Office hours: I will be available daily in the hour
after class, in the classroom, 143 Altgeld. I can set aside additional
time slots at other times the day if needed.
- Text and syllabus:
"Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems" (10th Edition)
by Boyce and DiPrima. The course covers Chapters 1 - 4 and selected
parts from Chapters 5, 7, and 9.
The official
departmental syllabus is available under this link.
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Emergency Information
Exam Information
- Final Exam: Friday, August 3, 1 pm - 3 pm, 143 Altgeld.
Final Exam Study Guide
- Midterm Exams: June 27, July 11, July 25.
The exams will be given during the regular class period.
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Link to Online Scores.
Click on this link and log in with your NetID and password to access
your scores. The display shows the scores on homework
assignments and exams given out so far,
and your total accumulated score from these components.
Interpretation of the score display:
A double asterisk in the score display (e.g., exam1a:30**/50 or
hw9:**8/10) denotes a drop score; it represents the lowest score in its
category (exam or hw) and is not taken into account when calculating the
total score.
The dropped scores are (1) the lowest of 11 hw scores (so that only the
10 highest scores are counted), and (2) the lowest of 6 "half midterm"
scores. Dropping the lowest "half midterm" score amounts to counting the
lowest midterm only 50%. To implement "drop lowest half midterm" rule,
each of the midterms is entered twice (e.g., exam1a and
exam1b), with identical scores out of 50. This does not change the total
score earned from the midterms (e.g., if your actual score on the exam was
90/100, it would be entered as two scores of 45/50), and it allows the
system to drop the lowest half of a midterm in the total score
calculation.
Homework Assignments and Handouts
Course Policies
- Grading summary:
Your grade will be determined by the points you have accumulated
at the end of the course. The maximal number of points is 500 points;
this includes the scores (130 points -
one midterm at 100 pts and three hw assignments at 10 pts each) earned
during the first three weeks under Prof. Robles. The breakdown is as
follows:
-
Homework: 100 points. Two assignments per week, due in class.
The lowest hw score will be dropped.
-
Midterm Exams: 250 points. Three midterms,
but the lowest midterm score will count only 50% (i.e., the lowest half of
a midterm will be dropped).
-
Final Exam: 150 points
Letter grade assignments: Letter grades will be based on the
total number of points earned at the end of the semester, using
the standard 90/80/70/60 scale (96% = A+, 93% = A, 90% = A-, etc.),
with possibly some adjustments downward (resulting in a more generous
curve) depending on the overall score distribution in the class. For example,
if you end up with 450 out of 500 points (i.e., 90%), you are guaranteed
at least an A-; 400 points will guarantee at least a B-; and so on. The
actual cutoffs will likely end up being be more generous, i.e., more
favorable to you!
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Group work policy:
Group work on the homework problems (excluding bonus/extracredit
problems) is fine and, indeed, encouraged. If you work with others on the
homework, put the names of the other group members on the problem sheet.
You must write up solutions yourself, using your own words.
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Missed exams/homework:
If you miss an exam (or homework) and have a valid excuse, I will mark the
exam/homework as "excused". Valid excuses include illness, an out-of-town
job interview, etc., and must be appropriately documented, e.g.,
by an absence letter issued by the Office of the Dean of Students, 300
Turner Student Services Building, 610 East John Street. For more
information click on the above link.
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Attendance.
I expect you to attend class. Skipping classes shows a lack of commitment
and disrespect. The same goes for chatting, texting, or websurfing during
classtime. I take my duties as instructor seriously and put a lot of
effort into preparing lectures, and I expect students to be respectful of
this effort.
Best of luck with this class,
and have a wonderful summer!
Last modified: Fri 03 Aug 2018 06:12:31 PM CDT
A.J. Hildebrand