MATH 441 D3: Differential Equations, Summer 2018
Prof. A.J. Hildebrand
www.math.illinois.edu/~ajh/441

Final Exam Results and Course Grades

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

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.
• 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.
  • Midterm Exam 2, July 11, 11 am - 12 pm, 143 Altgeld.
    Midterm Exam 2 Study Guide
  • Midterm Exam 3, July 25, 11 am - 12 pm, 143 Altgeld.
    Midterm Exam 3 Study Guide
• 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

• Homework assignments: HW 4. HW 5. HW 6. HW 7. HW 8. HW 9. HW 10. HW 11.
• Complex Numbers. (Class Handout 7/3)
• Linear Differential Equations and Matrix Equations. (Class Handout 7/5)
• Power Series and Analytic Functions (Class Handout 7/16)

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!
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.