Syllabus for Ordinary Differential Equations I

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• give an account of basic concepts and definitions for differential equations;
• use methods for obtaining exact solutions of linear homogeneous and non-homogeneous differential equations;
• find and classify equilibrium points ;
• apply elementary power series techniques;
• describe some simple numerical solution techniques and be familiar with mathematical software for differential equations;

• use elementary methods for linear systems of differential equations.

Content

Linear differential equations of order n, exact solutions, theorems of existence and uniqueness, power series solutions, systems of differential equations, nonlinear systems, classification of equilibrium points, phase portraits, numerical solution methods.

Instruction

Lectures and problem solving sessions as well as a compulsory computer lab.

Assessment

Written examination (5 credit points) at the end of the course as well as a written report of the computer lab (0 credit points).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.