Math E-21c – Calendar of topics and HW assignments -- Fall 2025
[last updated Thursday, December 18, 2025 4:36 AM]

Date Topics   [Notes and Supplements] Text sections and homework assignments [Solutions]
Wed, Sept 3
Lecture #1

Basic notions: Autonomous vs. nonautonomous differential equations, direction fields, isoclines, integral curves, existence and uniqueness of solutions (general solutions, particular solutions with initial conditions), models, numerical/graphical solutions. Linear equations, separable equations (exponential growth with harvesting, mixing problems, cooling problems), system/signal or input/response perspective; separatrices, funnels, other graphical methods. Linear equations, homogeneous vs. inhomogeneous solutions. Solving 1st order linear equations by integrating factors (next time).

Lecture #1 Notes     Sept 3 Zoom notes (w/addendum)     Lecture #2 Notes

https://www.cs.unm.edu/~joel/dfield/ has a good tool for drawing direction (slope) fields. The current version requires you to download a Java executable file to your own computer and to run it locally on your own machine. You can customize various options. You can also print the graphs. [How Java is called varies on computer and operating system, so we may have to provide some additional documentation.] [Also available here]

Problem Set #1 (due by Fri, Sept 12, 11:59pm)
EP 1.1 (Differential equations and mathematical models)
EP 1.2 (Integrals as general and particular solutions)
EP 1.3 (Slope fields and solution curves)
EP 1.4 (Separable equations and applications)
EP 1.5 (Linear 1st Order Equations; integrating factors)
EP 6.1, 6.2 (Numerical Methods)
Numerical Methods: Euler’s Method (OCW Video)
Example of Euler’s Method (OCW Video)

Wed, Sept 10
Lecture #2

Existence and uniqueness of solutions and Integral Curve Theorem; linearity and linear models - banking, Newton’s Law of Cooling, Hooke’s Law and mass-spring systems with friction and driving force; homogeneous vs. inhomogeneous solutions, Method of Undetermined Coefficients; higher order linear ODEs; input/signal-response perspective; linear system response to exponential and sinusoidal input; Solutions of first order linear ODEs, integrating factors; Transients; Diffusion example.

Lecture #1 Notes     Lecture #2 Notes     Sept 10 Zoom notes

Problem Set #2 (due Fri, Sept 19, 11:59pm)
EP 1.4 (Separable equations and applications)
EP 1.5 (Linear 1st Order Equations; integrating factors)

Wed, Sept 17
Lecture #3

Autonomous equations, the phase line, equilibria, critical points, stability. Analytic solution to logistic equation. Linearity methods - homogeneous, particular, and general solutions to a linear ODE; Undetermined Coefficients, Variation of Parameters, and other methods; input-response perspective; 2nd order linear constant coefficient ODEs, characteristic polynomial; Linear system response to polynomial, exponential and sinusoidal inputs; gain, phase lag (see notes).

Lecture #2 Notes     Lecture #3 Notes     Sept 17 Zoom notes

Problem Set #3 (due Fri, Sept 26, 11:59pm)
EP 1.3 (Slope fields and solution curves)
EP 1.4 (Separable equations and applications)
EP 1.5 (Linear 1st Order Equations; integrating factors)

EP 2.2 (General solutions of linear equations)
EP 1.7 (Population models)
EP 7.1 (Equilibrium solutions and stability)
Wed, Sept 24
Lecture #4

Complex-valued equation associated to sinusoidal input. The algebra of complex numbers; the complex exponential; complex numbers, roots of unity. Applications to trigonometry, integration, and solving ODEs (complex replacement). Complex-valued equation associated to sinusoidal input; gain, phase lag. Exponential Response Formula.

Linear Algebra Interlude: Subspaces, span, image and kernel, linear independence, basis, dimension, coordinates relative to a basis; Linear spaces, function spaces and linear operators, span, image and kernel. (next week)

2nd order linear constant coefficient ODEs, characteristic polynomial, modes, independence of solutions, and superposition of solutions; Wronskian matrix and Wronskian determinant; sinusoidal and exponential response; complex characteristic roots. (partially covered, more next week)

Lecture #4 Notes     Sept 24 Zoom notes

Problem Set #4 (due Fri, Oct 3, 11:59pm)
EP 2.1 (2nd Order Linear Equations)
EP 2.2 (General solutions of linear equations)

Subspaces, Span, Linear Independence, Basis of a Subspace; Images and Kernel of a Matrix (RW)

General Linear Spaces (Vector Spaces) and Solutions of ODEs (RW)

EP 2.3 (Homogeneous equations w/constant coefficients)

Exam #1 Topics and Practice Exam Questions
(use same username/password as HW solutions)
the actual exam will likely be shorter and simpler

Practice Exam #1 Solutions

Wed, Oct 1
Lecture #5

Linear operators with constant coefficients (time invariant), exponential solutions, characteristic polynomial; examples of homogeneous solutions with distinct real roots, pure complex roots (Hooke’s Law); Linear time-invariant (LTI) operators; case of repeated roots of characteristic polynomial; Operators and the Exponential Response Formula (ERF) and the Resonance Response Formula (RRF) for exponential and sinusoidal input signals. Gain and phase lag; spring drive, complex replacement, complex gain, phase lag; Resonance and forced harmonic motion; Dashpot drive; RLC circuits.

A Worked Example of a 2nd Order Linear System with Sinusoidal Input Signal

Lecture #4 Notes     Lecture #5 Notes    Oct 1 Zoom notes

Exam #1 will take place in Proctorio during a 25 hour window opening Wednesday night at 11:00pm (Oct 1) and closing Thursday night at 11:59pm (Oct 2). The exam should take no more than 75 minutes, plus an additional 15 minutes to take care of any downloads, printing, scanning, and uploads (PDF, single file). Please allow sufficient time for these tasks. Total time allotted 90 minutes. Calculators are permitted. A basic integral table may also be used (if you feel you need it), but no other notes or texts. If you do not have a printer it’s OK to write your solutions on standard paper (or on a tablet) and submit it as a single PDF file.

Problem Set #5 (due Fri, Oct 10)
EP 2.4 (Mechanical vibrations)
EP 2.5 (Nonhomogeneous equations and undetermined coefficients)
EP 2.6 (Forced oscillations and resonance)
EP 2.7 (Electrical circuits)

Exam #1 solutions

 

Wed, Oct 8
Lecture #6

Exponential Response Formula (ERF), Resonance Response Formula (RRF); Resonance, Frequency response, LTI systems, superposition, RLC circuits [Resonance; Frequency response; RLC circuits; Time invariance]; Exponential Shift Rule; Variation of Parameters for higher order systems; Discontinuous inputs. Periodic inputs and introduction to Fourier series methods.

Lecture #6 Notes     Oct 8 Zoom notes

Problem Set #6 (due Fri, Oct 17)

Linear nth Order ODE Cookbook

Wed, Oct 15
Lecture #7

Fourier series: orthogonality, inner products, orthogonal projection, Pythagorean Theorem; Applications to ODEs - harmonic response, resonance; Fourier series for periodic inputs; Fourier’s Theorem and Fourier coefficients; squarewave function; Sawtooth function; Differentiating and integrating Fourier series; Tips & Tricks: trig id, linear combination, shift

Lecture #7 Notes     Oct 15 Zoom notes

Problem Set #7 (due Fri, Oct 24)
EP 8.1 (Periodic functions and trigonometric series)
EP 8.2 (General Fourier series and convergence)
EP 8.3 (Fourier sine and cosine series)
EP 8.4 (Applications of Fourier series)

Wed, Oct 22
Lecture #8

Continuation of Fourier series and applications. Generalized functions, generalized derivative, step and delta functions; introduction to the Laplace Transform and how we’ll use it to solve ODEs.

Lecture #8 Notes     Oct 22 Zoom notes     Laplace Transform Facts
These notes contain some material that will be covered in greater depth in next week’s lecture.

Problem Set #8 (due Fri, Oct 31)
EP 8.2 (General Fourier series and convergence)
FH 8.3 (The Step Function and Delta Function)
EP 4.1 (Laplace transforms and inverse transforms)

Wed, Oct 29
Lecture #9

Generalized functions, generalized derivative, Heaviside, box, and delta functions. Laplace transform: basic properties, rules and sample calculations; t-domain vs s-domain; solving Initial Value Problems (IVPs) by translating differential equations into algebraic equations. Impulse and step responses, unit impulse response; weight function and transfer function. Inverse transform; non-rest initial conditions for first order equations.

Lecture #9 Notes    Oct 29 Zoom notes

Laplace Transform Facts

Problem Set #9 (due Fri, Nov 7)
FH 8.1 (The Laplace Transform and its inverse)
FH 8.2 (Solving DEs and IVPs with Laplace Transforms)
FH 8.3 (The Step Function and Delta Function)
EP 4.1 (Laplace transforms and inverse transforms)
EP 4.2 (Transformation of initial value problems)
EP 4.3 (Translation and partial fractions)
EP 4.4 (Derivatives, integrals, and products of transforms)
FH 8.4 (The Convolution Integral and the Transfer Function)

Laplace Transform Facts

Worked Examples of Laplace Transform and Convolution

Notes on Convolution (RW)

Wed, Nov 5
Lecture #10

Zero State Response and Zero Input Response (ZSR + ZIR); Convolution Integral to determine Zero State Response (ZSR) using weight function from unit impulse response; solution with initial conditions as w*q.

Introduction to vector fields and systems of 1st order ODEs; reduction of order - nth order equations and systems of 1st order equations.

Lecture #10 Notes     Nov 5 Zoom notes

Notes on Continuous Dynamical Systems - Part 1

 

Problem Set #10 (due Fri, Nov 14)
EP 4.4 (Derivatives, integrals, and products of transforms)
FH 8.4 (The Convolution Integral and the Transfer Function)

Worked Examples of Laplace Transform and Convolution

Notes on Convolution

EP 5.1 (First-Order systems and applications)
EP 5.2 (The method of elimination)

Phase portraits for the linear ODE examples

  Here’s a website that has a good java-based tool [PPLANE] for showing vector fields and flows: https://www.cs.unm.edu/~joel/dfield/ The current version requires you to download a Java executable file to your own computer and to run it locally on your own machine. You can customize various options. You can also print the graphs. [How Java is called varies on computer and operating system, so we may have to provide some additional documentation.] [Also available here]
 

The 2nd Midterm exam will take place during the 11th week of the course - again in Proctorio. The main topics will be some of the later topics in solving higher-order linear ODEs, periodically driven systems (Fourier Series), and Laplace Transform methods. The problem sets should be a good indication, but algebraically more straightforward.
A Table of Fourier Series Facts and Laplace Transform Facts will be provided with the exam.

The exam window will open at 11:00pm EST on Wed, Nov 12 and will close at 11:59pm EST on Thurs, Nov 13.

Exam #2 Topics, Study Guide, and Practice Exam Questions     Solutions

Wed, Nov 12
Lecture #11

First order linear systems of ODEs in matrix form, solution of uncoupled (diagonal) systems and evolution matrices; uncoupling a system (diagonalization) in case of real eigenvalues, evolution matrices; Phase Plane diagrams for uncoupled systems.

Linear algebra basics: linear independence, span, basis, coordinates; matrix of a linear transformation relative to a basis. Matrix of a linear transformation relative to a basis and linear coordinate changes to standardize systems of 1st order linear equations. Solving systems of 1st Order Linear Differential Equations; real eigenvalue case; matrix methods for solving systems of 1st order linear differential equations; phase portraits for the linear ODE examples.

Lecture #11 Notes     Nov 12 Zoom notes

Notes on Coordinate Changes (general idea)

Notes on Continuous Dynamical Systems - Part 1

Notes on Continuous Dynamical Systems - Part 2

Exam #2 solutions

Problem Set #11 (due Fri, Nov 21)
EP 7.2 (Stability and the phase plane)
EP 5.3 (Matrices and linear systems)
EP 5.4 (The eigenvalue methods for homogeneous systems)
EP 5.7 (Matrix exponentials and linear systems)

Supplement on Evolution Matrices (RW)

Supplement on Linear Coordinates, Alternate Bases, and Evolution Matrices

Matrix Methods for Solving Systems of 1st Order Linear Differential Equations

Supplement on Representation of Functions in Different Coordinates

Wed, Nov 19
Lecture #12

Solving systems of 1st Order Linear Differential Equations; real eigenvalue case; complex eigenvalue case; repeated eigenvalue case. Qualitative behavior of linear systems; phase plane; matrix methods for solving systems of 1st order linear differential equations; phase portraits for the linear ODE examples. Sampler of Phase Plane diagrams for uncoupled, coupled, periodic, and stable sink linear systems.

Lecture #12 Notes     Nov 19 Zoom notes

Notes on Continuous Dynamical Systems - Part 2

Lecture #13 Notes may also be useful.

 

Problem Set #12 (due Fri, Dec 5)
EP 5.4 (The eigenvalue methods for homogeneous systems)
EP 5.7 (Matrix exponentials and linear systems)

Notes on Coordinate Changes (general idea)

Supplement on Representation of Functions in Different Coordinates

Supplement on Evolution Matrices

Matrix Methods for Solving Systems of 1st Order Linear Differential Equations (RW)

No class on Nov 26 due to Thanksgiving holiday.
Wed, Dec 3
Lecture #13

Solving systems of 1st Order Linear Differential Equations; complex eigenvalue case; repeated eigenvalue case. Decomposition of 1st order linear system into mode (block matrices). Qualitative behavior of linear systems. Fundamental matrices (see notes). Simple nonlinear systems (a) with shifted equilibrium, and (b) solution using Undetermined Coefficients or Variation of Parameters (see notes).

Lecture #13 Notes     Dec 3 Zoom notes

Notes on Continuous Dynamical Systems - Part 2

Problem Set #13 (due Fri, Dec 12)
EP 7.3 (Linear and almost linear systems)
EP 7.4 (Ecological models: Predators and competitors)
EP 7.5 (Nonlinear mechanical systems)

Nonlinear Systems and Linearization (RW)
Wed, Dec 10
Lecture #14

Nonlinear systems; linearization near equilibria, Jacobian matrices; the nonlinear pendulum; autonomous systems, predator-prey systems; simple examples of nonautonomous systems.

Lecture #13 Notes     Lecture #14 Notes     Dec 10 Zoom notes

Lorenz System, Lorenz Attractor (Wikipedia)

Mathematical Theory of Epidemics (Kermack, McKendrick, 1927) - 22 pages, somewhat technical, see pgs 713-714 in particular

Problem Set #14. These problems should be done for practice but not turned in. Nonlinear systems and phase plane analysis will appear on the Final Exam. [Solutions will be posted.]

Nonlinear Systems and Linearization

Wed, Dec 17

The two-hour Final Exam will take place via Proctorio during a 24-hour window on Dec 17.
The exam window will open at 12:00am EST on Wed, Dec 17 and will close at 11:59pm EST on Wed, Dec 17.

This exam should take no more than 2 hours, plus an additional 15 minutes to take care of any downloads, printing, scanning, and uploads (PDF, single file). Please allow sufficient time for these tasks. Total time allotted 135 minutes.

Final Exam Topics and Sampler of Final Exam Problems     Solutions
[There will be no regular lecture during the week of the Final Exam.]

You may use calculators for simple calculations only. No other use of mathematical software or applets.
You may use notes on the exam. You must show all work and reasoning.

References:
FH: Farlow-Hall-McDill-West, Differential Equations & Linear Algebra, Pearson/Prentice-Hall, 2nd Edition
EP: C. Henry Edwards and David E. Penney, Elementary Differential Equations with Boundary Value Problems, Prentice-Hall, Sixth Edition.
RW: Notes and supplements written by Robert Winters

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