MATH 209(S) Differential Equations and Vector Calculus (Q)
Historically, much beautiful mathematics has arisen from attempts to explain
heat flow, chemical reactions, biological processes, or magnetic fields. A few
ingenious techniques solve a surprisingly large fraction of the associated ordinary and partial differential equations. The mystical Pythagorean fascination
with ratios and harmonics is vindicated and applied in Fourier series and integrals. Integrating vectorfields over surfaces applies equally to blood flow, gravity, and differential geometry.
Format: lecture/discussion. Evaluation will be based on problem sets, hour tests,
and a final exam.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 105. No enrollment limit (expected: 31). Students
may not normally get credit for both Mathematics 209 and Mathematics/Physics 210.