Spring 2011, 18.

034: Honors differential equations

MWF 1-2, Rm. 4-149
Instructor Pavel Etingof
Office 2-176
Telephone (617)253-3669
Email etingof@math.mit.edu
Office hours Monday 11-12, Friday 2-3
Course website www-math.mit.edu/etingof
Course description
The official title of 18.034 is (Honors) Differential Equations. A more
appropriate title would be Ordinary Differential Equations with Theory. This
course covers the same material as 18.03 (Differential Equations) with more
emphasis on theory. In addition, it treats mathematical aspects of ordinary
differential equations such as existence theorems. It is close in spirit to the
two-semester sequence Calculus with Theory I and II (18.014 and 18.024).
Topics include: First and second-order linear equations; nth-order linear constant-coefficients equations; Greens functions, convolution, Laplace
transform methods; Solutions by power series and the method of majorants;
Systems of first-order equations; Existence, uniqueness and continuity; Numerical methods; Fourier series methods; Sturm-Liouville theory and bifurcation theory if time permits.
Prerequisites
Multivariable Calculus (18.02) or other versions of Multivariable Calculus
(18.02A or 18.022 or 18.023 or 18.024).
Students may take 18.02x and 18.034 during the same semester (in which
case, Single Variable Calculus (18.01) or Single Variable Calculus with Theory (18.014) is a prerequisite). 18.034 develops theories of ordinary differential equations, and indeed is recommended for those who have taken 18.014.
Sources
We will use the book
1

G. Birkhoff and G.-C. Rota, Ordinary Differential Equations. 4th ed.

New York, NY: Wiley, 1989. This book should be available at Quantumbooks.
Also, we will use the materials at the OCW website of 18.034:
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-034-honors-differential-equationsspring-2009/
Recitations
There will be two recitation sections, one meeting TTh at 10 and one
TTh at 11 in 2-147. The recitations will be led by Jethro van Ekeren (office
2-587); his office hours are on Thursdays, 1-3pm. In recitations, problems
similar to homework and exam problems will be discussed and solved, so
going to recitations is vital for doing well in the class.
Homework
There will be weekly homework sets, assigned on the website each Monday
and due in class the following Monday. They should be returned graded a
week later. Collaboration on homework is encouraged, but students must
turn in their own write-ups of all problems and list the students with whom
they worked together. Use of computers and calculators is allowed while
doing homeworks.
Exams
There will be three in-class midterm exams on Wednesday, February 23,
Wednesday, March 16, and Monday, April 25, and a 3-hour final exam during
the final exams week in May. NO books, notes, or electronic devices (other
than simple electronic watches) are allowed in the exams; in particular, all
cellphones, iPods, etc. must be off.
Grades
The final grade will be based on a total score computed as follows: Homework assignments 20%; three one-hour exams 15% each; final exam 35% .