MATH 275 SYLLABUS
Course: Math 275
Course Name: Differential Equations
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite : Math 165 or equivalent.
Meeting Times for Section 01 : 8 : 00 − −8 : 50 , MTRF, MT-210
Instructor: Dr. Zaki
Email: m-zaki@onu.edu
Office: MT 227
Office Hours: 3–4 MWRF
Website: http://www2.onu.edu/∼m-zaki
Text: Elementary Differential Equations, Sixth Edition, by C. Edwards and D. Penney.
Course Description: Techniques of solving differential equations.
Exams: There will be three written midterm exams throughout the quarter, not including the final exam. The exam questions will be similar to the homework problems
and examples given in class.
Final exam: The final will be cumulative. The final will be on Tuesday, Feb. 22,
8 : 00 − −10 : 00, in the lecture room MT-210.
Grading: Course grades are calculated as follows:
(1) Homework, quizzes : 10%
(2) Hour Exams: 60%(20%each)
(3) Final: 30%
The grading scale is: [100, 90] % A, (89,80] % B, (79,70] % C, (69,60] % D, (59, 0]% F
Attendance: Students are expected to attend each class meeting for the entire meeting time. It is your responsibility to attend class. I do not take attendance, so it is
up to you to be in lecture. If you miss a class or are late to class, then you need to
contact someone else in the class to get the lecture notes. Do not e-mail me for lecture
notes. Also, there will often be announcements made in class about the office hours,
exams, room changes for exams, etc. Once again, if you miss class or arrive late, it is
your responsibility to check the website or talk to someone else in the class about any
important announcements.
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Calculators and Other Electronic Devices: A graphing calculator can be an invaluable learning tool. Some of the homework questions may become significantly more
straight-forward if you have access to one. Since not all students have access to the
same level of technology (the really good calculators are quite expen- sive), calculators
will not be allowed on any exam. Other electronic devices are not allowed during the
class and exams.
Makeup Exams: Makeup exams for any of the exams will not be given except for
emergencies. If you are going to miss an hour exam you need to notify me before the
exam by e-mail (or phone). You must present official documentation excusing your absences within 5 business days of the exam date. It is completely my discretion whether
or not your absence is deemed excused or if there will be a penalty assessed for your
absence from the exam.
Suggestion (on how to get a good grade in this course): Come to class regularly.
Pay attention to the lecture, and think actively as you listen to the lectures. Take
extensive notes in the class. After class when you go home, first, spend an hour to
read your lecture notes and rewrite them as you read. Understand each topic and
concept from your lecture notes. Secondly, do the homework. If you are not getting
something, write down clearly what is it that you don’t understand. Be specific. Make
questions which, if answered, clarifies your misunderstanding. If you can’t answer your
questions, pose them to your peers and instructor. Most importantly if you think you
are struggling in the course, come and see me immediately in my office.
Website: I will be maintaining a website for this class that will contain general information about the class, announcements, and answers to FAQs. You should always
check the website before e-mailing me with questions. If I don’t respond to your email,
it’s probably because that information is available on the website: www2.onu.edu/∼
m-zaki.
Your course notes: I work very hard at making your course notes complete and
readable. Course notes are meant to be read. Many will find it helpful to rewrite
them and then ask questions. In the course notes, I am telling you what I believe is
important. Notes are my voice to you and I will not follow the exact outline of the
required text.
Homework: The homework will be assigned and posted on your course website every
week. It is extremely important to do your homework regularly in order to keep up
with the lectures. Graded homework may be comprised of both questions from the
textbook and additional questions supplied by me.
The purpose of homework is to use the basic tools and examples that are provided
in lectures to solve new problems and not simply to reproduce computations that were
presented as examples during the lectures. Some homework problems will include
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new material not presented in lectures, so it is important that you read the problems
carefully even if you can not solve them.
I expect that students will struggle with some of the homework problems. You are
encouraged to work together and discuss homework problems with classmates. Make
use of office hours and tutoring. It is your responsibility to ensure you understand the
concepts and ideas reinforced or presented in homework. To that end, even if group
work was used to solve homework problems, all students are required to compose and
submit homework assignments individually.
A selection of problems from homework assignments will be included in quizzes.
Marks for each problem will be awarded based on the correctness of the solution of
problem as well as:
∙ completeness: A serious effort must be made at providing solutions to all the
problems.
∙ neatness: Solutions are clearly and neatly written.
∙ solution addresses the problem: All that was asked for in the problem statement
is provided in the solution.
∙ style: Problems that require an explanation or justification must be answered
with a clear and logical argument written in proper sentences. Additionally,
mathematical terminology must be used correctly.
Cheating: The student’s academic integrity code can be found in the Student Code.
Cheating on exams will result in serious implications, including potentially a failing
grade in the course. University policy dictates that any charge of cheating that results
in a guilty decision, however small, MUST be documented both with the student’s
college and also the Senate Committee on Academic Discipline. Cheating instances
will follow you and may influence decisions made about you in the future.
Classroom Decorum: The classroom environment should be conducive to learning
by all. Please keep chitchat to a minimum, cell phones turned off, etc. If your behavior
is disrespectful to your classmates, you will be asked to leave.