Course Syllabus
ECE 280 – Applied Differential Equations in Electrical Engineering
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
1. Course Number and Name:
ECE 280 – Applied Differential
Equations in Electrical Engineering
2. Credit Units/Contact Hours:
3. Course Coordinator:
3/3
Ali Amini
4. Text, References & Software
Recommended Text:
A First Course in Differential Equations with Modeling Applications, Dennis G. Zill.
Ninth Edition, Thompson (Brooks/Cole, 2009). ISBN-13:978-0-495-10824-5.
Additional References:
Advanced Engineering Mathematics with Mathematical and MATLAB(volumes 1 & 2), Reza
Malek-Madani, (Addison Wesley 1998).
Elementary Differential Equations, Earl D. Rainville, Phillip E. Bedient, Richard E. Bedient.
Eight Edition , (Prentice Hall 1996).
Fundamental of Differential Equations and Boundary Value, Nagle, Saff and Snider. Sixth Edition,
(Addison/Wesley 2011).
Software:
MATLAB
Internet Resources:
http//hpme12.me.edu/matlab/html/
5. Specific Course Information
a. Course Description
Modeling of systems by ordinary differential equations. Determination of initial conditions using
dynamic behavior of physical systems. Solution of ordinary differential equations by various
methods, such as; separation of variables, undetermined coefficients, series, and Laplace
Transform. Linear algebra and solution of systems of differential equations. Numerical methods
and use of application software such as MATLAB in solving differential equations and systems of
differential equations.
b. Prerequisite by Topic
Students taking this course should have complete familiarity with differential and integral
calculus (Math 150A and Math 150B). The ECE students are also required to be taking circuit
analysis along with his course (ECE240). This concurrent enrollment is important, since the
students will be considering differential equations of circuits and the initial conditions necessary.
c. Required Course
6. Specific Goals for the Course
a. Specific Outcomes of Instructions – After completing this course the students should be able to:
1. Write the differential equations of engineering systems including required initial conditions.
Understand practically where initial conditions come from and how to evaluate them.
2. Become familiar with linear or nonlinear, constant parameter or time varying parameter,
instantaneous or dynamic, causal or noncausal, lumped parameter or distributed parameter as
applied to differential equations and systems.
3. Model multiple input-multiple output engineering system by a system of differential
equations.
4. Solve a first order differential equation.
5. Solve an n-th order linear differential equations with constant coefficients.
6. Evaluate Laplace Transform and Inverse Laplace Transform. Apply properties of Laplace
Transform.
7. Apply Laplace Transform in solving ordinary differential equations.
8. Solve differential equations using power series solution.
9. Apply numerical and application software such as MATLAB and Mathematica, in solving
differential equations, linear or nonlinear.
10. Learn the fundamentals of linear algebra and apply them to differential equations.
11. Solve engineering problems described by a differential equation or systems of differential
equations.
12. Apply numerical and application software such as MATLAB and Mathematica, in solving
systems of differential equations.
13. Understand the fundamental difference between ordinary and partial differential equations
from physical point of view. Solve simple partial differential equation problems.
b. Relationship to Student Outcomes
This supports the achievement of the following student outcomes:
a. An ability to apply knowledge of math, science, and engineering to the analysis of electrical
engineering problems.
e. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve electrical engineering problems.
h. An understanding of the impact of engineering in a social context.
i. A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
k. An ability to use modern engineering techniques for analysis and
n. Knowledge of math including differential equations, linear algebra, complex variables and
discrete math.
7. Topics Covered/Course Outline
1. Modeling with first and higher order differential equations
2. Solution of First and higher-order differential equations
3. The Laplace Transform and application to solving differential equations.
4. Series Solutions Of Liner Equations
Prepared by:
Ali Amini, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, October 2012
Ali Amini, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, March 2013