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Math 53
Spring 2024

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This schedule is tentative, and may be adjusted as necessary.

Week Date Chapter Homework Assignment
1 April 1
April 3
April 5
1: What is a differential equation?
2: First-order ODE's: autonomous, separable, and initial value problems
3: First-order ODE's: dynamic perspectives
Homework 1
(due April 10)
2 April 8
April 10
April 12
4: Stationary values, stability, and phase line
5: Complex numbers
6: Second-order linear ODE's and initial value problems
Homework 2
(due April 17)
3 April 15
April 17
April 19
7: Homogeneous linear ODE systems and eigenvectors
8: Further applications of eigenvalues to ODE's
9: Two-dimensional homogeneous linear ODE systems and eigenvalues
Homework 3
(due April 24)
4 April 22
April 24
April 26
10: Solving inhomogeneous first-order linear ODE's
11: Solving inhomogeneous second-order linear ODE's
12: Chaos, bifurcation, and sensitive dependence on initial conditions & parameters
Homework 4
(due May 1)
5 April 29
May 1
May 3
13: Non-linear ODE systems: the role of linearization
14: Monotone and conserved quantities
15: Power series methods
Homework 5
(due May 8)
6 May 6
May 8
May 10
16: Introduction to numerical methods
17: Runge-Kutta methods and stiff ODE's
18: Introduction to PDE's
Homework 6
(due May 15)
7 May 13
May 15
May 17
19: Separation of variables for the heat equation
20: Fourier series for periodic functions
21: Solving PDE's via separation of variables and Fourier series
Homework 7
(due May 22)
8 May 20
May 22
May 24
22: More applications of separation of variables and Fourier series
23: Exponential Fourier series and transform perspective
24: Introduction to the Fourier transform
Homework 8
(due May 29)
9 May 27
May 29
May 31
No Class: Memorial Day
25: Gaussians and the heat equation on a line
26: Convolution and the wave equation on a line
Homework 9
(due June 5)
10 June 3
June 5
27: Applications of the Fourier transform
Final Exam Review

Spring 2024 -- Department of Mathematics, Stanford University