Math 292, Honors Differential Equations

Challenge Problems and Workshops

(1) The First Challenge Problem Set is on differential equations and the singular value decomposition. The workshop will be Monday, Feb 5.

(2) The Second Challenge Problem Set is on driven oscillations and the superposition principle. The workshop will be Monday, Feb 21.

(3) The Third Challenge Problem Set is on driven second order equations and the Hopf fibration.. The workshop will be Monday, Mar 5.

(4) The Fourth Challenge Problem Set is on third order equations. The workshop will be Wednesday, Apr. 4.

(5) The Fifth Challenge Problem Set is on Neumann eigenvalues. This wworkshop will be Wednesday, Apr. 11.

(6) The Sixth Challenge Problem Set is on minimal surfaces. This wworkshop will be Wednesday, Apr. 25.

Objectives, Rules, Grading, and All That.

Background

The Math Department has required writeups of multistep, nonstandard problems (here referred to as "chal lenge problems") as part of the general calculus curriculum since 1995. This requirement is a consequence of our reco gnition that:


Written and oral communication of scientific and technical work is important and can be difficult.

Professor Stephen Greenfield has led the implementation of this policy at least for multivariable calcu lus, and the material on this page, apart form the assigment itself, is based on material on his web pages.

What is a writeup?
A writeup is a small essay. It should progress logically and be easy to read. It will be graded both on mathem atical content and on presentation.

One very good reference on writing is The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. It is qu ite brief. The fourth edition is a thin, reasonably priced paperback ($8). An early edition is available online.


Exposition is a skill which can be learned. The comments on your work are intended to help this proc ess.

The rules
While you are encouraged to discuss the problem with other students, and will work together in groups, and are also encouraged to discuss the problems with the peer mentors and me, the written work you hand in must be your own writing. That is, if you are working in a group and another student in your group figures out a key idea for the solu tion, by all means, do include this idea in your write-up. However, make sure the explanation of this idea is your own. In short, work together on the solutions of the problems, but work by yourself in explaining the solution, once it is worked out. Please acknowledge any quotes and reference any sources, but as far as attributing insights to group memebers, simply say at the outset of your write-up the names of the people in your group: Give your write-up a title, under that write "by My Name" and in a line below that, write "Joint work with ...", listing the names.