MATH 310: Applied Mathematics for Science & Engineering I

 

Spring 2025

 

Course Syllabus and Class Policies

 

1.     Major Course Topics:

·     Introduction; Brief Review of Calculus

·     Differential Equations: Definitions and Terminology

·     First-Order Differential Equations

·     Higher-Order Differential Equations

·     Laplace Transform

·     Series Solutions of Differential Equations

·     Basic Linear Algebra: Matrices; Determinants; Inverses

·     Eigenvalues; Orthogonal Matrices; Diagonalization; Method of Least Squares

·     Systems of Linear Differential Equations

 

The tentative detailed schedule of the course can be found at http://home.sandiego.edu/~pruski/m310s25schedule.html .

 

2.     Course Learning Outcomes:

·     Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of differential equations and linear algebra topics. This includes knowledge of theorems with complete assumptions.

·     Students will demonstrate the ability to use methods of the relevant theory and perform computations accurately and efficiently.

·     Students will demonstrate the ability to solve problems, including applications outside of mathematics.

·     Students will be able to construct simple proofs independently.

·     Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate mathematical ideas clearly.

 

3.     Regular attendance is really necessary. It is quite difficult to catch up with the material when you miss a class. It becomes virtually impossible, if you miss several classes.

 

4.     A student is supposed to spend at least two hours at home for each class hour. Thus, you should expect spending at least 6 hours a week (more likely about 7-8 hours) doing your homework and preparing for quizzes/exams.

 

5.     This is an upper-division mathematics course, so we will be doing quite some number of proofs. You will be expected to do some proofs in your homework assignments as well as during exams.

 

6.     We will follow the selected chapters/sections of the textbook closely: Zill, Advanced Engineering Mathematics. Sixth Edition. 

 

7.     Office hours:

 

Monday

10:00 - 11:00

Tuesday

10:00 - 12:00

Wednesday

3:30 - 4:30

Friday

12:15 - 1:15

 

and at other times, by appointment.

 

8.     Contact: The best way to contact me is by using e-mail (pruski@sandiego.edu). I read e-mail many times during the day and night, except for one or two weekends when I am out of town.

 

9.     A primitive webpage for the course is at http://home.sandiego.edu/~pruski/m310s25.html You should check the webpage daily for assignments, announcements, and links.

 

10.  Because of the increased availability of various symbolic algebra/calculus tools such as computer packages (MATLAB, Mathematica, Maple, etc.) and advanced calculators, the computational aspect of the course has been significantly reduced. Computations are way less important than setting up the problem correctly. Calculators and computers can do the computations; only people, however, can correctly set the problems for computations. In this course, the concepts count much more than computations. In class I will usually omit the computational details of, say, integrations. When doing your homework, you will be often encouraged to use integration tables, advanced calculators, or various Web tools, except for some problems that I will ask you to solve completely manually, and where I will require that you show all the steps of your work. I will try to reduce computational component to minimum on quizzes and exams. Consequently, no calculators or similar devices will be allowed on exams.

 

11.  Homework Assignments will be assigned and collected about once a week. The assignments will be graded partly on effort. I will assign many odd-numbered exercises that have answers at the BOB (Back-Of-Book). The total homework assignment score will count for 30% of the course grade. No late assignments will be accepted unless you arrange it with me in advance.

 

12.  There will be 8 quizzes. Quiz questions will refer to the recently covered material and to the new material you were supposed to read on your own. Two lowest quiz scores will be dropped, and the remaining scores will count for 25% of the course grade. Quizzes cannot be made up unless you have a valid reason for not taking the quiz and you notify me in advance of your absence.

 

13.  The midterm exam will take place on Friday, March 21, and its score will count for 15% of the course grade. The exam can be made up only if you have an actual emergency and if you notify me in advance about your absence.

 

14.  The final exam (Friday, May 23, 2 - 4:30 for section 2, and Monday, May 19, 2 - 4:30 for section 3) will be cumulative and its score will count for 30% of the course grade.

 

 

 

15.  Grading criteria are as follows:

 

Total percentage

Grade

90% and above

A

80% - 90%

B

60% - 80%

C

50% - 60%

D

below 50%

F

 

Of course, pluses and minuses will be used, close to cutoff boundaries. (In the unlikely case that the number of A's and B's falls below 40%, I will curve the grades up appropriately.) Based on recent years' data my grade distributions are exactly at the departmental average.

 

16.  Academic Integrity: The University of San Diego has clearly articulated its policies governing academic integrity and students are encouraged to carefully review the policy. Any deviation from these expectations will result in academic penalties as well as disciplinary actions. The area of greatest potential risk for inadvertent academic dishonesty is plagiarism. Students should also read closely the discussion of avoiding plagiarism that is included in USD’s academic integrity policy.

 

17. Additional help, outside of the classroom and office hours may be available via the Knack program. The University of San Diego has partnered with Knack to provide students with access to verified peer tutors who have excelled in this course. Visit usd.joinknack.com and sign in with your student account to find available tutors. Note: This is a new program; so we do not have any track record.

 

18. Academic Accommodations : Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All discussions will remain confidential. A student attempting to access an academic accommodation for the first time should begin by contacting the Disability and Learning Difference Resource Center (DLDRC) (https://www.sandiego.edu/disability/)  (619­-260­-4655). It is the student’s responsibility to schedule an “intake” meeting with the Director as soon as possible. 

 

19. If you feel sick, please stay home to keep others healthy. The following USD resources offer help:

· Student Health Center: https://www.sandiego.edu/health-center (non-urgent email: usdhealthcenter@sandiego.edu)

· MyWellness Portal: https://mywellness.sandiego.edu/