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Readings

Listed in the table below are reading assignments for each lecture session. "EP" refers to the course textbook: Edwards, C. Henry, and David E. Penney. Elementary Differential Equations with Boundary Value Problems. 4th ed. "SN" refers to the "18.03 Supplementary Notes" written by Prof. Miller. "Notes" refers to the "18.03 Notes and Exercises" written by Prof. Mattuck.

SES # TOPICS READINGS
I. First-order Differential Equations
1 Introduction

Separable Equations

Direction Fields
EP 1.3

Notes G.1 (PDF)

SN §1 (PDF)
2 Isoclines

Models
EP 1.3, 1.4

SN §2 (PDF)
3 Linear Equations EP 1.5

SN §3 (PDF)
4 Autonomous Equations

The Phase Line
EP 1.7, 7.1
5 Complex Numbers

Complex Exponential
SN §5 (PDF)

SN §6 (PDF)

Notes C.1–3 (PDF)
6 Sinusoidal Functions SN §4 (PDF)

Notes IR.6 (PDF)
7 Sinusoidal System Response Notes IR.5 (PDF)
8 Hour Exam I
II. Second-order Linear Equations
9 Solutions of Spring-mass-dashpot Models EP 2.1, 2.3
10 Superposition

Initial Conditions
EP 2.2

SN §9 (PDF)
11 Damping Conditions

Inhomogeneous Equations
For Damping Conditions

EP 2.4

For Inhomogeneous Equations

Notes O.1 (PDF)

EP 2.6 (pp. 158–159 only; see SN §7 (PDF) if you want to learn about beats)
12 Exponential Signals SN §10 (PDF)

EP 2.6 (pp. 165–167)
13 Operator Notation and Undetermined Coefficients SN §11 (PDF)

EP 2.5 (pp. 144–153)

Notes O.1, 2, and 4 (PDF)
14 Frequency Response SN §13 (PDF)

SN §14 (PDF)
15 Resonance SN §12 (PDF)

Notes O.3 (PDF)
16 Review
17 Hour Exam II
III. Delta Functions and Convolution
18 Step and Delta Functions SN §16 (PDF)
19 Impulse Response and Convolution SN §17 (PDF)

Notes I (PDF)
20 From Convolution to the Laplace Transform
IV. The Laplace Transform
21 Laplace Transform: Basic Properties EP 4.1
22 Application to ODEs

Partial Fractions
SN §18 (PDF)

EP 4.2, 4.3
23 Completing the Square

Transforms of Delta and Time Translated Functions
EP 4.5–4.6
24 Convolution and Laplace Transform

The Pole Diagram
EP 4.4

SN §19 (PDF)
25 Numerical Methods EP 6.1

Notes G (PDF)
V. Fourier Series
26 Fourier Series EP 8.1
27 Differentiating and Integrating EP 8.3
28 General Period EP 8.2
29 Periodic Solutions EP 8.3, 8.4
30 Review: Fourier, Euler, Laplace
31 Hour Exam III
VI. First-order Systems
32 Linear Systems and Matrices EP 5.1–5.3

SN §23 (PDF)

Notes LS.1 (PDF)
33 Eigenvalues

Eigenvectors
EP 5.4

Notes LS.2 (PDF)
34 Complex or Repeated Eigenvalues EP 5.4

Notes LS.3 (PDF)
35 Qualitative Behavior of Linear Systems SN §24 (PDF)
36 Normal Modes and the Matrix Exponential EP 5.7

Notes LS.6 (PDF)
37 Inhomogeneous Equations EP 5.8
38 Nonlinear Systems

The Phase Plane
EP 7.2, 7.3

Notes GS (PDF)
39 Examples of Nonlinear Systems EP 7.4, 7.5

Notes GS (PDF)
40 Final Exam