Hughes-Hallett et al Chapter 11: Differential equations

  • 11.1: What is a differential equation?
    • Starts with an example: what sets the rate at which a person learns a new task?  Defines a diff eq and a solution to a diff eq.
    • Defines order of a diff eq.  Example 1 is showing a function is not a solution to a diff eq.
    • There is just one example and it is modest.
  • 11.2: Slope fields
    • Introduce the idea of a slope field.  Example 1: compare a slope field and a solution curve.  Example 2: guess solution form by looking at a slope field.  Example 3: sketch solution curves with given initial conditions on a slope field.
    • Existence and uniqueness is introduced briefly.
  • 11.3: Euler’s method
    • Present the Euler’s method algorithm.  Example 1: use Euler’s method for a simple example.  Example 2: change the step size.  Example 3: approximate four points on a solution curve.
    • Accuracy of Euler’s method.  Introduce the idea of error.
  • 11.4: Separation of variables
    • Present the method (including the differential on each side of the equation).  Example 1: a simple separation problem.  Example 2: another simple linear problem.  Example 3: a third linear case.
  • 11.5: Growth and decay
  • 11.6: Applications and modeling
  • 11.7: The logistic model
  • 11.8: Systems of differential equations
  • 11.9: Analyzing the phase plane
  • Projects