Math Academy

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have mastered the following:

First-Order Differential Equations

Solve first-order differential equations using integrating factors.
Identify and apply substitutions to convert first-order differential equations into forms that permit known solution techniques including separation of variables and integrating factors.
Solve special first-order differential equations including exact equations and instances of Bernoulli’s equation.
Reason about the solutions of differential equations using the existence and uniqueness theorem.
Leverage qualitative techniques such as phase lines, equilibrium solutions, and bifurcation diagrams to infer properties of solutions of first-order differential equations.
Construct and solve first-order differential equation models in a variety of real-world modeling contexts including population growth, temperature cooling, mechanics, and more.

Second-Order Differential Equations

Use reduction of order to reduce second-order differential equations to first-order differential equations for which solution techniques are known.
Use the characteristic equation in conjunction with the superposition principle to solve homogeneous linear second-order differential equations.
Interpret the right-hand side of an inhomogeneous differential equation as a forcing function, and use the method of undetermined coefficients to find particular solutions for various types of forcing functions.
Use variation of parameters as a general technique for finding a particular solution to an inhomogeneous second-order differential equation.
Solve instances of the Cauchy-Euler equation.
Construct and solve second-order differential equation models in a variety of real-world modeling contexts including oscillators and vibrating systems.
Extend second-order solution techniques to Nth-order linear differential equations.

Systems of Linear Differential Equations

Solve homogeneous systems of linear differential equations by computing eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
Express higher-order differential equations as first-order systems.
Extend qualitative techniques and variation of parameters to systems of linear differential equations.
Construct and solve systems of differential equations in a variety of real-world modeling contexts including predator-prey populations and the motion of a mass on a spring.

Alternative Solution Techniques

Compute Laplace transforms and use them to solve differential equations.
Find the recurrence relation that generates a power series solution for a given differential equation.
Employ numerical techniques including Euler’s method and the Runge-Kutta method to estimate solutions to initial value problems.

Advanced Topics

Use perturbation theory to find approximate solutions to differential equations starting from exact solutions in simpler cases.
Construct and solve partial differential equations in a variety of real-world modeling contexts including heat diffusion, waves, and vibrating strings.

Preliminaries

6 topics

1.1. Preliminaries

	1.1.1.	Differentiating Under the Integral Sign
	1.1.2.	The Newton-Raphson Method
	1.1.3.	Integrating Products of Trigonometric Functions
	1.1.4.	Products of Even and Odd Functions
	1.1.5.	The Floor and Ceiling Functions
	1.1.6.	Piecewise Continuity

First-Order Differential Equations

28 topics

2.2. Techniques for Solving First-Order ODEs

	2.2.1.	Solving First-Order ODEs Using Separation of Variables
	2.2.2.	Solving First-Order IVPs Using Separation of Variables
	2.2.3.	Introduction to First-Order Linear ODEs
	2.2.4.	General Solutions of First-Order Linear ODEs
	2.2.5.	Solving First-Order Linear ODEs With Exponential Forcing
	2.2.6.	Solving First-Order Linear ODEs With Sinusoidal Forcing
	2.2.7.	Solving First-Order Linear ODEs Using Integrating Factors
	2.2.8.	Solving First-Order ODEs by Substitution
	2.2.9.	Further Solving First-Order ODEs by Substitution
	2.2.10.	Reducing ODEs to First-Order Linear by Substitution

2.3. Special First-Order Equations

	2.3.1.	Homogeneous Functions
	2.3.2.	Homogeneous First-Order ODEs
	2.3.3.	Exact Differential Equations
	2.3.4.	Solving Exact ODEs Using Integrating Factors
	2.3.5.	Bernoulli Differential Equations
	2.3.6.	Riccati Differential Equations
	2.3.7.	Clairaut Differential Equations
	2.3.8.	d'Alembert Differential Equations

2.4. Slope Fields

	2.4.1.	Slope Fields for Directly Integrable Differential Equations
	2.4.2.	Slope Fields for Autonomous Differential Equations
	2.4.3.	Slope Fields for Nonautonomous Differential Equations
	2.4.4.	Analyzing Slope Fields for Directly Integrable Differential Equations
	2.4.5.	Analyzing Slope Fields for Autonomous Differential Equations
	2.4.6.	Analyzing Slope Fields for Nonautonomous Differential Equations

2.5. Qualitative Techniques for Differential Equations

	2.5.1.	Qualitative Analysis of First-Order ODEs
	2.5.2.	Equilibrium Solutions of First-Order ODEs
	2.5.3.	Phase Lines of First-Order ODEs
	2.5.4.	Classifying Equilibrium Solutions of First-Order ODEs

Modeling With First-Order Differential Equations

21 topics

3.6. Applications of First-Order ODEs

	3.6.1.	Modeling With First-Order ODEs
	3.6.2.	Further Modeling With First-Order ODEs
	3.6.3.	Modeling Mixture Problems With First-Order Separable ODEs
	3.6.4.	Modeling Mixture Problems With First-Order Linear ODEs
	3.6.5.	Orthogonal Trajectories

3.7. Growth and Decay Models With First-Order ODEs

	3.7.1.	Exponential Growth and Decay Models With First-Order ODEs
	3.7.2.	Exponential Growth and Decay Models With First-Order ODEs: Calculating Unknown Times and Initial Values
	3.7.3.	Exponential Growth and Decay Models With First-Order ODEs: Half-Life Problems
	3.7.4.	Inhibited Growth Models With First-Order ODEs
	3.7.5.	Inhibited Decay Models With First-Order ODEs
	3.7.6.	Logistic Growth Models With First-Order ODEs
	3.7.7.	Qualitative Analysis of the Logistic Growth Equation
	3.7.8.	Solving the Logistic Growth Equation

3.8. Physical Applications of First-Order ODEs

	3.8.1.	Velocity and Acceleration as Functions of Displacement
	3.8.2.	Determining Properties of Objects Described as Functions of Displacement
	3.8.3.	Falling Body Problems With Linear Drag
	3.8.4.	Falling Body Problems With Quadratic Drag
	3.8.5.	Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
	3.8.6.	Modeling Escape Velocity With First-Order ODEs
	3.8.7.	Modeling RL Circuits With First-Order ODEs
	3.8.8.	Modeling RC Circuits With First-Order ODEs

Linear Differential Equations

29 topics

4.9. Theory of Solutions to Linear ODEs

	4.9.1.	Differential Operators
	4.9.2.	Linear Differential Operators
	4.9.3.	Introduction to Second-Order Linear ODEs
	4.9.4.	The Superposition Principle
	4.9.5.	Reduction of Order
	4.9.6.	Linear Independence of Solutions to Homogeneous ODEs
	4.9.7.	General Solutions of Linear ODEs
	4.9.8.	Abel's Identity

4.10. Second-Order Linear ODEs With Constant Coefficients

	4.10.1.	Second-Order Homogeneous ODEs: Characteristic Equations With Distinct Real Roots
	4.10.2.	Second-Order Homogeneous ODEs: Characteristic Equations With Repeated Roots
	4.10.3.	Second-Order Homogeneous ODEs: Characteristic Equations With Complex Roots
	4.10.4.	Second-Order Homogeneous Initial Value Problems
	4.10.5.	Second-Order Inhomogeneous ODEs With Polynomial Forcing
	4.10.6.	Second-Order Inhomogeneous ODEs With Exponential Forcing
	4.10.7.	Second-Order Inhomogeneous ODEs With Sinusoidal Forcing

4.11. The Cauchy-Euler Equations

	4.11.1.	Cauchy-Euler Equations: Characteristic Equations With Distinct Real Roots
	4.11.2.	Cauchy-Euler Equations: Characteristic Equations With Repeated Roots
	4.11.3.	Cauchy-Euler Equations: Characteristic Equations With Complex Roots
	4.11.4.	Cauchy-Euler Equations With Forcing

4.12. Variation of Parameters

	4.12.1.	Variation of Parameters for First-Order Linear ODEs
	4.12.2.	Variation of Parameters for Second-Order ODEs
	4.12.3.	Solving Second-Order ODEs Using Variation of Parameters
	4.12.4.	Variation of Parameters With Higher-Order ODEs

4.13. Modeling With Second-Order ODEs

	4.13.1.	Simple Harmonic Oscillators
	4.13.2.	Damped Oscillators
	4.13.3.	Forced Oscillators
	4.13.4.	Resonance in Vibrating Systems
	4.13.5.	Modeling Capacitor Charge in RCL Circuits With Second-Order ODEs
	4.13.6.	Modeling Current in RCL Circuits With Second-Order ODEs

Systems of Differential Equations

27 topics

5.14. Systems of ODEs

	5.14.1.	Introduction to Systems of Linear ODEs
	5.14.2.	Expressing Homogeneous ODEs as First-Order Systems
	5.14.3.	Expressing Inhomogeneous ODEs as First-Order Systems
	5.14.4.	Linear Independence for Homogeneous Systems of ODEs
	5.14.5.	General Solutions of First-Order Linear Systems of ODEs

5.15. Solving Systems of Linear ODEs

	5.15.1.	Solving Decoupled Homogeneous Systems of ODEs
	5.15.2.	Solving Homogeneous Systems of ODEs With Distinct Eigenvalues
	5.15.3.	Solving Homogeneous Systems of ODEs With Distinct Eigenvalues and Initial Conditions
	5.15.4.	Solving Homogeneous Systems of ODEs With Repeated Eigenvalues
	5.15.5.	Solving Homogeneous Systems of ODEs With Complex Eigenvalues
	5.15.6.	Solving Inhomogeneous Systems of ODEs

5.16. Phase Portraits for Systems of Linear ODEs

	5.16.1.	Phase Planes and Phase Portraits
	5.16.2.	Equilibrium Points and Stability for Systems of ODEs
	5.16.3.	Phase Portraits for Decoupled Linear Systems
	5.16.4.	Phase Portraits for Linear Systems With Real Distinct Eigenvalues
	5.16.5.	Phase Portraits for Linear Systems With Repeated Eigenvalues
	5.16.6.	Phase Portraits for Linear Systems With Zero Eigenvalues
	5.16.7.	Phase Portraits for Linear Systems With Complex Eigenvalues
	5.16.8.	Shifted Systems of ODEs
	5.16.9.	Linear Approximations Near Equilibria

5.17. Solving Systems of ODEs Using Matrix Methods

	5.17.1.	Matrix Exponentials
	5.17.2.	Fundamental Matrices
	5.17.3.	Solving Homogeneous Systems of ODEs Using Matrix Methods
	5.17.4.	Solving Inhomogeneous Systems of ODEs Using Matrix Methods
	5.17.5.	Solving Systems of ODEs Using Variation of Parameters

5.18. Modeling With Systems of Linear ODEs

	5.18.1.	The Lotka-Volterra Predator-Prey Model
	5.18.2.	The Lotka-Volterra Model With Carrying Capacity

Laplace Transforms

16 topics

6.19. Laplace Transforms

	6.19.1.	The Unit Step Function
	6.19.2.	Laplace Transforms
	6.19.3.	Linearity of Laplace Transforms
	6.19.4.	Laplace Transforms of Piecewise Continuous Functions
	6.19.5.	The Smoothness Property of Laplace Transforms
	6.19.6.	Laplace Transforms of Derivatives
	6.19.7.	Laplace Transforms of Integrals
	6.19.8.	The First Shifting Theorem of Laplace Transforms
	6.19.9.	The Second Shifting Theorem of Laplace Transforms
	6.19.10.	Inverse Laplace Transforms

6.20. Solving Linear ODEs Using Laplace Transforms

	6.20.1.	Solving First-Order ODEs Using Laplace Transforms
	6.20.2.	Solving First-Order ODEs With Time-Delayed Forcing Using Laplace Transforms
	6.20.3.	Solving Second-Order ODEs Using Laplace Transforms
	6.20.4.	Solving Second-Order ODEs With Time-Delayed Forcing Using Laplace Transforms
	6.20.5.	Solving Homogeneous Systems of ODEs Using Laplace Transforms
	6.20.6.	Solving Inhomogeneous Systems of ODEs Using Laplace Transforms

Boundary Value Problems

14 topics

7.21. Boundary Value Problems

	7.21.1.	Introduction to Boundary Value Problems
	7.21.2.	Second-Order Homogeneous Boundary Value Problems
	7.21.3.	Second-Order Inhomogeneous Boundary Value Problems
	7.21.4.	Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions of Homogeneous BVPs

7.22. Fourier Series

	7.22.1.	Introduction to Fourier Series
	7.22.2.	Properties of Fourier Series
	7.22.3.	Fourier Sine Series
	7.22.4.	Fourier Cosine Series
	7.22.5.	Fourier Series of Arbitrary Period
	7.22.6.	Convergence of Fourier Series
	7.22.7.	Differentiating and Integrating Fourier Series
	7.22.8.	Solving ODEs Using Fourier Series
	7.22.9.	Solving IVPs Using Fourier Series
	7.22.10.	Solving BVPs Using Fourier Series

Approximating Solutions to Differential Equations

23 topics

8.23. Series Solutions of Differential Equations

	8.23.1.	Introduction to Recurrence Relations
	8.23.2.	Taylor Series Solutions of Differential Equations
	8.23.3.	Power Series Solutions of Differential Equations
	8.23.4.	Regular Singular Points
	8.23.5.	The Method of Frobenius
	8.23.6.	Finding Recurrence Relations for the Coefficients of a Frobenius Solution
	8.23.7.	Finding General Solutions Using the Method of Frobenius

8.24. Euler's Method

	8.24.1.	Euler's Method: Calculating One Step
	8.24.2.	Euler's Method: Calculating Multiple Steps
	8.24.3.	The Modified Euler Method
	8.24.4.	Euler's Method for Systems of ODEs
	8.24.5.	Euler's Method for Second-Order ODEs

8.25. Higher-Order Numerical Methods

	8.25.1.	The RK4 Method
	8.25.2.	The ABM2 Method
	8.25.3.	The ABM4 and Milne Methods

8.26. Implicit Numerical Methods

	8.26.1.	The Implicit Euler Method
	8.26.2.	The Trapezoidal Method
	8.26.3.	Using the Implicit Euler Method With Newton's Method
	8.26.4.	Using the Trapezoidal Method With Newton's Method

8.27. Analyzing Numerical Methods

	8.27.1.	Big-O Notation
	8.27.2.	Error in Numerical Methods
	8.27.3.	Order of Numerical Methods
	8.27.4.	Stability of Numerical Methods

Differential Equations

Overview

Outcomes

Content

First-Order Differential Equations

Second-Order Differential Equations

Systems of Linear Differential Equations

Alternative Solution Techniques

Advanced Topics