MA 501-601 - North Carolina State University - Fall 2017

Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists I

1. Important Details
• Instructor: Dr. Elisabeth Brown
• Email: [email protected]
• Moodle page: https://moodle-courses1718.wolfware.ncsu.edu/course/view.php?id=1775
• Office hours: By August 23rd at 9:00pm (Eastern Time), please indicate your available/preferred
times for weekly online office hours in the poll on the course Moodle page. The
schedule for online office hours and instructions for connecting will then be posted.
• Textbook: Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Sixth or Seventh Edition by Peter V. O’Neil
• Highly Recommended but not required.
• For both editions, a table indicating the section of the textbook most closely
related to each lecture is available on the course Moodle page.
• Grades: Available on the course Moodle page.

2. Course Details

2.1. Course Description. MA 501 is a 3-hour credit course.

Topics include a survey of mathematical methods for engineers and scientists. Ordinary differen-
tial equations, series solutions, and the method of Frobenius; Fourier series, Fourier integral, and
Fourier transforms; special functions, Sturm-Liouville theory, and eigenfunction expansion; partial
differential equations and separation of variables. Applications to engineering and science.
Prerequisite: MA 341 or an equivalent undergraduate course in differential equations. Credit for
both this course and MA 401 will not be given. Not for credit by mathematics majors.

2.2. Structure. The course consists of

• Lecture Videos: While all videos are available via the Engineering Online portal, the videos
should be viewed according to the schedule posted on the Moodle page. For your conve-
nience, links to videos roughly one week ahead of the current date will be posted on the
course Moodle page. I will only answer questions about videos that are currently posted.
All questions regarding lecture video content should be directed to Dr. Elisabeth Brown.
MA 501 videos were recorded for the Fall 2016 semester by one of my fellow Mathematics
faculty members. Since the videos for this distance course were recorded in a studio (and
not in front of a live student audience), there are occasional minor typos in the handwritten
notes. I have included short errata files correcting extra/missing pen-strokes from lectures.
• Homework: The main purpose of homework is practicing individual methods through prob-
lem solving. Assignments are due by 9:00pm (Eastern Time) on the following Tuesdays:

Assignment Due Date Assignment Due Date Assignment Due Date

1 August 29 5 October 3 9 October 31
2 September 5 6 October 10 10 November 21
3 September 12 7 October 17 11 November 28
4 September 19 8 October 24

More information can be found in the Homework Submission Guidelines, found on the
course Moodle page. Selected problems will be graded in detail.
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 MA 501-601: Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists I, Fall 2017

• Homework Forums: Forum discussions for each homework assignment will be set up in
Moodle. Here, you may post questions or answer other students’ questions. You are en-
couraged to discuss homework with other students, but you must write up the solution in
your own words based on your own understanding. Any marked similarity in form or no-
tation between submissions with different authors will be regarded as evidence of academic
dishonesty, so protect your work.

• Tests:
? Test #1 must be taken under the supervision of your proctor between Thursday,
September 28th at noon (your local time) and Saturday, September 30th at
5:00pm (your local time) as a 90-minute timed test.
? Test #2 must be taken under the supervision of your proctor between Thursday,
November 9th at noon (your local time) and Saturday, November 11th at
5:00pm (your local time) as a 90-minute timed test.

• Final Exam: The comprehensive final exam will cover all course material.
? The Final Exam must be taken under the supervision of your proctor between
Thursday, December 7th at noon (your local time) and Saturday, December
9th at 5:00pm (your local time) as a 180-minute timed test.

2.3. Grading. This course will use standard NCSU letter grading. Grades will not be curved; it
is theoretically possible for everyone in the class to get an A (or an F). Your grade depends only
on your performance, not on how everyone else in the class performs. Therefore, it is in your best
interests to help your classmates, while keeping the academic integrity policy in mind. Your final
grade in this course will be determined by grades earned:

Component Weight
Homeworks 30%
Tests 40%
Final Exam 30%

2.4. Corrections to the grading. If a grading error is found on a homework assignment or test,
then you should explain the error in writing to me within one week after the assignment/test was
returned. The entire assignment/test may be re-graded, and the grade is subject to remain the
same, increase, or decrease.

2.5. Course Topics Outline.

• Unit I Review of ordinary differential equations (2 lectures)

• Unit II Series solutions of ordinary differential equations (3 lectures)
• Unit III Fourier analysis (9 lectures)
• Unit IV Special functions (2 lectures)
• Unit V Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) in rectangular coordinates (8 lectures)
• Unit VI Partial Differential Equations in other coordinate systems (6 lectures)
• Unit VII Additional PDEs topics (5 lectures)

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 MA 501-601: Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists I, Fall 2017

2.6. Course Objectives. After completing this course, the student should be able to use math-
ematical methods to solve engineering problems. In particular, the student will be able to

• Solve a variety of second order differ- • Identify specific types of equations and
ential equations, selecting from several decide on appropriate mathematical
techniques covered in the syllabus methods to find solutions
• Apply mathematical methods to solve • Use various theoretical mathematical
important boundary value problems: ideas and results from this course to an-
heat, wave, and Laplace’s equations alyze certain physical problems

3. Miscellaneous
3.1. Students with disabilities. See http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-01
Students who require accommodations will need documentation through the Disability Services
Office (DSO) and are encouraged to seek such accommodations early in the semester. Reasonable
accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of
available accommodations, students must register with the DSO: http://dso.dasa.ncsu.edu

3.2. Code of Student Conduct. This will be upheld, and documentation will be submitted to
the Office of Student Conduct for students who violate University regulations on academic integrity.
Your signature on any test or assignment indicates “I have neither given nor received unauthorized
aid on this test or assignment.” See http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01 for a
detailed explanation of academic honesty.

3.3. Calculators and Computers. No devices are allowed during the two tests and one final
exam, including, but not limited to, non-graphing calculators, graphing calculators, cell phones,
tablets, and computers.

3.4. Non-Discrimination Policy. NC State University provides equality of opportunity in educa-

tion and employment for all students and employees. Accordingly, NC State affirms its commitment
to maintain a work environment for all employees and an academic environment for all students
that is free from all forms of discrimination. Discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed,
sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation is a violation of state and
federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated. Harassment of any person
(either in the form of quid pro quo or creation of a hostile environment) based on race, color,
religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation also is a
violation of state and federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated.
Retaliation against any person who complains about discrimination is also prohibited. NC State’s
policies and regulations covering discrimination, harassment, and retaliation may be accessed at
http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-04-25-05. Any person who feels that he or she has
been the subject of prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should contact the Office
for Equal Opportunity.