MA2051 - Ordinary Differential Equations
Goals, Grading, Staff - B96

Course goals include

• bridging the gap between physical problems and their mathematical formulation by developing the skills of modeling, analysis, and interpretation,
• honing the skills of problem solving, synthesis, and group work you need for qualifying project work,
• reinforcing both mathematical ideas and manipulative skills from your calculus courses,
• learning to learn on your own.

Grading: The cut-off for final grades are the usual 90/80/70% average for A, B, and C, respectively. Your final average will apportioned as follows:

To pass the course,

• you must have a passing average (70% or better) for
  • the group projects and
  • the homework;

• you must have earned a passing grade (70% or better) on both one-hour tests.

Hour exams and make-up exams are scheduled as shown in the syllabus. You may retake the first exam twice, the first time to improve your grade, the second time on a pass-fail basis and only if you have not passed the first test or the first make-up. The make-up for the second exam is pass-fail only.

Homework assigned with a Friday or Monday lecture is due at the start of the following Tuesday's PLA session; Wednesday assignments are due the following Thursday. Excepting documented illness or prior notice of an official school activity, you must turn in your own homework. Late homework will not be accepted. One or two problems from each homework set will be graded, and your overall level of effort on the homework assignment will be considered as well.

Staff: (All email addresses are @wpi.)

Lecturer: Paul Davis, SH 202D, 831-5212, pwdavis

Teaching Assistant: Olga Dunaevskaya, SH 104, dnepr

Peer Learning Assistants: Will Brother (milvi), Colin Brown (chicken), Angela Capek (adadula), Laura Cooper (ljcooper), Monaca McNall (monaca), Rudy Othmer (robert), Susan Shorrock (surun), Cory Wajda (wajda), Jennifer Yambert (jennx)