Math 123: Ordinary Differential Equations

UC Berkeley, Fall semester 2016.

Lectures: TTh 12:30 -- 2:00. Lectures are in Hearst 310.

Office Hours: T 2:00 -- 3:00, F 5:00 -- 6:00. Additional office hours by appointment.

  • During RRR week there will be additional office hours TTh, 12:30 -- 2:00.

Textbook: We will primarily follow "The Qualitative Theory of Differential Equations" by Brauer and Nohel. Resources for additional and supplemental topics will be posted as needed.

Prerequisites: Ideally Math 54 and 104 or equivalent courses. Contact me if you have questions about your preparedness.

Course outline: The course will consist of

  1. Review: techniques and tricks. Motivation.
  2. Existence and uniqueness theory.
  3. Theory of linear systems.
  4. Stability theory, Lyapunov's method.
  5. Applications and additional topics as time permits. Possibilities include the Liénard equation, the Poincaré-Bendixon theorem, numerical methods, and control theory.

See here for a list of class policies, including the grading scheme. Familiarizing yourself with these policies is part of the expectations of this course. An approximate schedule, to be updated as the course progresses, is located here.

Homework: Homework is due at the beginning of each Tuesday lecture. See the list of class policies for further details regarding homework.

  • Homework 1. Due Tuesday, Sept. 6 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 2. Due Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 3. Due Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 4. Due Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 5. Due Tuesday, Oct. 4 at the beginning of class.
  • Gap week due to midterm exam.
  • Homework 6. Due Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 7. Due Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 8. Due Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 9. Due Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 10. Due Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 11. Due Tuesday, Nov. 22 at the beginning of class.
  • Homework 12. Due Thursday, Dec. 1 at the beginning of class. Note altered due date.

Final Exam: The final exam will be on Friday, December 16, 8 -- 11 AM, in Hearst 310 (our regular classroom).