Course Identification

Calculus, basic course in Linear Algebra and familiarity with working with matrices

This course is intended as both a refresher and a remedial course, giving an introduction to the following topics: first-order differential equations, second-order linear differential equations, linear algebra and systems of first-order linear equations, partial differential equations, Fourier series and boundary value problems. Example problems relevant to various aspects of chemistry will be used throughout the course.

Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Recognize the role of mathematics in various scientific fields.
2. Integrate knowledge from diverse fields such as calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, Fourier series to formulate and analyze models that arise in chemical reactions, in biology (population dynamics and predator-prey interactions) and mechanics and electricity in physics.
3. Apply methods from linear algebra to solve linear differential equations and systems of linear differential equations.
4. Apply a variety of different methods to solve special types of ordinary differential equations.
5. Apply Fourier series, and use the tools of Fourier analysis to solve partial differential equations (heat equation and wave equation).

1. Arfken: Mathematical Methods for Physicists
2. Boas: Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences
3. Boyce and diPrima: Elementary differential equations and Boundary value problems, 7th edition.
4. Edwards and Penney: Elementary differential equations with Boundary value problems.
5. Mathews and Walker: Mathematical Methods of Physics
6. Riley, Hobson and Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering Assignments