MAT 308: Differential Equations with Linear Algebra
Spring 2025

Look at the syllabus

If you have any questions about the class, please look in the syllabus. There is a good chance your question will be answered there. If it isn’t, please feel free to email the instructor or TA.

Course description

Linear algebra: determinants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization. Differential equations; existence and uniqueness of solutions. First- and second-order equations; linear versus nonlinear equations. Systems of linear equations. Laplace transform. Applications to physics. More theoretical and intensive than MAT 303, this course is primarily intended for math majors. Together with MAT 307, it forms a 2-semester sequence covering the same material as the 3-semester sequence of MAT 205, MAT 211 and MAT 305. May not be taken for credit in addition to MAT 303, MAT 305 or AMS 361.

Credits: 4

Prerequisites: MAT 307 or (MAT 205 and MAT 211).

Textbook

Textbook: Williamson and Trotter, Multivariable Mathematics, Fourth edition

This page, Brightspace, Gradescope

Most information and material related to the course will be posted on this page.

The exceptions are:

• Gradescope will be used to submit homework assignments, and to see your graded homework.
• Brightspace will be used to make announcements, and solutions to problem sets will also be posted there.
• Email should be used to email to contact the instructor or TA.

Grading scheme

The final percentage grade will be computed as follows.

The percentage ranges for letter grades are as follows:

The final assignment of the letter grades may differ from the above ranges, but only by increasing the letter grades. That is, if your percentage grade falls in one of the above ranges, your letter grade will be at worst the one indicated above.

A grade of “Incomplete” can only be assigned in cases where the instructor is informed of a valid reason for missed work.

Homework

Homework assignments will be assigned on a biweekly basis.

Homework is to be submitted on Gradescope (you should see the course there if you are enrolled; if you have any problems, please inform the instructor or TA). When you submit on Gradescope, please don’t forget to match your scanned pages with the problems. If you do forget, the grader may not see your submission for the problem, and it may not be graded.

You may work with other students on the homework, but you must hand in your own write-ups. Stony Brook policy prohibits you from directly copying online sources.

Homework must be submitted by the posted due dates. If you expect to have issues submitting the homework on time, or if you are having difficulties with gradescope, please write to the instructor or TA as soon as possible, and attach a scanned copy of your submission (this is a wise practice for any class).

Each week, a collection of problems will be selected by the instructors to be graded from the homework. It is in your best interest to complete all assigned problems since you will not know which problems will be graded in advance. Your work will be graded on having well-structured and clear arguments and computations, in addition to finding the correct answer.

Your lowest score from the homeworks will be dropped.

LaTeX

LaTeX is an open source software system for preparing documents that is particularly well-suited for writing and formatting mathematical formulas. It is very popular among mathematicians and scientists, and is the standard tool in mathematics for writing research papers.

You are encouraged though not required to type up your homework using LaTeX ; if you do not already use it, learning it now will serve you well in the long term! To encourage you to use it, you can earn up to 2% bonus points if you typeset two homework assignments in LaTeX (or up to 1% if you do one).

An easy way to get started with LaTeX is to use the website Overleaf.com. Here is their guide for getting started with LaTeX : https://www.overleaf.com/learn. The instructor will also be happy to give you a LaTeX tutorial during office hours.

Alternatively, you might like to try a new WYSIWYG ("What You See Is What You Get") math formula editor called corca.app, which can export to LaTeX (see here for more info).

Exams

• The midterm will be on Wednesday, March 12, in class (e.g., at the usual time 3-4:50pm, in the usual place Earth&Space 069).
  
• The final exam will be held on Monday, May 19 from 5:30 to 8 pm, Earth&Space 069, as per the Stony Brook exam schedule.

Both exams are closed book, closed notes exams, with no calculators or other electronic aids permitted. The final exam will cover all topics from the semester, but will have greater emphasis on topics developed after the midterm.

Quizzes

There will be weekly 15 minute quizzes during your recitations starting from February 6.

Your lowest score from the quizzes will be dropped.

Make-up policy:

Make-up examinations are given only for work missed due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control.

Extra credit policy:

It will not be possible to earn any extra credit outside of the grading scheme given above. Therefore, if you are concerned about your performance in the class, alert the instructor or TA as early as possible so that they help you in whatever way they can to help you succeed.

Required syllabus statements

Student Accessibility Support Center Statement

If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact the Student Accessibility Support Center, Stony Brook Union Suite 107, (631) 632-6748, or at sasc@stonybrook.edu. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

Academic Integrity Statement

Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty is required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Professions, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/academic_integrity/index.html .

Critical Incident Management

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn. Faculty in the HSC Schools and the School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. Further information about most academic matters can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin, the Undergraduate Class Schedule, and the Faculty-Employee Handbook.

Disclaimer

The instructor reserves the right to modify the standards and requirements in this syllabus. Notice of such changes will be by announcement in class, and changes to this syllabus will be posted on the course website.
This syllabus was last revised on January 26, 2025.