Math 214 Differential Equations Spring 2025

Section: 002: TR 12pm-1:15pm in Horizon hall 1014

Instructor/ Instructor: Ahsan Chowdhury ([email protected])

others: Monday Recitation Instructor: Jessica Masterson ([email protected])
TA: Taylor Nagaj ([email protected])

Textbook: Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, WileyPLUS

by William E. Boyce; Richard C. DiPrima; Douglas B. Meade – 12th ed

Additional Elementary Differential Equations with Boundary Value Problems by William F.

Resources: Trench (free ebook)
Student Drop in Chowdhury’s in Exploratory Hall 4223 (hours listed on our course front page); or
Hour: email me ([email protected]) for meeting at another time over zoom or in
person

Attendance & Participation

Class attendance will be taken and kept for Mathematics Department records. Students are
responsible for course materials and announcements covered in class.

Classroom Courtesy Statement

You and your classmates are here to learn, and that happens best in an atmosphere of mutual
respect with freedom from distractions and disturbances. Part of this mutual respect involves letting
me know what pronouns you prefer to go by.

Homework, Class/Recitation Work, Participation, & Attendance

Classwork will consist of problem sets to be worked on in groups and with some work turned in
routinely. Participation in your groups and class discussions will contribute to a portion of your grade.
Homework in the form of problem sets will also contribute to a portion of your grade. Problem sets are
to be turned in on gradescope by the due dates listed in gradescope.

Problem sets and class materials draw from the textbook problems and/or from Problem sets will draw
from the textbook problems and/or from Rasmussen, C., Keene, K. A., Dunmyre, J., & Fortune, N.
(2018). Inquiry oriented differential equations: Course materials.

The textbook can be another reference should students need additional practice.

Tests
There will be 2 midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam. Each mid-term test will be
comprised of a Multiple choice/answer portion AND a Free response portion. The dates/times for
these are listed below.

Test Date (Tentative)

Test 1 Week 6, (week of 2/23)
Test 2 Week 11, (week of 4/6)
Final Exam According to university calendar, also
listed on the calendar below
You must take tests on the specified date. If you have a verified conflict with the time scheduled for an
exam, contact me as soon as possible. Usually, makeup exams will not be given unless the conditions
in the Make-Up policy are met. Both these situations will be handled on an individual basis.

The final exam is a required class meeting that will not be rescheduled for discretionary reasons,
including conflicts with work schedules, conflicts with classes and exams at other colleges, and travel
plans.

Make-Up Policy
If you have a valid reason for being unable to complete and/or submit an assignment, quiz, or exam at
its scheduled time, you may have the opportunity to make up the assignment. This will occur at my
discretion on an individual basis. If I approve of the make-up work, we will discuss the deadlines for
that assignment. To increase the likelihood that this will occur, you should do the following:

• If you know you will be absent during a specific class meeting, contact me well in advance of that
class meeting.
• If you miss a class meeting due to sudden illness or an emergency situation, contact me as soon as
possible.

Grading
The following percentages will be used in grading:

• 20% Homework
• 10% Recitation Work/Attendance & Participation
• 10% Class Work/Attendance & Participation
• 40% Midterm Exams (2 Tests, 20% each)
• 20% Final Exam

A 90% will be an A / A-, 80% will be a B / B-, 70% will be a C / C-, 60% a D. +/- Added according to
the class grade distribution.

Specific grading disputes for non-automated assignments should be brought to my attention within
one week of return of the assignment. Appeals outside of this timeframe will not be considered.

Additional Help
The Math Tutoring Center is located in the Johnson Center Room 344. Help is available on a walk-in
basis. For hours of operation see
https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/mathematical-sciences/math-tutoring/tutoring-
center-hours-and

The Volgenau School of Engineering also offers peer tutors.

http://volgenau.gmu.edu/undergraduates/peer-mentors

Disability Statement
If you have a learning or physical difference that may affect your academic work, please see me and
contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 993-2474, http://ods.gmu.edu . All academic
accommodations must be arranged through the ODS. Please submit your accommodation sheet
under the Accommodations tab on the left side of Blackboard.
Spring Course Schedule (Tentative)
Unit/Week TOPIC/READINGS (Chapter in Boyce in ASSIGNMENTS DUE/Notes
(Monday- parentheses)
Sunday)

Week 1 Unit 1: Qualitative & Graphical Approaches  HW due according to gradescope

(week of 1/19) (1.1, 1.2) deadline
Week 2 Unit 2: A Numerical Approach (2.7)  Possible Pop Quiz during recitation
(week of 1/26)  HW due according to gradescope
deadline
Week 3 Unit 3: An Analytic Approach (2.2)  Possible Pop Quiz during recitation
(week of 2/2)  HW due according to gradescope
deadline
Week 4 Unit 4: Linear Differential Equations (2.6)  Possible Pop Quiz during recitation
(week of 2/9)  HW due according to gradescope
deadline
Week 5 Unit 5: Uniqueness (and Existence) of  Possible Pop Quiz during recitation
(week of 2/16) Solutions (2.8),  HW due according to gradescope
deadline
Week 6 Unit 6: Autonomous Differential Equations (2.5)  Possible Pop Quiz during recitation
(week of 2/23) Test 1 (on Units 1-5)  HW due according to gradescope
deadline
Week 7 flexible/catch up  Possible Pop Quiz during recitation
(week of 3/2) Unit 7: Modeling with Autonomous Differential  HW due according to gradescope
Equations (2.3) deadline
 Spring Break week
Week 8 Finish Unit 7 & Flexible/catch up  Unit 8: The Effect of Varying a
(week of 3/16) Unit 9: Introduction to Systems (4.1, 7.4, 9.1 Parameter in Autonomous
(phase plane), 9.2 (autonomous systems and Differential Equations
Stability), 9.4-9.5 (competing species/predator
(Section,Group project during
prey))
recitations)
 Possible Quiz during recitation
 HW due according to gradescope
deadline
Week 9 Continue Unit 9: Introduction to Systems (4.1,  Continue/Wrap up Unit 8 project
(week of 3/23) 4.2, 7.4, 9.1 (phase plane), 9.2 (autonomous  Possible Quiz during recitation
systems and Stability), 9.4-9.5 (competing  HW due according to gradescope
species/predator prey))
deadline deadline
Start Unit 10 (time permitting)
Week 10 Unit 10: Spring Mass System and Linear  Possible Quiz during recitation
(week of 3/30) Systems of DEs (7.5)  HW due according to gradescope
deadline
Week 11 Unit 11: Damped and Undamped Linear  Possible Quiz during recitation
(week of 4/6) Systems (systems with complex solutions, 7.6),  HW due according to gradescope
Review/flexible/catch up deadline
Test 2 (on units 6-10)
Week 12 Review/flexible/catch up/get ahead,  Possible Quiz during recitation
(week of 4/13) Unit 12: Eigentheory Applied to Linear Systems  HW due according to gradescope
(7.5, 7.6) deadline
Week 13 Flexible/catch up  Possible Quiz during recitation
(week of 4/20) Unit 13: Second Order Linear Differential  HW due according to gradescope
Equations (3.1, 3.3, 3.4) deadline
Week 14 Unit 14: Nonlinear Systems (9.2 (autonomous  Possible Quiz during recitation
Unit/Week TOPIC/READINGS (Chapter in Boyce in ASSIGNMENTS DUE/Notes
(Monday- parentheses)
Sunday)

(week of 4/27) systems and Stability), 9.3 (locally linear  HW due according to gradescope
systems))- Time permitting deadline
Unit 15: Laplace Transforms (6.1,6.2, 6.4,6.5)
Week 15 Flexible/catch up  Monday is the last day of
(week of 5/4) class/learning new material (for
Tuesday Review for final exam those who have classes regularly on
reading day
Monday)
Final exam Thursday, 5/8, 10:30am-1:15pm, in our regular
classroom (note, while we have the room for
the whole time listed, our exam may only take
up a part of this time. Pay attention to course
announcements for details)

Common Policies Affecting All Courses at George Mason University

Updated August 2024

These four policies affect students in all courses at George Mason University. This Course Policy
Addendum must be made available to students in all courses (see Catalog Policy AP.2.5).

Additional policies affecting this course, and additional resources or guidance regarding these
policies, may be provided to students by the instructor.

Academic Standards
Academic Standards exist to promote authentic scholarship, support the institution’s goal of maintaining high
standards of academic excellence, and encourage continued ethical behavior of faculty and students to
cultivate an educational community which values integrity and produces graduates who carry this commitment
forward into professional practice.

As members of the George Mason University community, we are committed to fostering an environment of
trust, respect, and scholarly excellence. Our academic standards are the foundation of this commitment,
guiding our behavior and interactions within this academic community. The practices for implementing these
standards adapt to modern practices, disciplinary contexts, and technological advancements. Our standards
are embodied in our courses, policies, and scholarship, and are upheld in the following principles:

 Honesty: Providing accurate information in all academic endeavors, including communications,

assignments, and examinations.
 Acknowledgement: Giving proper credit for all contributions to one’s work. This involves the use of
accurate citations and references for any ideas, words, or materials created by others in the style
appropriate to the discipline. It also includes acknowledging shared authorship in group projects, co-
authored pieces, and project reports.
 Uniqueness of Work: Ensuring that all submitted work is the result of one’s own effort and is original,
including free from self-plagiarism. This principle extends to written assignments, code, presentations,
exams, and all other forms of academic work.
Violations of these standards—including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication, and cheating—are taken
seriously and will be addressed in accordance with university policies. The process for reporting, investigating,
and adjudicating violations is outlined in the university's procedures. Consequences of violations may include
academic sanctions, disciplinary actions, and other measures necessary to uphold the integrity of our academic
community.

The principles outlined in these academic standards reflect our collective commitment to upholding the
highest standards of honesty, acknowledgement, and uniqueness of work. By adhering to these principles, we
ensure the continued excellence and integrity of George Mason University's academic community.

Student responsibility: Students are responsible for understanding how these general expectations regarding
academic standards apply to each course, assignment, or exam they participate in; students should ask their
instructor for clarification on any aspect that is not clear to them.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Disability Services at George Mason University is committed to upholding the letter and spirit of the laws that
ensure equal treatment of people with disabilities. Under the administration of University Life, Disability
Services implements and coordinates reasonable accommodations and disability-related services that afford
equal access to university programs and activities. Students can begin the registration process with Disability
Services at any time during their enrollment at George Mason University. If you are seeking accommodations,
please visit https://ds.gmu.edu/ for detailed information about the Disability Services registration process.
Disability Services is located in Student Union Building I (SUB I), Suite 2500. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (703)
993-2474.

Student responsibility: Students are responsible for registering with Disability Services and communicating
about their approved accommodations with their instructor in advance of any relevant class meeting,
assignment, or exam.

FERPA and Use of GMU Email Addresses for Course Communication

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) governs the disclosure of education records for eligible
students and is an essential aspect of any course. Students must use their GMU email account to receive
important University information, including communications related to this class. Instructors will not respond
to messages sent from or send messages regarding course content to a non-GMU email address.

Student responsibility: Students are responsible for checking their GMU email regularly for course-related
information, and/or ensuring that GMU email messages are forwarded to an account they do check.

Title IX Resources and Required Reporting

As a part of George Mason University’s commitment to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living,
and working environment for all members of the University community, the University does not discriminate
on the basis of sex or gender in any of its education or employment programs and activities. Accordingly, all
non-confidential employees, including your faculty member, have a legal requirement to report to the Title
IX Coordinator, all relevant details obtained directly or indirectly about any incident of Prohibited Conduct
(such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender-based stalking, dating/domestic violence). Upon notifying
the Title IX Coordinator of possible Prohibited Conduct, the Title IX Coordinator will assess the report and
determine if outreach is required. If outreach is required, the individual the report is about (the
“Complainant”) will receive a communication, likely in the form of an email, offering that person the option to
meet with a representative of the Title IX office.

For more information about non-confidential employees, resources, and Prohibited Conduct, please see
University Policy 1202: Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence.
Questions regarding Title IX can be directed to the Title IX Coordinator via email to [email protected], by phone
at 703-993-8730, or in person on the Fairfax campus in Aquia 373.

Student opportunity: If you prefer to speak to someone confidentially, please contact one of Mason’s
confidential employees in Student Support and Advocacy (SSAC), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS),
Student Health Services (SHS), and/or the Office of the University Ombudsperson.