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Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I (Math 245)
Fall 2019
Class number 39594R
The final exam is Monday, December 16, 8-10am, in SGM 601 (our usual lecture room)

Math 245 in Fall 2019 semester: Key dates

  • August 26: first day of classes
  • September 2: Labor Day, no class
  • September 13: Last day to drop without a `W’ AND with refund
  • October 2: Midterm Exam 1
  • October 11: Last day to drop without a `W’, BUT WITH NO refund
  • October 17,18: Fall break, no classes
  • November 15: Last day to drop with a `W’
  • November 20: Midterm Exam 2
  • November 27-29: Thanksgiving break, no classes
  • December 6: Computer project is due; Last day of classes
  • December 16: Final exam
  • Instructor: Dr. Sergey Lototsky.
    Office: KAP 248 D.
    Phone: (213) 740-2389.
    E-mail: lototsky (at) usc (dot) edu.
    URL: https://dornsife.usc.edu/sergey-lototsky/
    Lectures: MWF 10:00-10:50 am, in SGM 601.
    Office hours: MWF 11-11:50am
  • Please do not hesitate to talk to me about your problems, questions, or concerns in this class.
  • Teaching Assistant: Jiajun Luo 
    E-mail: jiajunlu (at) usc (dot) edu
    Discussions: T Th, 10 and 11 am in THH B10.
    Office hours: TBA, all in the Math Center (KAP 263).
  • Textbook: “Differential Equations” by Brannan and Boyce, Third Edition, ISBN: 978-1-118-53177-8.
  • Learning objectives and outcomes: Acquire the ability to handle ordinary differential equations in real life, including future classes at USC and elsewhere.
  • Goal: To learn everything in the textbook book, and little bit more.

There will be two in-class one-hour exams (October 2 and November 20, both Wednesdays, during regular lecture hours, in the regular lecture room).

No notes, books, calculators, etc. during the exams.

Homework, Quizzes, etc.: There will be 12 weekly quizzes, 11 homeworks, and one computer project. You should know how to solve every homework problem and turn in each homework on the corresponding due date. We will have a grader for the homeworks: [ (at) usc (dot) edu]

Keep all your notes, including scratch paper, until after you are completely done with this class.

Quizzes will take place during Thursday discussion sections. The exact dates are in the class schedule. Quizzes are just like exams: no notes, books, calculators, etc. The teaching assistant is responsible for preparing, administering, and grading the quizzes.

Grading:

  • Quizzes 15%
  • Homeworks 15%
  • Two One-Hour Exams, 15% each
  • One computer projects, 10%
  • Final exam, 30%

To put it differently: you get 75% of the final grade from in-class work (quizzes and exams) and 25% of the final grade from the outside-the-class work (homeworks and the project).

Approximate Grading Scheme. A: 90+; B: 80-89; C: 70-79. Pluses/minuses (As in A-, B+, etc.) will mostly be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Missed work. The general rule: no make-up exams or quizzes, and no late submissions of homeworks or the project (but early submissions, especially in electronic format, are welcome). Emergencies will be handled on a case-by-case basis. If you miss the final exam, with a valid excuse, you get an incomplete in the class; an incomplete is a major inconvenience for a number of people, including yourself, so, please, do not miss the final.

To encourage and reward consistent performance throughout the semester, I will not automatically drop any scores (such as the two lowest quizzes, etc.)

Students Requiring Special Accommodation
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on special needs is required to register with DSP each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in GFS 120. To contact DSP: (213) 740-0776 [tel.], ability@usc.edu [e-mail], on the web.

Academic Integrity
USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. Scampus (the Student Guidebook) contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are in Appendix A.

Academic Support The Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity

Supplementary Materials

USC Math Department Homepage