Alternative Text & Lecture Notes for MA 238

(Applied Differential Equations)

Summer 2008

(Prepared by Prof. Kenneth Howell, Dept. Math, UAH)

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Below are links to the Summer, 2008 versions of chapters of the alternative text for MA 238, some of these chapters may be updated as they are (re)written.  To see the  version fixed at May 22, 2008, click here.

They began as lecture notes for my spring 2004 differential equations class (to replace the terrible text we had then), and have slowly evolved since.

You will need a program like Adobe Reader to read these files.  If you don't have Adobe Reader or a recent version (at least version 7 -- some of the earlier versions didn't display all the math that well) go to the Adobe Reader Download Page.

Some Comments and Warnings:

1)  Beware of typos and dumb mistakes in these notes!  Many have been written hastily and at odd hours, and have not been adequately proofread.  If you find what you believe to be an error in any of these notes, please let me know ("Me" being Prof. Ken Howell,  howell@math.uah.edu). 

2)  Do not expect these notes to be complete.  They are only what I have had time to write up.

3)  Some of the notes contain material that is not part of the course.  Basically, this is material that would be nice to cover if we had time.  Feel free to read unassigned sections on your own for your own enlightenment.

4)  Most computer labs on campus have restrictions on the use of the lab's printer.  Please honor those restrictions.  They help ensure a more fair distribution of resources.  If possible, print these notes at home, on your own printer.  (Suggestion:  Get a ream of 3-hole punched paper at a place like Staples or Office Depot, along with a fairly large three-ring binder.)

5)  Feel free to send any comments about these notes to howell@math.uah.edu .

Chapters / Lecture Notes