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Introduction to Differential Equations

  • Job DurationedX
  • Job Duration14 weeks long, 3-6 hours a week
  • Job DurationFree Online Course (Audit)

Project detail


Overview

How do you design:

  • A boat that doesn’t tip over as it bobs in the water?
  • The suspension system of a car for a smooth ride?
  • Circuits that tune to the correct frequencies in a cell phone?

How do you model:

  • The growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria?
  • Gene expression?
  • Online purchasing trends?

The answer: Differential Equations.

Differential equations are the language of the models we use to describe the world around us. In this mathematics course, we will explore temperature, spring systems, circuits, population growth, and biological cell motion to illustrate how differential equations can be used to model nearly everything in the world around us.

We will develop the mathematical tools needed to solve linear differential equations. In the case of nonlinear differential equations, we will employ graphical methods and approximation to understand solutions.

The five modules in this seriesare being offered as an XSeries on edX. Please visit the Differential EquationsXSeries Program Pageto learn more and to enroll in the modules.

Photo by user: bizoo_n. Copyright © 2016 Adobe Systems Incorporated. Used with permission.

Please note: edX Inc. has recently entered into an agreement to transfer the edX platform to 2U, Inc., which will continue to run the platform thereafter. The sale will not affect your course enrollment, course fees or change your course experience for this offering. It is possible that the closing of the sale and the transfer of the edX platform may be effectuated sometime in the Fall while this course is running. Please be aware that there could be changes to the edX platform Privacy Policy or Terms of Service after the closing of the sale. However, 2U has committed to preserving robust privacy of individual data for all learners who use the platform. For more information see the edX Help Center.

Syllabus

Unit 1

  1. Introduction to differential equations and modeling
  2. Complex numbers
  3. Solving first order linear differential equations

Unit 2

  1. The complex exponential
  2. Sinusoids
  3. Higher order linear differential equations
  4. Characteristic polynomial

Unit 3

  1. Harmonic oscillators
  2. Operators
  3. Complex replacement
  4. Resonance

Unit 4

  1. Graphical methods and nonlinear differential equations
  2. Autonomous equations
  3. Numerical methods

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