Leon Takhtajan

Synopsis

This course is an introduction to Fourier series and to their use in solving partial differential equations (PDEs). We will discuss in detail the three fundamental types of PDEs: the heat equation, the wave equation and Laplace's equation. These equations are important in many applications from various fields (mathematics, physics, engineering, economics, etc.) and illustrate important properties of PDEs in general.

Click here to download a copy of the course syllabus. Please visit the course website on Blackboard to see your grades and the solutions to midterms & exams.

Lectures

Tuesdays & Thursdays 10-11:20pm in in Library E4320

Instructor

Leon Takhtajan
Office hours: Tu 3:00pm-4:00pm and Wed 2:30pm-3:30pm in 5-111.
           

Teaching Assistants

Yuan Gao
Office: Math Tower 2-106
Office hours: Mon 12:00pm-2:00pm in MLC and Mon 2:00pm-3:00pm in 2-106.

Jaroslaw Jaracz
Office:Physics D-107
Office hours: Mon 12:00pm-1:00pm and 2:00pm-3:00pm in MLC and F 12:00pm-1:00pm in D-107.
            

Textbook

David Powers, Boundary Value Problems and Partial Differential Equations, 6th ed., Elsevier (Academic Press), 2010.

Grading Policy

Grades will be computed using the following scheme:

• Homework – 20%
• Midterm 1 – 20%
• Midterm 2 – 20%
• Final – 40%

Students are expected to attend class regularly and to keep up with the material presented in the lecture and the assigned reading.

Exams

There will be two midterms and a final exam, scheduled as follows:

• Midterm 1 – Thursday, October 6, 10:00-11:20am, in Library E4320.
• Midterm 2 – Thursday, November 3, 10:00-11:20am, in Library E4320.
• Final Exam – Friday, December 16, 11:15am-1:45pm, in Library E4320.