Course information
- Texts: Partial Differential Equations by Lawrence C. Evans
- Syllabus:The course will cover roughly Part I of the text. There is a follow-up course Math 6160 offered in the spring semester.
- Format: For each class there will be an assigned reading (below) from the text and a set of discussion questions. You will do the reading and think about the questions before the class. Most of the class time will be devoted to discussing the questions. We will also discuss questions that you bring up, and may go over some homework problems. It is expected that everyone will participate in the discussion. Approximately 25% of your grade will be based on your enthusiastic participation. The goal is to get each student to understand the material through a learning process that is messy, challenging, individualized, frightening, thrilling, and ultimately transcendental.
- Homework: There will be weekly homework assignments (below), to be handed in on Thursdays in class. These will be graded and will count toward your grade in the course. You are permitted to collaborate with other students on homework, provided you write up your own solutions. Please indicate on your homework the names of students with whom you worked.
- Exams: There will be a takehome midterm due 18 October, and a takehome final in December (TBA). These will be like the homework except that no collaboration is permitted. There will also be an oral exam during the study period (2-5 December) where you will be asked to state theorems and give proofs.
- "A Cornell student's submission of work for academic credit indicates that the work is the student's own. All outside assistance should be acknowledged, and the student's academic position truthfully reported at all times"... Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity.
- Interview: Please come for a short interview during the first week. There will be a sign-up sheet at the first class.
Homework
The following are due on the date indicated (tentative and subject to change):
- 31 August, 1.5: 2, 3, 4, 5 ; 2.5 - 1, 2
- 7 September, 2.5: 4, 5
- 14 September, 2.5: 6, 7, 10, 11
- 28 September, 2.5: 15, 16, 18, 19, 24
- 5 October, 4.7: 1, 2, 3
- 12 October, 4.7: 6, 8, 9
- 19 October, 4.7: 10, 19
- 26 October, 5.10: 2, 3, 8, 11
- 2 November, 5.10: 14, 17
- 9 November, 5.10: 20, 21
Daily readings and discussion questions
The following sections are to be read, and questions thought over, prior to the date indicated (tentative and subject to change):
- Thurs 24 August, 1, 2.1, 2.1.1, 2.1.2 [questions]
- Tues 29 August, 2.2, 2.2.1 [questions]
- Thurs 31 August, 2.2.2, 2.2.3 [questions]
- Tues 5 September, 2.2.4, 2.2.5 [questions]
- Thurs 7 September, 2.3, 2.3.1 [questions]
- Tues 12 September, 2.3.2, 2.3.3 [questions]
- Thurs 14 September, 2.3.4, 2.4 [questions]
- Tues 19 September, 2.4.1 [questions]
- Thurs 21 September, No class and no homework
- Tues 26 September, 2.4.2, 2.4.3 [questions]
- Thurs 28 September, 4.1 [questions]
- Tues 3 October, 4.2 [questions]
- Thurs 5 October, 4.3.1 [questions]
- Thurs 12 October, 4.3.2, 4.3.3 [questions]
- Tues 17 October, 4.6 [questions]
- Thurs 19 October, 5.1, 5.2 [questions]
- Tues 24 October, 5.3, 5.4 [questions]
- Thurs 26 October, 5.5, 5.6.1 [questions]
Other important links: