Math 246 Texts and Other Resources, Spring 2012

Required Resources

• Principle Texts:
  
  • Elementary Differential Equations, Ninth Edition
    William E. Boyce and Richard C. DiPrima
    J. Wiley and Sons, New York, 2009
    ISBN: 978-0-470-03940-3
    Roughly, we will cover Chapters 1-4, 6-9.
    The optional ODE Architect CD is not required for the course!
    The optional WileyPLUS is not required.

  • Differential Equations with MATLAB, Second Edition
    Brian R. Hunt, Ronald L. Lipsman, John E. Osborn, and Jonathan M. Rosenberg
    J. Wiley and Sons, New York, 2005
    ISBN: 0-471-71812-2
    Roughly, we will cover Chapters 1-10, 12-14.

  • The bookstore might sell you either a "custom" unbound package that contains both books,
    or the two bound books separately. Either one of these is fine.
    The unbound custom package has no resale value. To decide which is the better deal, you also have to know the buyback price.
    If you like keeping your textbooks then the bound books are the way to go.
    

• MATLAB Computer Program:
  
  • MATLAB Student Version R2011a is the most recent. .
    The Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA
    Avoid versions R2008a and R2008b! Older student versions that includes MATLAB 6.0 or 7.0 will work.
    This software is available in most OIT WAM labs, so you do not have to buy it.

Other Resources

• Chapter 1 of Numerical Computing with MATLAB, by Cleve Moler
  This is a good general introduction to MATLAB.

• Getting Started with MATLAB 7, A Quick Introduction for Scientists and Engineers, by Rudra Pratap
  Oxford University Press, New York, 2005
  (There are some significant differences between the MATLAB 7 described in this book and versions 2008a or later.)

• Essentials of MATLAB Programming, Second Edition, by Stephen J. Chapman
  Cengage Learning, Stamford CT, 2009
  (This book covers more advanced material than is needed for this course.
  This is also based on MATLAB 7. I do not know if it is current with version 2011a)

• Department of Mathematics Undergraduate Resources Webpage

• Department of Mathematics Archive of Past Exams

• Tips for Doing Well in Math Classes