MATH3963/4063 Nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equations with Applications (Advanced)

General Information

This page contains information on the senior advanced unit of study MATH3963.

• Taught in Semester 1.
• Credit point value: 6.
• Classes per week: Three lectures and one tutorial.
• Lecturer(s): Martin Wechselberger .

Please refer to the Senior Mathematics and Statistics Handbook for all questions relating to Senior Mathematics and Statistics. In particular, see the handbook entry for MATH3963 for further information relating to MATH3963.

You may also view the description of MATH3963 and the description of MATH4063 in the University's course search database.

For enrolled students or other authorized people only, here is a link to the Canvas page for MATH3963.

Students have the right to appeal any academic decision made by the School or Faculty: see sydney.edu.au/students/academic-appeals.html.

Info

Here is the Course Info sheet

Lecture Material

The source for this course is the textbook 'Differential Dynamical Systems' by J.D. Meiss which is available electronically on our Library website, i.e. search for it (no need to buy it). In the table below, I will indicate at the end of each week which material was covered or is relevant (i.e. what you should read).

Maths Software

Here is a Maths Lab info sheet. It provides you with basic information about our computer labs (Carslaw 610-611 and Carslaw 705-706), how to login, software available and a UNIX summary.

Of course, you are encouraged to use your own laptop/computer. It is your responsibility to install (any) maths software on your machine. You can use any maths software that will help you (Matlab, Mathematica, Maple, XPPAUT,....). I can't provide you with installation support (it's your responsibility). Talk to your peers, if necessary, or check the University's Student IT Apps website for further information.

FYI, I am using the maths software XPPAUT. Many of you won't like it because you think it doesn't look cool! It's so 1980s, and I agree! The reason why I am using it is twofold: (a) I know it, (b) it provides an interface between two programs (XPP and AUTO) which allows to continue solutions to differential equations in parameter space. This comes in handy for certain tasks we'll learn in this course (aka that's really cool).

For those who are interested in learning Mathematica. Here are Mathematica info sheet1 and Mathematica info sheet2 from Robert Marangell's second year class. Thanks Robby!

For assignments you will use LaTex as your editing software. I assume that you are familiar with LaTex and that you have installed it on your machine. A helpful guide is the LaTex Wikibook

Tutorials and Assignments

All tutorials will be held in Carslaw 350 (which is not a computer lab). This will give you the opportunity to reflect on the course material through (a) discussions of problems with your peers and the tutor/lecturer and (b) learning/applying mathematical software tools to better explore and efficiently solve these problems.

Please download tutorial sheets prior to the tutorial (I will not provide hard copies). Solution sheets will be posted at the end of the corresponding week together with the next tutorial sheet.

Each assignment sheet will be posted at the end of the week announced. Assignments have to be submitted via turnitin!