Math 207: Dept of Math, Univ of Washington

Math 207 Spring 2025



  • What you need :
    • Webassign. Webassign is used in all sections for the homework assignments. Consult your instructor's Canvas page to see how they are having you access Webassign. If your Webassign assignments appear on the class Canvas page, then follow the steps at this link to register and pay. Otherwise, follow the directions on your class Canvas page for logging into and paying for Webassign.
      • For all sections, you will need to buy access (approximately $25) and have 10 days to comply. It's best to wait until you are sure which section you are in, then follow instructions at the above link to pay.
      • WebAsssign representatives will hold office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April 1 to April 17, 12pm - 2pm PST, at this link: Cengage Office Hours.
      • WebAssign Financial Aid -- The Math Department provides a small number of webassign codes to students with financial need. The form opens at midnight on Mar. 31 and closes at midnight on Apr. 2. The short window is to allow for processing since we must confirm the need with the financial aid office and they are very busy at the start of the quarter. Apply at this Link.
      • A common mistake among first time WebAssign users is to type "xy" to indicate "x times y". Typing "x" followed by "y" is interpreted as a new variable with the two letter name "xy". To indicate "x times y", you should type "x*y" or "x space y". When you look at the typeset answer, you won't be able to see the difference between "xy" and "x space y". That's why I prefer to type "x*y", although I do tend to get lazy at times and just type "x space y"
    • Textbook. The text for the class is Elementary Differential Equations by Boyce and Diprima. Since the homework is not tied to the text, you can use any edition of Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems from Edition 6 to present. Printed versions of these editions are readily available online at a low cost.
      For your convenience there is also an etext available from the bookstore at this link which contains the part of the text used in Math 207 (chapters 1-6).
      The older printed versions may be cheaper. You don't need to buy the solutions manual. The WebAssign homework is different from the homework problems in the textbook, so the solutions manual will not be particularly useful (other than for practice).

    • 200-Level Math Lab. The department runs a lab staffed by assistants to help you with your questions in Math 207 (and a few other 200 level courses). You may also find other students there to discuss the homework with. The location and schedule can be found at this link: Math Lab Schedule

    • Math 207 Grade Policy. The department of mathematics has adopted a grade policy for this course. The median course grades for each section of Math 207 taught during the regular academic year will fall within the range of 3.0 +/- 0.2

    Sample Schedule

    Week Additional Materials Topics and Textbook Sections
    1:
    • Prerequisite Skills
    • Some Basic Modelling § 1.1
    • Solutions to Differential Equations § 1.2
    • Direction Fields § 1.1
    2:
    • Separable First Order ODE's § 2.2
    • Linear First Order ODE's § 2.1
    • Modelling with First Order ODE's § 2.3
    3:
    • Population Dynamics § 2.5
    • Euler's Method § 2.7
    • Review for Midterm 1
    4: MIDTERM #1 ARCHIVE
    5:
    • Homogeneous equations with complex roots § 3.3
    • Homogeneous equations with repeated roots § 3.4
    6:
    • Method of Undetermined Coefficients § 3.5
    • Harmonic Oscillator § 3.7
    7:
    • Forced Undamped harmonic Oscillator Beats and Resonance § 3.8
    • Forced Damped Harmonic Oscillator -- Frequency Response and Phase § 3.8
    • Review for Midterm 2
    8: MIDTERM #2 ARCHIVE
    • Midterm 2
    • Laplace Transform -- definition as an integral § 6.1
    • Tables of Laplace Transforms § 6.2
    9:
    • Inverse Laplace Transform using tables § 6.2
    • Solving IVP with Laplace Transforms § 6.2
    • Step functions and time delay § 6.3 § 6.4
    10:
    • No class Monday -- Memorial Day
    • Impulse/Delta Functions §6.5
    • Review for Final Exam
    11: Final Exam Archive
    • Final Exam week

    Religious Accommodation Policy: Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW's policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of the course using the Religious Accommodations Request form.