Undergraduate - UnitMTH2032 - Differential equations with modelling

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2012 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 0 (NATIONAL PRIORITY), 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2012 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Rosemary Mardling

Synopsis

The study of Models of physical problems particularly heat conduction and oscillations, using computer simulation, laboratory experiments and mathematical analysis. Computer algorithms and mathematical techniques for ordinary differential equations using Euler and Predictor-Corrector methods with exact solutions found using separation of variables, integrating factors and substitution methods. The partial differential equations for material transport, heat conduction and wave motion are derived using physical models and solved using separation of variables and computational algorithms. Applications are to wave motion and heat conduction in a variety of practical situations.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will have an understanding of: the importance of differential equations in a variety of applications; the analytic, computational and graphical approaches to the study of differential equations; the importance of initial and boundary conditions and the differences between ordinary and partial differential equations; the basic principles of numerical computation; the significance of differential equations in modelling real-world problems. Students will also have developed skills in: applying problem-solving techniques for the solution of ordinary and partial differential equations; using a computer algebra package; using a spreadsheet package for numerical computations; constructing a simple mathematical model in terms of a differential equation and interpreting and communicating the results.