你将学到什么
Use linear differential equations to model physical systems using the input / system response paradigm.
Solve linear differential equations with constant coefficients.
Gain intuition for the behavior of a damped harmonic oscillator.
Understand solutions to nonlinear differential equations using qualitative methods.
课程概况
How do you design:
A boat that doesn’t tip over as it bobs in the water?
The suspension system of a car for a smooth ride?
Circuits that tune to the correct frequencies in a cell phone?
How do you model:
The growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria?
Gene expression?
Online purchasing trends?
The answer: Differential Equations.
Differential equations are the language of the models we use to describe the world around us. In this mathematics course, we will explore temperature, spring systems, circuits, population growth, and biological cell motion to illustrate how differential equations can be used to model nearly everything in the world around us.
We will develop the mathematical tools needed to solve linear differential equations. In the case of nonlinear differential equations, we will employ graphical methods and approximation to understand solutions.
The five modules in this series are being offered as an XSeries on edX. Please visit the Differential Equations XSeries Program Page to learn more and to enroll in the modules.
Photo by user: bizoo_n. Copyright © 2016 Adobe Systems Incorporated. Used with permission.
课程大纲
Unit 1
Introduction to differential equations and modeling
Complex numbers
Solving first order linear differential equations
Unit 2
The complex exponential
Sinusoids
Higher order linear differential equations
Characteristic polynomial
Unit 3
Harmonic oscillators
Operators
Complex replacement
Resonance
Unit 4
Graphical methods and nonlinear differential equations
Autonomous equations
Numerical methods
预备知识
Single variable calculus
