Math 6420 Partial Differential Equations

Spring Semester 2006

Instructor: David C. Dobson
Office:
LCB 210
Office hours:
Mondays 9:30-11:30, or by appointment.

Prerequisites: Math 5210 or consent of instructor.

Text: Partial Differential Equations, by Lawrence C. Evans.  ISBN 0-8218-0772-2


Course Description: 3 credits.  PDEs of classical physics, Hilbert space methods, variational methods, distributions, regularity.

Homework: Problems will be assigned regularly. A random subset of problems from each assignment will be graded. Late homework cannot be accepted.  Students may consult one another and freely discuss homework problems, however the assignments you turn in must represent your own work.

 Due date
 Assignment
 1/25/2006
 Section 1.5: 1, 2, 3,
 Section 2.5: 1,
 supplementary exercises 1.
 2/13/2006
 Complete the details for (14) and (12), page 24,
 Section 2.5: 2, 4, 8.
 2/27/2006
 Section 2.5: 6,
 Produce a reasonably accurate picture of a "heat ball" in 1+1 dimensions,
 Complete the details of obtaining (16) from (15) on page 71,
 Section 2.5: 13, 15, 17, 18.
 3/29/2006
 Section 3.5: 2, 3(a),(b), 5.
 4/17/2006
 Section 3.5:  8, 13 (note errata), 14,
 Find the dispersion relation for the equation u_{tt} - u_{xx} + au = 0,  a > 0,
 Prove that R(A) is closed in the proof of the Lax-Milgram Theorem,
 Prove the Poincare inequality in the case p = n = 2.
 5/03/2006
 Section 4.7: 2.
 Section 6.6: 1, 2, 7(a), 8.
 Section 5.10: 7.


Reading and lectures:  Prior to class meetings, students are expected to read, and be prepared to discuss, course material in the text.

Bulletin board:  A place to anonymously post questions, comments, suggestions.  Hopefully coming soon!  Meanwhile, feel free to comment verbally, by e-mail, or by paper notes.

Interesting Links:

Errata for Partial Differential Equations, third printing.
Russell Richins' Notes on Functional Analysis.

Grades: Your grade will be determined by your homework scores.

Students with disabilities may contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to discuss special accomodations for the course.

Copyright notice: All printed and electronic materials provided to you in this course are protected by copyright laws.