MATH 2410Q: Elementary Differential Equations
Spring 2026
Instructor: Dylan Costa
Email: dylan.costa@uconn.edu
Office Hours: TBD or by appointment, MONT 115
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to ordinary differential equations and their applications. Topics include qualitative, analytical, and numerical methods for first- and second-order ordinary differential equations, as well as first-order constant-coefficient linear systems and selected nonlinear systems. The Laplace transform and its application to differential equations will also be covered.
Textbook
A First Course in Differential Equations with Modeling Applications, 11th Edition, by Dennis G. Zill.
Grading Breakdown
| Homework | 20% |
| In-Class Activities / Group Quizzes | 15% |
| Midterm Exams (3) | 45% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
Summary of Graded Components
- Homework: Homework will be assigned weekly through WebAssign, beginning in the second week of classes. Each assignment covers material from the previous week. No homework will be due during exam weeks or during spring break.
- In-Class Activities: Activities will be given during the final 15–20 minutes of class (except on exam days). Each activity will consist of 1–2 problems completed in groups of 2–3 students. Activities are graded based on both completion and correctness and are intended to help assess ongoing understanding rather than create undue stress.
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Midterm Exams and Final Exam: Three midterm exams will be given
in class during Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12 (Wednesday). The final exam will take
place during finals week; the exact date will be announced later. Exams may
include a combination of short-answer and multiple-choice questions, with an
emphasis on short-answer problems. A bonus question may be included.
No notes, textbooks, calculators, phones, computers, tablets, or other external resources are permitted. If you are unable to attend a midterm exam, notify the instructor as soon as possible. Make-up exams should be completed within seven days of the original exam date when feasible.
Tentative Schedule and Assignments
| Week | Sections | Assignments Due |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.1–1.3 | N/A |
| 2 | 2.1–2.3 | Homework 1 |
| 3 | 2.4–2.6 | Homework 2 |
| 4 | Review / Midterm 1 | N/A |
| 5 | 3.1–3.3 | Homework 3 |
| 6 | 4.1–4.3 | Homework 4 |
| 7 | 4.4–4.5 | Homework 5 |
| 8 | Review / Midterm 2 | N/A |
| 9 | 7.1–7.3 | Homework 6 |
| 10 | 7.4–7.6 | Homework 7 |
| 11 | B.1–B.3 | Homework 8 |
| 12 | Review / Midterm 3 | N/A |
| 13 | 8.1–8.2 | Homework 9 |
| 14 | 8.3 | Homework 10 |
| 15 | TBD | Homework 11 |
| 16 | Reading Week | TBD |
Contact Information
If you have questions or concerns, please contact me via email at dylan.costa@uconn.edu or visit my office in MONT 115 during office hours or by appointment.
Academic Integrity Policy
All students are expected to act in accordance with the University of Connecticut Student Code. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and misrepresentation of academic work.
“Academic misconduct is dishonest or unethical academic behavior that includes, but is not limited to, misrepresenting mastery in an academic area (e.g., cheating), failing to properly credit information, research, or ideas to their rightful originators or representing such information, research, or ideas as your own (e.g., plagiarism).”
You are encouraged to seek help from the instructor, peers, the Q Center, and other academic resources. However, all submitted work must reflect your own understanding. Solutions should be written entirely in your own words, and sources of ideas must be properly acknowledged.
Students with Disabilities and Special Accommodations
The University of Connecticut is committed to providing an accessible learning environment. Students who require accommodations should contact the Center for Students with Disabilities (Wilbur Cross Building, Room 204, (860) 486–2020 or csd.uconn.edu) and notify the instructor within the first three weeks of the semester.
Student athletes and students with approved accommodations should inform the instructor of scheduling conflicts as early as possible.
Looking forward to a great semester!