Math 231 Differential Equations I Spring 2026

Instructor: Xia Chen

Office: Ayres 318.

Email: xchen3@tennessee.edu

Website: https://web.math.utk.edu/~xchen3

Office Hours: 1:30-2:20am, TR

Text Book: The First Course in Differential Equations with Modeling Applications by Dennis G. Zill 12th Edition

Course Coverage: Selected sections from Chapters 1-4, 7-8.

Class: TR 2:30-3:45 pm (Ayres 120)

Prerequisites: Math 142 (or 148) or equivalent.

Grading: Final Exam 30%; Midterm 30%; Quiz 40%

Letters will be assigned as follows (subject to change): A:90-100%, B:80-89%, C:70-79%, D:60-70%, F:59% or below.

Test Schedule: We will have three midterm exams

• First test: Thursday, Feb. 19.
• Second test: Thurday, March 19.
• Third test: Thursday, April 16.
• Final exam (TBA)

All tests and exams will take place in the classroom for the class.

A request for make-up test or exam will be proceeded with restrictive standard. Except for some special circumstances, such request has to be properly documented and to be received early enough for consideration.

Quiz and homework

The quiz will be given on Thursday with a few exceptions due to the reason such as holidays and exams. Notice that the quiz contributes 40% to your total score. Homework is assigned during each section but will not be collected. Homework assignments provide practice, help fix ideas introduced in class or in text, and constitute a partial guide as to what to expect on Quizzes and Tests.

Homework


Section 1.1: 1, 3, 5, 9, 17, 21

Section 1.3: 9.

Section 2.2: 5, 7, 17, 21, 23, 25.

Section 2.3: 3, 7, 13, 17, 25, 31.

Section 2.4: 3, 5, 17, 21, 35.

Section 2.5: 1, 5, 11, 15, 21, 23, 25.

Section 3.1: 5, 13, 15, 25, 27.

Quiz #1 solution (pdf)