| Description | Weighting (%) |
1. Systems of differential equations: the solution of linear DE's, the conversion of higher-order linear DE's to first-order systems; fixed points and phase portraits, especially in 2-D; qualitative solution of nonlinear, first-order DE's, especially in the region of fixed points.
| 16.00 |
2. Mathematical writing, LaTeX
| 10.00 |
3. Potentials, Bifurcations, Catastrophes
| 10.00 |
4. Dimensions Scaling, Dimensional Analysis
| 10.00 |
5. Growth and Relaxation: Exponential growth and decay, Autoregulation
| 10.00 |
6. Vibrations in complex systems: Free Vibrations, Mechanical vibrations, Nonlinear Oscillations, Forced Vibrations, Linear Response, Resonance, Nonlinear response; Coupled Oscillators
| 28.00 |
7. Calculus of variations: challenge problems and functionals; Euler-Lagrange equation, comparison functions, fundamental lemma; special cases; straight lines minimise arclength; geodesics; brachistochrone; soap films; the Lagrangian of dynamical systems.
| 16.00 |
Access to computer or internet facilities for mathematical typesetting.
Thomas Svobodny 1998,
Department of Mathematics and Computing CDROM Set 1, S1, 2003 (available from the USQ Bookshop). This CD set contains course material, Windows and Linux Software for this and various other courses. For more information about the CD sets and their use, please refer to http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/cdrom
Highham, N.J. 1998,