Get inspired:

Not sure if differential equations really matter? I promise you, they do. There’s a decent web feature called “17 Equations that Changed the World.” Not all of the examples are differential equations, but a few are:

• The wave equation
• The Navier-Stokes equations for fluids
• Maxwell’s equations for electromagnetism
• Schrodinger’s equation for quantum states
• The logistic model for population growth (not technically a differential equation, but close)
• The Black-Scholes model for pricing financial derivatives

Before class:

• Read the course syllabus.
• Read the group work policy.
• Read the problem set guidelines.

In class:

• Enough about you, let’s talk about me for a minute.
• Discuss our approach to learning.
• Discuss course syllabus.
• Enough about me, let’s talk about you for a minute.
• Answer any questions you may have.
• Do a test login to Moodle.
• Get a jump start with LaTeX.