Nonlinear Differential Equations: Order and Chaos

Phenomena as diverse as the motion of the planets, the spread of a disease, and the oscillations of a suspension bridge are governed by differential equations. MATH226x was an introduction to the mathematical theory of ordinary differential equations. This course followed a modern dynamical systems approach to the subject. In particular, equations were analyzed using qualitative, numerical, and if possible, symbolic techniques.

This course was part three of a three-part series. The other two courses, Introduction to Linear Differential Equations and Linear Differential Equations, were highly recommended for a more thorough understanding of the subject matter. The course was offered on edX.org between 2015 and 2017 and was part of the ACE (American Council on Education) Alternative Credit Project™.

Course Team & Partners

Paul Blanchard

Course Instructor paul@bu.edu

-- Please select a member -- Paul Blanchard, Course Instructor edX, Partner

• Paul Blanchard Course Instructor
• edX Partner

Paul Blanchard is a professor of mathematics at Boston University. He grew up in Sutton, Massachusetts, USA, spent his undergraduate years at Brown University, and received his Ph.D. from Yale University. He has taught mathematics for more than thirty years, mostly at Boston University. His…Read More

Close

Paul Blanchard

Course Instructor paul@bu.edu

Paul Blanchard is a professor of mathematics at Boston University. He grew up in Sutton, Massachusetts, USA, spent his undergraduate years at Brown University, and received his Ph.D. from Yale University. He has taught mathematics for more than thirty years, mostly at Boston University. His main area of mathematical research is complex analytic dynamical systems and the related point sets—Julia sets and the Mandelbrot set.

He is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. He is the author of Calculus, 3e with Dennis Berkey. For many of the last twenty years, his efforts have focused on modernizing the traditional sophomore-level differential equations course. That effort has resulted in numerous workshops and minicourses. He has also authored five editions of Differential Equations with Robert L. Devaney and Glen R. Hall.