MATH-UA 264 Chaos and Dynamical Systems
4 points. Spring term only.
Course Description
Topics will include dynamics of maps and of first order and second-order differential equations: stability, bifurcations, limit cycles, dissection of systems with fast and slow time scales. Geometric viewpoint, including phase planes, will be stressed. Chaotic behavior will be introduced in the context of one-variable maps (the logistic), fractal sets, etc. Applications will be drawn from physics and biology. There will be homework and projects, and a few computer lab sessions (programming experience is not a prerequisite).
Prerequisites
Students must earn grades of C or higher in the following two prerequisite courses:
- MATH-UA 122 Calculus II or MATH-UA 132 Math for Economics II
- MATH-UA 140 Linear Algebra or MATH-UA 148 Honors Linear Algebra