Resources

Course Themes

• Ingredients that go into models. (This will be updated during the semester.)

Useful Software and Websites

• Eigenvalue and eigenvector calculator for 2×2 matrices. (Many others available online… Google can find them.)
• PPLANE: page where you can download PPLANE java app and find installation instructions
• Logistic_Difference_Equation.xls. Excel spreadsheet to do x_{n+1}=ax_n(1-x_n) model.
• Slope Field app. From Darryl Nester at Bluffton University. For plotting solutions to differential equations of the form dy/dt=f(t,y). This one should run straight from your browser.
• JOde Slope Field Calculator. Another slope field applet that draws slope fields for differential equations of the form dy/dx=f(x,y).This version of the applet uses “x” as the independent variable, whereas we always use “t” in this course. So, wherever you have a “t”, replace it by “x” when using this version of the applet.The applet uses Java and your computer may ask you whether it should accept incoming connections. Unfortunately, chrome and some other browsers do not support Java applets. Use Internet Explorer on a PC (I haven’t checked whether it works with Edge) or Safari on a Mac.
• Standalone version of the JOde slope field applet. (Requires you have Java; you might need to change security settings or allow apps from an unknown developer to run this.)
• Wolfram Alpha. This site can do various calculations for you, e.g. try entering:
  integrate t^2*exp(t^3)