Learning ODEs: Self-Teaching for a Graduate Degree

[ryan_a]

Hi everyone,

I have searched all over the site to see if I am repeating a question, but I don't believe that I am.

So I am currently in the life sciences, but I am switching to physical sciences to do a graduate degree in one year. The program, obviously, recommends that I have decent knowledge of ordinary differential equations.

I love maths, but will admit that my formal training is not up to that of a physical scientist's. My goal is to teach myself, as much as possible, ODEs and review my multivariable calculus from a few years ago.

I am trying to decide how best to do this. Should I do MIT open course material on multivariable calc and ODEs? Should I just work through an ODE textbook? Or, should I go the more applied route and use a techniques book that covers everything from Laplace transforms to line integrals (for example, Mathematical techniques, Jordan and Smith)?

In an ideal world, I would learn the pure maths and then how to apply it because I want a deep understanding of the subjects. However, I only have so much time (I work full-time). Would it be smarter for me to just jump into an applications book?

I hope my question is clear. But please ask, I would love to clarify anything.

Thank you all in advance for your help. I hope you are all well.

Ryan

 

[verty]

How about https://www.amazon.com/dp/0471044091/?tag=pfamazon01-20 if you can find it. I don't have time now to write anything more detailed.

 

[jedishrfu]

You could check these videos out:

http://mathispower4u.yolasite.com/

and in particular:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/28928849/Webpages/DifferentialEquationsVideoLibraryTable.htm

Each topic is roughly 10 mins each, similar to Khan's Academy but simpler in design.