EMTH415-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026

Special Topic in Engineering Mathematics

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2026
End Date: Sunday, 8 November 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 26 July 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 27 September 2026

Description

Special Topic in Engineering Mathematics

Dynamical systems is the study of global, long-term behaviour of mathematical systems whose state evolves with time. Most of the systems studied arise from differential equations models of an applied problem from Physics, Biology, Economics, Chemistry, Engineering, etc. The aim of this course is to understand asymptotic behaviour using a combination of geometric reasoning, intelligent approximations, computer assistance and mathematical insight. This will be accomplished without grinding out the solutions of special classes of differential equations.
This course shares lectures with MATH363.

Topics covered: Overview of dynamics; flows on the line; one and two parameter bifurcations; 2d linear systems; phase plane for nonlinear 2d systems; limit cycles; Hopf bifurcations; applications; introduction to chaos in 3d flows.

Learning Outcomes

  • to develop insight into the qualitative behaviour of the solutions to differential equations; in particular, the effects of nonlinearity
  • to obtain a greater understanding of the use of differential equations in modelling physical systems; including the role of parameters, and the interplay between solutions to the model and experiments
  • to apply relevant computational and geometric techniques to analyse systems of differential equations; and to communicate the mathematical results clearly and coherently

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of School.

Restrictions

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Computer Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 09:00 - 10:00 Jack Erskine 035 Lab 2
13 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 18 Oct
02 Wednesday 14:00 - 15:00 Jack Erskine 035 Lab 2
13 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 18 Oct
03 Thursday 09:00 - 10:00 Jack Erskine 035 Lab 2
13 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 18 Oct

Course Coordinator

For further information see Mathematics and Statistics Head of Department

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,190.00

International fee $6,488.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Mathematics and Statistics .

All EMTH415 Occurrences

  • EMTH415-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026