Module Information

Module Identifier
MA30210
Module Title
Norms and Differential Equations
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
Pre-Requisite
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Exam 2 Hours   (Written Examination)  100%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   (Written Examination)  100%

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, a student should be able to:
1. decide whether given formulae are norms and decide whether two norms are equivalent;
2. define norms by means of inner products;
3. compute norms on finite dimensional spaces and explain why all such norms are equivalent;
4. compute the L_1, L_2 and L_{infinity} norms on C[0,1] and prove that not all norms on this space are equivalent;
5. define norms on C^{1}[0,1];
6. describe the concept of continuity and determine whether given linear maps are continuous;
7. define the norm of a continuous linear map and compute it in simple cases;
8. describe the idea of completeness with reference to R^{n} and C[0,1];
9. prove the contraction mapping theorem;
10. use the contraction mapping theorem to derive results on the existence and uniqueness of solutions to integral and differential equations;
11. state Picard's Theorem, and calculate Picard iterates.

Brief description

The development of Mathematical Analysis and its applications requires a concept of distance to be defined on a vector space. This can be achieved by introducing the idea of a norm. This module is concerned with the development of the theory of normed spaces leading to the proof of the contraction mapping theorem and an introduction to the fundamental ideas of the theory of differential equations.

Aims

To introduce the idea of a normed space and to familiarise students with the use of norms; to prove the contraction mapping theorem and to provide an introduction to the theory of differential equations.

Content

1. Normed spaces: definition, examples; equivalent norms.
2. Inner product spaces: definition, the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, the norm corresponding to an inner product.
3. Finite dimensional spaces: the l_{1}, l_{2}, l_{infinity} norms; the equivalence of all norms on a finite-dimensional space.
4. Infinite dimensional spaces: the L_{1}, L_{2}, L_{infinity} norms on C[0,1]; norms on C^{1}[0,1].
5. Continuity of functions from one normed space to another. Continuous linear maps.
6. The norm of a continuous linear map and its calculation in simple cases.
7. The idea of completeness with reference to R^n and C[0,1] with the L_{infinity} norm.
8. Contraction mappings; the contraction mapping theorem.
9. Integral equations: the existence and uniqueness of solutions using the contraction mapping theorem.
10. Picard's Theorem and Picard iteration.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Adaptability and resilience Students are expected to develop their own approach to time-management and to use the feedback from marked work to support their learning.
Co-ordinating with others Students will be encouraged to work in groups to solve problems.
Creative Problem Solving The assignments will give the students opportunities to show creativity in finding solutions and develop their problem solving skills.
Digital capability Use of the internet, Blackboard, and mathematical packages will be encouraged to enhance their understanding of the module content and examples of application
Professional communication Students will be expected to submit clearly written solutions to set exercises.
Subject Specific Skills Students will be encouraged to work in groups to solve problems.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6