Module Identifier MA10110  
Module Title COORDINATE AND VECTOR GEOMETRY  
Academic Year 2005/2006  
Co-ordinator Professor V Mavron  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Ms Brenda M Hughes, Professor V Mavron  
Pre-Requisite A-level Mathematics or equivalent.  
Course delivery Lecture   (22 x 1 hour lectures)  
  Seminars / Tutorials   (5 x 1 hour tutorials)  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours (written examination)  100%
Supplementary Assessment2 Hours (written examination)  100%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, a student should be able to:
1. identify simple loci analytically and geometrically;
2. find equations of angular bisectors and prependiculars;
3. determine lengths of tangents to a circle and whether two circles are orthogonal;
4. determine equations of coaxial circle systems;
5. identify the type of a conic from its equation;
6. determine the equations of the tangents and normals to conics;
7. use vectors to solve elementary problems in geometry;
8. express the coordinates of a general point of certain curves parametrically;
9. compute scalar and vector products of two vectors;
10. compute scalar and vector triple products of three vectors;
11. determine the vector equations of lines and planes;
12. determine the angle between two planes and the shortest distance from a point to a plane.
13. solve elementary problems in kinematics.

Brief description

This module introduces some of the fundamental notions of geometry - points, lines, curves, planes and surfaces - analytically, in the language of coordinate geometry. Conics are classified in terms of their equations and geometric properties. The concepts of tangent and normal are developed.

Aims

To develop geometric intuition and the ability to view geometric problems analytically and vice versa.

Content

  1. COORDINATE GEOMETRY IN THE REAL PLANE: The straight line. Loci. Conics - particular forms and the general form. Identification of centres, foci and major and minor axes. Cases of degeneracy. The general equation of the tangent. Families of lines and conics. Parametric plane curves. Tangents and the use of derivatives. Polar coordinates.
  2. INTRODUCTION TO VECTOR METHODS: Unit vectors. Scalar and vector products, angles and orthogonality. Position vectors. Linearly independent vectors. Vector equations of lines and planes. Introduction to kinematics.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
M D Weir, J Hass, F R Giordano (2005) Thomas' calculus. 11/e. Addison-Wesley 0321243358
** Supplementary Text
J Stewart (2001) Calculus: concepts and contexts 2/e. Brooks/Cole 0534377181

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4