Module Identifier
MA12510
Module Title
INTRODUCTORY MATHEMATICAL TECHNIQUES
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Mr Alan Jones
Semester
Intended for use in future years
Mutually Exclusive
May not be taken at the same time as, or after, MA10020.
Pre-Requisite
GCSE Mathematics at grade C or above.

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 22 Hours. (22 x 1 hour lectures)
Seminars / Tutorials 11 Hours. (11 x 1 hour example classes)
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Exam 2 Hours   (written examination)  100%
Supplementary Assessment 2 Hours   (written examination)  100%

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, a student should be able to:
1. explain the difference between integers, rational and irrational numbers and work in different number bases;
2. manipulate numbers and symbols using the operations of algebra;
3. simplify algebraic expressions and inequalities;
4. solve linear and quadratic equations algebraically;
5. define a function and its domain and range;
6. differentiate polynomials, logarithmic and exponential functions.

Brief description

The purpose of this module is to introduce some of the basic ideas of mathematics to students without A-level qualifications in Mathematics but who require mathematics in their main subject. The syllabus includes basic set theory; functions and graphs; indices, exponentials and logarithms; rates of growth; recurrence relations, arithmetic and geometric progressions; matrices and determinants, solution of linear equations and elementary descriptive statistics.

Aims

To introduce students to some of the basic concepts of mathematics and to develop their manipulative skills.

Content

1. REPRESENTATION OF NUMBER: Natural numbers, integers, fractions, decimals, different bases, fixed and floating point, the laws of indices, exponents, logarithms.
2. ALGEBRA: Rules of algebra, simplification of algebraic expressions, factorization, inequalities, the solution of linear and quadratic equations.
3. COMPLEX NUMBERS: Real and imaginary parts, modulus and argument, representation on the Argand diagram.
4. THE CONCEPT OF FUNCTION: Linear and quadratic functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions and inverse functions.
5. CALCULUS: Introduction to curves, tangents and the derivative of a function, the rules of differentiation, rates of change.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4