Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 22 Hours. (22 x 1 hour lectures) |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 4 Hours. (4 x 1 hour tutorials) |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Continuous assessment component is made up from a combination of attendance at lectures (8%), attendance at tutorials (4%) and marks gained from assessed assignments (8%). | 20% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours (written examination) | 80% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 2 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
- 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.
- INTRODUCTION TO VECTOR METHODS: Unit vectors. Scalar and vector products, angles. Position vectors. Linearly independent vectors. Vector equations of lines and planes. Introduction to kinematics.
Reading List
Recommended TextM D Weir, J Hass, F R Giordano (2005) Thomas' calculus. 11/e Addison-Wesley Primo search Supplementary Text
J Stewart (2001) Calculus: concepts and contexts 2/e Brooks/Cole Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4