Undergraduate Course: Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1a (MATH08072)
Course Outline
| School | School of Mathematics |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course is a first university level course for students of Chemistry and related disciplines. It provides key basic mathematical skills and leads naturally to calculus in MATH08073 Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1b.
This course is restricted to students who are also taking CHEM08016 Chemistry 1a. |
| Course description |
This course will cover topics in a first university course in Mathematics but not including calculus and includes the following syllabus:
Basic rules of algebra and algebraic manipulation, suffix and sigma notation, binomial expansion, parametric representation, numbers and errors.
Functions, graphs, periodicity; polynomials, factorization, rational functions, partial fractions, curve sketching. The circular, hyperbolic and logarithmic functions and their inverses. Implicit functions, piecewise functions.
Sequences and series; permutations and combinations, Binomial theorem. Polynomials and their roots, partial fractions.
Complex numbers: Cartesian, polar form and de Moivre's theorem; connection with trigonometric and hyperbolic functions; the complex logarithm; loci.
Basic vector algebra; scalar product, vector product, triple product and geometry.
Matrices, inverses and determinants, linear equations and elimination.
Rank, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, symmetric matrices.
The course will consist of 3 lectures, 1 tutorial hour and 1 workshop, each week. The workshop will be delivered by the School of Chemistry to showcase applications of the Mathematical topics covered.
Basic Mathematical skills will be developed using on-line quizzes and end of week e-assessments. Mathematical writing skills will be tested in three written assignments. Further more applied problems will be assessed in two Chemistry related assessments.
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 33,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 6,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
143 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
On-line assessments: 5%, Written Mathematics Assignments: 5%, Written Chemistry based Mathematics assignments: 10%
Examination: 80% |
| Feedback |
There will be five opportunities for feedback on written skills. Each lecture is accompanied by an on-line quiz which will provide instant feedback on basic skills. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1a (MATH08072) | 3:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1a (MATH08072) | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Students will have fluency in algebraic and numerical manipulations up to and including the Binomial Theorem as well as manipulating expressions involving polynomials, rational functions, trigonometric and hyperbolic trigonometric functions.
- Students will have skills in manipulating vectors and matrices up to and including eignevectors.
- Students will be fluent in manipulating complex numbers and be able to find powers and roots of complex numbers.
- Students will be able to find the appropriate tools to use to solve problems involving one or more areas of the syllabus.
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Reading List
Students will be assumed to have acquired their personal copy of :
"Mathematics for Science and Engineering 1", adapted from Modern Engineering Mathematics, 4th Edition by Glyn James.
ISBN: CU.James: Modern Maths Pack 2013.
Note that this is a special edition for Edinburgh University Students.
It is only available from Blackwell's bookshop on South Bridge in Edinburgh.
It includes essential access to the on-line assessment and resource system. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will have key skills in basic algebra, functions, vectors, matrices and complex numbers. |
| Keywords | MNS1a,algebra,polynomials,functions,complex numbers,vectors,matrices. |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Antony Maciocia
Tel: (0131 6)50 5994
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Nicole Luu
Tel: (0131 6)50 5059
Email: |
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