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 or by agreement of the Course Organiser. |
| Course description |
This course will cover topics in a first university course in Mathematics but not including calculus and includes the following syllabus:
Numbers , errors and data. Statistical data and probability.
Functions: the circular, hyperbolic and logarithmic functions and their inverses.
Random variables, discrete and continuous probability distributions; the central limit theorem.
Complex numbers: Basic operations, cartesian, polar form.
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 workshop and 1 tutorial, each week. The tutorial 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 2018/19, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 148 |
| 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 5,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
144 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
On-line assessments: 5%, Written Mathematics Assignments: 5%, Written Chemistry based Mathematics assignments: 10%
Examination: 80%
Students must pass exam and course overall. |
| 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:
- Have fluency in algebraic and numerical manipulations up to and including the Binomial Theorem as well as manipulating expressions involving polynomial, trigonometric and hyperbolic trigonometric functions.
- Manipulate vectors and matrices up to and including eigenvectors.
- Fluently manipulate complex numbers.
- Find the appropriate tools to use to solve problems involving one or more areas of the syllabus.
- Understand statistical data, computing probabilities and using common probability distributions.
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Reading List
| Students will require a copy of the course textbook. This is currently "Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1" compiled by Antony Maciocia ISBN:9781787267725. This is a special edition and is available only from Blackwell's bookshop at South Bridge, Edinburgh. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will have key skills in basic algebra, functions, probability, statistics, vectors, matrices and complex numbers. |
| Keywords | MNS1a,algebra,polynomials,functions,complex numbers,vectors,matrices |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr David Quinn
Tel:
Email: D.Quinn@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Frances Reid
Tel: (0131 6)50 4883
Email: f.c.reid@ed.ac.uk |
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