Course Catalogue

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This is a 20 credit half course which provides an exit route from the 40 credits Mathematics 1 course, enabling a small number of students to change directions in semester 2.

The course will be delivered in 2 sections with lectures at 12 or 2 pm to allow for a range of combinations with other subjects. Tutorial labs and long core skills labs will be offered at a variety of times throughout the week.

A in higher mathematics, or B in advanced higher mathematics, or equivalent, or admitted to Astronomy, Chemical Physics or Physics.

Mathematics 1R, 1S, 1X, 1Y, 1C

Exam: 60% 90 Mins (Designed for 1 Hour but allows for recovery time) 

Set exercises: eAssignments and written feedback 15%. Weekly, alternating between eAssignment and written feedback (best 80% in each category to count)

Set exercises: tutorial group activities 10%. Weekly (best 80% to count). Group working skills will be explicitly assessed.

Set exercises: reading 5%. Weekly reading comprehension exercises before lectures (best 80% to count);

Practical skills Assessment: 10%. Students take 5 practical skills tests for 1A, which they are required to pass in order to receive a passing grade for 1A. (See the 1A course description for details as to how these work for 1A). For the exit route students will receive 10% of their grade based on how many of these tests they have passed during semester 1.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The set exercises (eAssignments, feedback, tutorial group activities and reading) can not be reassessed.

Mathematics 1 aims to transition students to university level mathematics through development of abstract structures and reasoning skills, the interplay between algebra and geometry, the underpinnings of calculus and its vast applications, and ensure students have a strong command of core skills crucial to further study. A strong focus throughout the course will be placed on developing mathematical communication skills.

This course provides an exit route for mathematics 1, with the aim of allowing a very small number of students who wish to make a fundamental change in direction to do so at the beginning of semester 2 in year 1.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

By the end of the course, students will be able to

1 use the language of sets, functions, and number systems to communicate mathematical ideas and arguments.

2 analyse the structure of a mathematical proof or statement, identifying hypotheses, conclusions, contrapositives, converses, negations; produce valid mathematical proofs using methods such as direct argument, induction, proof by contradiction, counterexample.

3 use ideas from elementary number theory to solve problems with particular reference to topics including prime factorisation, congruence, cryptography.

4 solve equations and inequalities in a variety of settings including real and complex numbers, polynomial equations, systems of linear equations, and lines and planes in 3 dimensional space using techniques from algebra, and geometry.

5 manipulate function limits, and use these to define and compute derivatives from first principles.

6 compute derivatives (for both scalar and vector valued functions) using standard derivatives of polynomials, exponential, trigonometric, hyperbolic and logarithmic functions; chain, product and quotient rules; implicit differentiation.

7 apply differentiation techniques to solve optimisation problems.

8 perform vector operations from both geometric and algebraic viewpoints particularly in the context of 3-dimensional space.

9 read mathematics independently, extracting essential concepts, definitions, examples, methods and results.

10 present mathematical work in writing, using precise language and notation, providing clear conclusions and reasoning.

11 discuss and solve mathematical problems in small groups.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.