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MATH120 Introductory Mathematical Methods in Science and Economics

Updated: 27 April 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus A- Internet access required
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus A- Internet access required
Armidale Semester 2 Off Campus A- Internet access required
Armidale Semester 2 On Campus A- Internet access required
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
23 April 2010 25 April 2010 Non-Mandatory
17 September 2010 19 September 2010 Non-Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None
Restrictions MATH101 or MATH101A or MATH110 or MATH170
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s)
Unit Description

This unit is designed for students of life sciences (other than computational biology), rural science and economics. Topics include: elementary algebra of matrices and applications, elementary theory of functions, logarithms and exponentials with applications to science and economics, basic linear programming, introduction to differential and integral calculus and optimisation techniques for functions of one or more variables. Emphasis is placed on mathematics as a tool in quantitative modeling, as illustrated by specific applications spread across the basic sciences and economics.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Mathematical Methods for Science and Economics
ISBN: 9781442531468
Goldstein, L.J. and Haeussler, E., Pearson 1st ed. 2009
Text refers to: Semesters 1 and 2 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 40%
Assessment Notes
Eleven weekly homework assignments (including two computer-based (Excel) assignments) comprised of problem-based assessment tasks
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 GA: 1, 6
Final Examination 3 hrs 60%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 GA: 1, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. demonstrate proficiency in algebra of matrices and functions;
  2. apply algebra of matrices and functions to quantitative modelling for science and economics;
  3. demonstrate ability to apply learned techniques to basic quantitative problems;
  4. demonstrate proficiency in the calculus of derivatives and integrals;
  5. apply calculus in real-world problems of optimization;
  6. demonstrate ability to formulate mathematical models of optimisation based on given data, both in the framework of linear programming and in the framework of calculus.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge gained by the student in lectures will be applied in collaboration with the tutor to problems and examples in tutorials. The student will then map this experience onto further problem-solving tasks in assignments, where the identification of central concepts in the discipline, and the student's ability to articulate them will be assessed. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
The student will discover the breadth of the discipline through this introductory unit, and will become aware of it's ongoing development as a tool of higher research. 		True True
6 Problem Solving
The student will encounter in this unit a field of knowledge that is intensely problem-based, and will acquire skill in translating verbal and numerical information into mathematical formulae on which quantitative models are based. 		True True True
8 Team Work
The student will be encouraged to participate in interactive discussion with other students regarding ideas and problems addressed in the unit. Written assignment submissions must be the student's own work, but may be the outcome of group discussion. 		True True
   

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