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 620-161 Introductory Mathematics A

Note

Students who have completed VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 or equivalent normally will not be permitted to enrol in this subject: such students should enrol in one of 620-121 or 620-141. Credit cannot be obtained for 620-161 if any of 620-111, 620-112, 620-121, 620-122, 620-141, 620-142, 620-162, 620-200 or 620-211 has already been passed. Students may only gain credit for one of 620-151 and 620-161.

Credit Points

12.5

Coordinator

Dr A Byrne

Semester

1 (view timetable)

Contact

36 lectures (three per week), 12 one-hour tutorials (one per week) and 36 hours problem solving

Subject Description

This subject introduces elementary rules for manipulating matrices, some basic functions of one and two variables and demonstrates the usefulness of calculus for the optimisation of functions. Students should develop the ability to work with standard matrices and functions, to find derivatives of functions of one and two variables, and functions compounded from them, and to apply these skills to word problems in bioscience and finance. This subject demonstrates the sequential conceptual structure of the mathematics of functions and shows the value of mathematical techniques in life science and business.

Matrices: row operations, systems of linear equations, graphical and matrix methods for linear programming; problems in bioscience and finance. Calculus: functions of one variable; product, quotient and chain rules for differentiation; applications; partial derivatives; maxima and minima; least-squares and other curve-fitting algorithms; simple differential equations; Taylor series; numerical solution of algebraic and differential equations; applications in life science and business.

Assessment

Up to 24 pages of written project and assignment work, a three-hour end-of-semester written examination and class tests totalling not more than 1.5 hours.



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Status:                   Official 1999
Last Modified:            Tuesday October 20 11:53
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Authorised by:            Academic Registrar
Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au