620-081 Preliminary Mathematics A

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Mathematics as a final year subject at school.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject forms the first part of a two-semester sequence of subjects suitable for students who have taken standard mathematics in the final year of international secondary school. On successful completion of 620-081, students will have acquired mathematical skills at least equivalent to those gained by the completion of Victorian (VCE) Mathematical Methods 3/4.

Algebra topics include polynomials, linear factors, factor theorem, remainder theorem, quadratic and cubic equations, surds, binomial theorem, general transposition of formulae, and partial fractions. Functions topics include trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions; graphs, domains, asymptotic behaviour, elementary coordinate geometry; composite functions, inverse functions; solution of equations involving transcendental functions. Calculus topics include derivatives, rules for differentiation including product, quotient and chain rules, use of derivatives in graph sketching; and integration of simple functions, areas under curves. Probability and statistics topics include permutations and combinations, elementary probability; random variables: mean, variance; and binomial, hypergeometric and normal distributions.

Assessment

Up to 24 pages of written assignments (10%), a 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (75%) and class tests totalling not more than 1.5 hours (15%).