620-161 Introductory Mathematics

• Students who have completed VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 or equivalent will not normally be permitted to enrol in this subject: such students should enrol in one of 620-121 or 620-141.

• Students who have completed [00]620-111, 620-121, 620-140 or 620-141 may not enrol in this subject for credit.

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 topics include row operations, systems of linear equations, graphical and matrix methods for linear programming; problems in bioscience and finance. Calculus topics include 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; and applications in life science and business.

This subject develops problem-solving skills through tutorial exercises, including formulation analysis and solution of unfamiliar problems, identifying relevant strategies and the ability to generalise mathematical arguments and the use of on-line interactive software.

Up to 24 pages of written project and assignment work, a 3-hour end-of-semester written examination and class tests totalling not more than 1.5 hours.