208-126 Mathematics and Scientific Communication

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This subject provides students with the mathematical knowledge and communication skills needed for other Land and Food Resources subjects and for entry to industry as a skilled professional. It has two main objectives:

• to develop the mathematical knowledge and skills required to model and solve problems in agriculture, science and business contexts

• to introduce the key components of scientific communication including writing reports and literature reviews and presenting scientific seminars.

The teaching emphasis in mathematics will be upon the solution of relevant examples, with technology used to support mathematical activity.

Mathematical topics studied include common area and volume formulae; Pythagoras' theorem and right-angle trigonometry; introductory probability and statistics; straight-line graphs: correlation and regression; function notation - linear graphs; non-linear functions - polynomial, exponential and logarithm functions; average and instantaneous rates of change; integral calculus and areas under graphs.

The scientific communication program will include lecture and tutorial sessions. Tutorial sessions will focus on the practical application of lecture material and are designed to give students the necessary skills to complete the assignments. Students will develop skills in information literacy, scientific writing styles and presenting scientific information orally to a range of audiences. Students will also be encouraged to develop communication skills necessary for teamwork and successful group assignment work.

A three-hour final examination (50%), three mathematics tests in Weeks 4, 8 and 12 (15%), and assignments in scientific communication, including a 3000-word literature review (25%) and an oral presentation (10%).