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 620-121, 620-140 or 620-141 may not enrol in this subject for credit.

Students may only gain credit for one of 620-151, 620-161, [02]620-163.

VCE Mathematical Methods 3/4 or equivalent.

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; and 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.

Up to 40 pages of written assignments due during the semester (10%); a 45-minute written mid-semester test (0% or 15%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (75% or 90%). The relative weighting of the examination and mid-semester test will be chosen so as to maximise the student's final mark.