MATH110-20S1 (C) Semester One 2020

Foundations of Applied Mathematics and Statistics

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2020
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2020
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 28 February 2020
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 29 May 2020

Description

Introduction to trigonometry and algebra. Emphasis on solving problems relevant to design, physical, life and earth sciences as well as to commerce and the humanities. An introduction to the ideas, techniques and applications of statistics and probability.

This course provides a foundation of statistics and mathematics from a user’s point of view. The emphasis is on sensible and correct use of statistical and mathematical tools in real-life problems. It will assume elementary levels of competence in  mathematics. Microsoft Excel™ will be used as a tool within the course.

This course has been developed using a competency-based structure. As the material is almost entirely based on skill development, this is best learnt at a mastery level. This means that you are expected to “master” the material, as shown by a pass cut-off mark of 80% for the labs and Progress tests.

Learning Outcomes

  • At the end of this course, students will be able to:

    Use Excel to perform numerical and statistical calculations and produce diagrams and graphs.

  • understand and use a range of basic statistical concepts in
    - data analysis: uncertainty, variation, summary statistics;
    - probability: the meaning of probability, sets, events and distributions;
    - estimation: samples, populations, parameters, estimates and uncertainty;

  • perform and interpret a range of basic statistical procedures in
    - data analysis: summary statistics and graphics;
    - probability: calculations and identification/application of distributions;
    - estimation: estimation of parameters and confidence intervals;

  • solve equations that describe various physical phenomena encountered in science and engineering
    - use basic algebra to simplify expressions and rearrange equations
    - solve both linear and non-linear equations
    - apply trigonometry to simple geometric calculations
    - use the rules of exponents
    - understand and describe how derivatives and integrals relate to graphical functions (slope of and area under curves)
    - apply equations used to calculate the area and volume of physical objects
    - recognise the crucial differences between x-y scatter and line plots for plotting data in Excel
    - be able to determine the equation of a line of best fit for both linear and non-linear data using Excel x-y plots
    - use Excel to calculate an equation for a range of values for at least one of the variables, and to plot an equation for comparison with a given data set
    - plot appropriate parts (groups of variables) from an equation onto the x and y axes of a graph to test the fit of given data to the equation (“model”)
    - use the Goal Seek function in Excel to adjust the value of a cell to reach a desired value or values in a calculated cell or range of cells.
    - qualitatively describe the relative effects of changing the variables in an equation

Course Coordinator

For further information see Mathematics and Statistics Head of Department

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $780.00

International fee $4,250.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Mathematics and Statistics .

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