Undergraduate - UnitEDF1128 - Gateway to mathematics

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Education
Offered	Gippsland Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Heather Ernst

Synopsis

This unit introduces students to several fundamental areas of mathematics and uses modern tools such as spread sheets and pocket calculators. Themes including: problem-solving, the function concept, applying mathematics to practical problems, and proof, are used to show how mathematical topics are interrelated. This unit is designed to develop students' skills and deepen their mathematical understanding. The topics covered have been developed around the VELS strands for Levels 1-4, and include: number systems and operations, modelling with formulae, plane and solid geometry, measurement, sets and functions, chance and probability, looking at data, graphs and networks.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

understand the evolution of number concepts and numeration systems
appreciate the role of mathematics for solving practical problems in daily life, and be able to write down and solve a selection of such problems
understand how algebraic rules arise from the use of operations with numbers
understand simple geometry in a plane and three-dimensional space and its applications to measurement and design
understand the 'function' concept, including interpretations using graphs, algebra, verbal descriptions and spread sheets
understand how random processes such as coin tosses or dice rolls may be modelled and explored using concepts of probability
be able to use approximations, a pocket calculator, and software including spread sheets and geometry tools
understand how networks have been analysed, and be able to solve simple network problems using graphs
understand how many mathematical topics are interrelated
appreciate the role of proof in mathematics.

Assessment

Assignment work during the semester: online and handwritten ( 800 words equivalent, 20%)
Essay (1200 words, 30%)
Examination (3 hours, 2000 words equivalent, 50%)

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

1 hour lecture per week
2 hour workshop per week
optional 1 hour tutorial per week

(b.) Additional requirements:

independent study to make up the minimum required hours per week

Prohibitions

EDF2123