MAT1055

Mathematics 1A

Dr John Arkinstall, Dr Alistair Carr, Dr Jill Wright and Dr Richard Farmer

6 points
* First semester: Gippsland, distance and Peninsula
* Second semester: distance only
* 3 hours of lectures and 2 hours of tutorials per week
* Prerequisites: An appropriate Year 12 Mathematics or GAS1601
* Prohibitions: GAS1641, MAT1010, MAT1020, MAT1050, GAS1613 (to 1997)
* Note: Optional weekend school sessions are offered for distance education students.

Objectives The student is expected to demonstrate an understanding of the basic computational techniques of calculus; understand sufficient of the conceptual basis of calculus to be able to apply it to derive formulations of scientific and engineering problems; demonstrate facility in computations involving matrices, determinants and vectors in three-dimensional space; demonstrate an understanding of the use of matrices in representing transformations and of the geometric interpretation and uses of vector algebra.

Synopsis Topics covered include the following. Calculus: functions; review of differentiation with applications including approximations, the finding of local extreme points, rate problems and curve sketching; definite integration with application to areas, volumes and centres of mass; systematic indefinite integration; elementary differential equations (as far as first-order separable) with applications. Linear algebra: algebra of matrices; homogeneous linear transformations on R2 and R3; determinants; matrix inversion; vectors in three-dimensional space - scalar and vector products and applications in geometry and statics and dynamics.

Assessment Assignments (and a class test for on-campus students): 30%
* Examination (3 hours): 70%

Prescribed texts

Ostebee A and Zorn P Calculus from graphical, numerical and symbolic points of view vol. 1, Saunders, 1997
Grossman S I Elementary linear algebra 5th edn, Saunders, 1994