Year
2020
Units
4.5
Contact
4 x 50-minute lectures weekly
1 x 90-minute tutorial weekly
4 x 120-minute computer labs per semester
Enrolment not permitted
1 of MATH1121, MATH1203, MATH1205 has been successfully completed
Assumed knowledge
A working knowledge of the arithmetic of positive and negative numbers, numerical fractions, natural powers and roots, basic properties of circles, rectangles and triangles, the idea of a variable, polynomials, idea of Cartesian coordinates and simple plots.
Assessment
Placement Test, Written Tutorial Questions, On-line Tests
Topic description
Mathematics Fundamentals A comprises the first four modules out of the total of eight modules offered between MATH1701 Mathematics Fundamentals A and MATH1702 Mathematics Fundamentals B.

The four modules which students will take in Mathematics Fundamentals A are:

Module 1. Equations of straight lines, linear inequalities, absolute values.

Module 2. Second degree polynomials and their graphs and techniques for quadratic equations and inequalities including factorisation, completing the square, and finding roots.

Module 3. Trigonometry of right angle triangles, expressing angles in radians and degrees, solutions to simple trigonometric equations.

Module 4. Functions, graphs, asymptotes, polynomial division, domains of rational functions, derivatives of polynomials.

These four modules are designed to be completed before students begin Mathematics Fundamentals B, in which students take the remaining four modules.
Educational aims
These topics develop students' understanding and skills in Mathematics fundamentals and their applications.
Expected learning outcomes
On completion of this topic, students will be expected to be able to:

  1. Show fluency in basic quantitative, algebraic and graphical manipulations
  2. Write simple mathematics with accuracy and clarity
  3. Solve problems involving elementary but key mathematical ideas in algebra, geometry, functions and elementary trigonometry.