0F2

 

Unit specification

Aims

The programme unit aims to provide a basic course in probability theory and vectors for members of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Foundation Year.

Brief description

Eleven lectures: Vectors: Scalars and vectors. Magnitude and direction. Addition of vectors. Multiplication by a scalar. Scalar products and projections. Vector Products. 2D and 3D coordinate geometry. Position vectors and unit vectors. Parametric Equations. Vector equations of lines and planes. Shortest distance between two lines.

Five lectures : Probability: Experiments, outcomes. Sample spaces, events, complements and unions/intersections of events, use of combinations and permutations to evaluate probabilities on finite sample spaces. Conditional probability and independence.

Three lectures: Random variables: Discrete and continuous random variables. Displaying probability distribution functions. Probability distribution functions as the limits of relative frequency distributions. Mean and sample mean.

Three lectures: Standard distributions: Binomial, poisson and normal distributions with applications.

Textbooks

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Bostock and Chandler, Mathematics, Core Mathematics for A-level, Stanley Thornes

KA Stroud, Engineering Mathematics, Palgrave

MR Spiegel. Schaum's outline of theory and problems of probability and statistics, McGraw-Hill. Available electronically

MR Spiegel, Schaum's outline of theory and problems of probability and statistics , McGraw-Hill

JH McColl, Probability , Edward Arnold

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding: On successful completion of this course, students should be familiar with simple probability and vectors.

Intellectual skills: Be able to carry out routine operations involving the topics in the syllabus.

Transferable skills and personal qualities: Have a set of tools and methods that can be applied in the courses given in the host department or in subsequent years.

Learning and teaching processes

Two lectures in weeks 1-11. One tutorial (in small groups) in weeks 2-12.

Lectures : 22

Tutorials : 10

Hours of private study : 68

Assessment

Coursework 1(week 6) Weighting within unit 10%

Coursework 2 (week 11 ) Weighting within unit 10%

2 hour examination Weighting within unit 80%

Arrangements

This is a second semester course for students in the Foundation Year.

Prior to 2006, this module ran in semester 1 under the title mathematics 0J1.

All students attend two lectures per week. These run from week 1 to week 12. There is a tutorial each week from week 2 to week 12. Attendance will be monitored.

Lecture times and rooms :

The lectures for course 0F2 (MATH19842) for 2012-13 are

• Lecture : Monday 10 am in Renold/C9
• Lecture : Friday 1 pm in Renold/C9
• Lectures given by Mr MK Tso and Dr JH Bagley
• Tutorial time Wednesday 10 am