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. 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

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 or 12 - to be announced) 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 (MATHFS552) for 2009-10 will be announced here

• Lecture : Monday 9 am in Renold/C9
• Lecture : Thursday 1 pm in Renold/C9
• Lectures given by Dr PJ Neal and Dr JH Bagley
• Tutorial time Wednesday 10 am : rooms here .
• Office hours : Dr Neal : 12 noon to 12:45 Monday and Thursday
• Office hours : Dr Steele : 12 noon to 1:30 pm Tuesday, 12 noon to 1 pm Friday. Both in GB/C6.