Entry requirements

General entry requirements and Physics 2, Mathematics 4/Mathematics E

Learning outcomes

The course is a basis for further studies in Mathematics. On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• give an account of basic concepts and definitions for numbers (also complex) and be able to perform calculations with these;
• give an account of the concept of a function and use standard functions such as polynomial, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions;

  master the power and logarithm laws and be able to solve elementary equations containing these;

• solve simple combinatorial problems and use the binomial theorem;
• use the most important trigonometric formulae, and be able to solve trigonometric equations;
• use the coordinate concept and the equations of the line and the circle;
• communicate and reason about the role of mathematics in society, including ethical aspects.

Content

The course consists of the following two subparts.

Seminars ( 3 credit): Information about some of the subareas of mathematics and their different application fields including the role of mathematics in society and about the labour market for mathematicians. One seminar will deal with the format of studies including expectations on teachers and students as well as equal opportunity.

Basic Mathematics (2 credits): Arithmetic for rational and real numbers, differences, absolute values. Permutations and combinations. Sum and product notation.The binomial theorem. Complex numbers: normal and polar form, the complex plane, second order equations and binomial equations.

The function concept.

Elementary functions: polynomial functions, the exponential function, the logarithm (in different bases) with logarithm laws and trigonometric functions. Trigonometric formulae. Simple exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric equations. Coordinate systems in the plane. The distance formula. Equations for the line and the circle in the plane. The equations of the ellipse, the hyperbola and the parabola on normal form.

Instruction

Seminars, lectures and teaching sessions.

Assessment

A passing grade in the entire course requires active participation in seminars and approved written and oral presentations of group work within the part Seminars (3 credits), and approved examination within the part Basic Mathematics ( 2 credits). When all parts are passed, the course grade is decided by the examination result on the part Basic Mathematics.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.

Other directives

The course cannot be included in the same degree as Basic Course in Mathematics.