Undergraduate Mathematics 2016-2017

Calculus is the mathematical study of change, and is used in many areas of mathematics, science, and the commercial world. This course covers differentiation, limits, finding maximum and minimum values, and continuity.  There may well be some overlap with school mathematics, but the course is brisk and will go a long way quickly.

This course introduces the concepts of complex numbers, matrices and other basic notions of linear algebra over the real and complex numbers. This provides the necessary mathematical background for further study in mathematics, physics, computing science, chemistry and engineering.

This is a basic maths course which is suitable for students who hold the equivalent of Standard Grade maths. The aim is to help students to develop their confidence and accuracy in a range of topics, starting with basic skills and progressing to more advanced topics. There are weekly tests with good performance leading to the possibility of gaining an exemption from the final exam. Learning is mainly done in the students’ own time. This course is not suitable for students who have recently achieved an A or a B in Higher Maths or equivalent.

This course studies elementary planar geometry, such as lines, triangles and circles.  It will introduce students to the basic ideas of definition, theorem and proof, and will provide essential training in rigorous problem solving. The course is strongly recommended for all students aiming at a degree in mathematics.

This course is a continuation of the material covered in MA1007 Introductory Mathematics 1. It is suitable for students who have taken MA1007 and is a good course for students who use some maths in their degree but do not have a strong background in the subject. Topics covered include differentiation, integration, complex numbers, vectors and matrices among others. Students are continually assessed through weekly tests, with the possibility of gaining an exemption from the final exam if the results from the weekly tests are good enough. Learning is mainly done in the students’ own time.

The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to Integral Calculus and the theory of sequences and series, to discuss their applications to the theory of functions, and to give an introduction to the theory of functions of several variables. 

This provides the necessary mathematical background for further study in mathematics, physics, computing science, chemistry and engineering.

Combinatorics is the branch of mathematics concerned with counting. This includes counting structures of a given kind (enumerative combinatorics), deciding when certain criteria can be met, finding "largest", "smallest", or "optimal" objects (extremal combinatorics and combinatorial optimization), and applying algebraic techniques to combinatorial problems (algebraic combinatorics). The course is recommended to students of mathematics and computing science.

Set theory was introduced by Cantor in 1872, who was attempting to understand the concept of "infinity" which defied the mathematical world since the Greeks. Set Theory is fundamental to modern mathematics - any mathematical theory must be formulated within the framework of set theory, or else it is deemed invalid. It is the alphabet of mathematics.

In this course we will study naive set theory. Fundamental object such as the natural numbers and the real numbers will be constructed. Structures such as partial orders and functions will be studied. And of course, we will explore infinite sets.

The course is aimed at a general science audience and it focuses on providing the students with the working knowledge of a good set of mathematical skills needed in all science subjects.

Making calculations is at the heart of every science. In this course we will learn the programming language MATLAB and write programs to implement mathematical concepts that frequently appear in science and engineering. Through programming we will gain better understanding of some mathematical ideas prevalent in all sciences and how related calculations are done and the reason they work. MATLAB is particularly popular among engineers but it is very similar in its principles to other scientific programming languages, such as R, commonly used by statisticians, biologists and other scientists.

This test helps students interested in studying mathematics as an option to choose between MA1007 Introductory Mathematics 1 (suitable for those who have not specialised in maths at school, but who will find more maths to be helpful) and MA1005 Calculus I and MA1006 Algebra (suitable for those who have studied more mathematics).

You do not need to take this test if you are taking a (joint) mathematics degree, or if you have a Higher or A-Level in mathematics.

Please go to www.abdn.ac.uk/mycurriculum

Having completed the test you should select the appropriate course when making your curriculum choices.

Linear algebra is the study of vector spaces and linear maps between them and it is a central subject within mathematics.

It provides foundations for almost all branches of mathematics and sciences in general. The techniques are used in engineering, physics, computer science, economics and others. For example, special relativity and quantum mechanics are formulated within the framework of linear algebra.

 

The two courses Linear Algebra I and II aim at providing a solid foundation of the subject.

Analysis provides the rigourous, foundational underpinnings of calculus. It is centred around the notion of limits: convergence within the real numbers. Related ideas, such as infinite sums (a.k.a. series), continuity, and differentiation, are also visited in this course.

Care is needed to properly use the delicate formal concept of limits. At the same time, limits are often intuitive, and we aim to reconcile this intuition with correct mathematical reasoning. The emphasis throughout this course is on rigourous mathematical proofs, valid reasoning, and the avoidance of fallacious arguments.

Probability theory is concerned with the analysis of random phenomena by providing an abstract mathematical framework to study them within the language of set theory. This is done by the concepts of "probability spaces" and "random variables". The theory began in the 16th century in attempts to analyze games of chance; In 1812 Pierre Simon Laplace wrote: "It is remarkable that a science which began with the consideration of games of chance should have become the most important object of human knowledge."

The course is recommended to anyone interested in the foundations and applications of mathematics.

This is a course in multivariable calculus.  As the name suggests, it generalises familiar concepts from calculus (such as limits, derivatives, integrals and differential equations) to situations with many variables.

In addition to lectures and tutorials, there will be practical training through several computer sessions. Recommended to mathematicians and physicists.

Linear algebra is the study of vector spaces and linear maps between them and it is a central subject within mathematics.

It provides foundations for almost all branches of mathematics and sciences in general. The techniques are used in engineering, physics, computer science, economics and others. For example, special relativity and quantum mechanics are formulated within the framework of linear algebra.

 

The two courses Linear Algebra I and II aim at providing a solid foundation of the subject.

Analysis provides the rigourous, foundational underpinnings of calculus. This course builds on the foundations in Analysis I, and explores the notions of Riemann integrability, Cauchy sequences, sequences of functions, and power series.

The techniques of careful rigourous argument seen in Analysis I will be further developed. Such techniques will be applied to solve problems that would otherwise be inaccessible. As in Analysis I, the emphasis of this course is on valid mathematical proofs and correct reasoning.