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COURSE NAME: INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICS A
All staff and students of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), upon signing their employment
contracts and registration forms, commit themselves to abide by the policies and rules of the institution. The core
activity of NUST is learning and in this respect academic honesty and integrity is very important to ensure that learning
is valid, reliable and credible.
NUST therefore does not condone any form of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating on tests and
assessments, amongst other such practices. NUST requires students to always do their own assignments and to produce
their own academic work, unless given a group assignment.
All forms of academic dishonesty are viewed as misconduct under NUST Student Rules and Regulations. Students who
make themselves guilty of academic dishonesty will be brought before a Disciplinary Committee and may be suspended
from studying for a certain time or may be expelled. All students who are found guilty of academic dishonesty shall
have an appropriate endorsement on their academic record, which will never be erased.
COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course aims to:
• bridge the deficiencies in the mathematical background of the students and re-establish the required
mathematical knowledge of students.
• serve as an initial requirement for students to cope with higher levels of mathematics.
PRE-REQUISITES: None
OPTIONS (compulsory or elective): Compulsory
SEMESTER OFFERED: 1
LECTURER INFORMATION:
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
1. Only student emails (student webmail) should be used when emailing your lecturers.
2. Consultation hours: All lecturers are available for consultation with students. Lecturers to communicate to
their students
.
STUDENT READINESS:
Technology & Equipment Readiness:
Non-programmable scientific calculator; graph paper; writing materials
Student Commitments And Contact Times:
Daytime attendance, according to timetable (5 hours per week); tutorials as scheduled.
Prescribed Reading:
Sadler, A.J.& Thorning, D.W.S.(1987): Understanding Pure Mathematics. Oxford University Press.
ISBN 9780199142439.
D’Emiljo, Karen (2012): y=mx + c to success. Mathematics Namibia Higher Level (part 2) Grade 12.
ISBN 9789994573035.
Recommended Reading:
Stroud, K.A.(2007): Engineering Mathematics 6th Edition: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0333947908.
Emanuel, Rosemary: Pure Mathematics 1. Pearson Education Limited 2001. ISBN 0582405505
Any suitable mathematics textbook in the library.
Internet resources.
Lecture notes.
Mathematics tutoring centre http://mathstutoring.nust.na/
STUDENT LEARNING:
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course of study, you should be able to:
1. demonstrate logical thinking and analyses problems.
2. select techniques and suitable strategies for problem solving, in a concise and logical way.
3. use mathematical knowledge and skills in a way which encourages confidence and provides
satisfaction and enjoyment.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Topic
Week 1 1. Revision on Complex calculations
1.1 Use an electronic calculator effectively
1.2 Use standard (exponential) forms of numbers
2. Rate and Proportion
2.1 2.1 Calculation of percentages and percentage change
2.2 Use direct and inverse proportionality to find unknown quantities
Week 1-2 3. Algebraic Manipulation
3.1 Apply addition and subtraction on polynomials
3.2 Exponents (indices):
3.2.1 use basic laws for singular applications
3.2.2 simplify expressions by applying combinations of the laws
3.2.3 solution of simple equations
Week 3 3.3 Surds
3.3.1 simplification of root forms
3.3.2 simplification of surd expressions
3.4 Multiplication
3.4.1 multiplication of binomials and polynomials
3.4.2 expansion of products of algebraic expressions
Week 3-4 3.5 Factorisation:
3.5.1 use of brackets and extraction of common factor
3.5.2 apply factorisation to expressions using grouping, difference between two squares
3.5.3 apply factorisation to quadratic trinomials
write quadratic expressions in the form a ( x + p ) + q and use to determine the
2
3.5.4
maximum or minimum value of the expression
Week 4 3.6 Division of a polynomial by a binomial expression
3.6.1 identification of the quotient and remainder
3.6.2 application of the remainder theorem
3.6.3 application of the factor theorem
TEST 1
Week 5-6 3.7 Logarithms:
3.7.1 define logarithms to understand the relationship between indices and logarithms
3.7.2 use laws and singular applications to simplify logarithmic expressions
3.7.3 solve simple equations with and without logarithmic tables
3.7.4 sketch the exponential curve y = ax and logarithmic curve y = log a x
3.7.5 use logarithms to transform curves into straight lines
Week 6-7 3.8 Manipulation of technical formulae:
3.8.1 apply manipulation techniques
3.8.2 manipulate complex formulae involving roots, powers, fractions and factorisation
Week 8 3.9 Manipulation of algebraic fractions
TEST 2
Week 9 4. Algebraic functions
4.1 Solve linear equations:
4.1.1 simple equations and equations containing fractions
4.1.2 equations of the form ax + b = cx + d , ( a, b, c, d integers)
4.2 Solve quadratic equations: :
4.2.1 simple equations and equations containing fractions
4.2.2 equations containing square roots
Week 10 4.3 Solve cubic equations
4.4 Solve simultaneous equations in two unknowns
4.4.1 two linear equations
4.4.2 one linear equation, one quadratic equation
Week 11 4.5 Solve advanced exponential and logarithmic equations
Week 12 4.6 Solve inequalities in one unknown:
4.6.1 linear inequalities
4.6.2 quadratic inequalities
4.6.3 simple logarithmic inequalities
4.6.4 inequalities of the form ax + b cx + d and ax + b cx + d , ( a, b, c, d
integers)
TEST 3
Week 13 4.7 Present the following functions graphically (accurate and sketch):
4.7.1 the straight line y = mx + c
the parabola y = ax + bx + c
2
4.7.2
4.7.2.1 Use the discriminant to determine the nature of the roots
4.7.2.2 Determine the equation of the graph from given information
4.7.3 the hyperbola xy = k ( k 0 )
Week 14
4.7.4 the circle x2 + y 2 = r 2
x2 y 2
4.7.5 the ellipse 2 + 2 = 1
a b
4.7.6 the exponential curve y = ax and logarithmic curve y = log a x
4.7.7 functions y = ax , y = ax + b , y = x + c , ( a, b, c, d integers)
4.7.8 solutions of simultaneous equations of the above
Week 15 5. Sequences
5.1 Distinguish between arithmetic and geometric sequences
5.2 Arithmetic progressions:
5.2.1 solution of problems by using formula for the nth term
5.2.2 solution of problems by using formula for the sum of the first n terms
Week 16 5.3 Geometric progressions: :
5.3.1 solution of problems by using formula for the nth term
5.3.2 solution of problems by using formula for the sum of the first n terms
5.3.3 use the formula for the sum to infinity
5.3.4 use Sigma notation
TEST 4
KNOWLEDGE AREAS:
1 2 3 4 5
Problem Application of scientific Engineering design Investigations, Engineering methods,
solving and engineering experiments & data skills and tools, including
knowledge analysis information technology
XX X XX
6 7 8 9 10
Professional & Sustainability & impact Individual, team & Independent Engineering
technical of engineering activity multidisciplinary learning ability professionalism
communication working
XX XX
11
Engineering
management
IMPORTANT DATES:
NOTE: The following dates are subject to change based on the needs of the students at the lecturer’s prerogative.
Students will be notified ahead of time of any changes.
A student will have to obtain a minimum overall average of 50% to pass the course, on condition that all four tests
were written and the two assignments were handed in on time.
If after all the assessment components have been done and a student fails to obtain an average of 50% as final mark,
the student will have to sit for the end of semester supplementary test (class examination). The mark obtained in such
a tests will replace the lowest of the class tests marks previously obtained.
Test 1 20%
Test 2 20%
Test 3 20%
Test 4 20%
Assignment 1 7%
Assignment 2 7%
Attendance 6%
Total: 100%
Total: 100%
COURSE POLICIES
General Academic Policies:
It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with and adhere to NUST’s Policies. These Policies can be found
in NUST yearbook or online at www.nust.na.
AUTHORISATION:
This course is authorised for use by:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY STUDENT
(To be completed by all students on the course, detached from the course outline and kept on record in the
department)
______________________ _______________________
Signature of Student Date