Mathematics
Your destination: Degree-level study at UoA
Mathematics has many faces. It can be challenging, powerful, fascinating, even mysterious – but above all it is useful. Mathematics underlies the biological, informational and physical sciences, economics, engineering and finance, but can also be applied to communications, linguistics and genetics.
Wherever problems need to be solved, mathematics has a role to play. For this reason, Mathematics is an excellent major in its own right. It’s also a strong supporting subject for many other disciplines.
Mathematics develops advanced problem-solving skills and opens up career opportunities in industry or government, teaching, computer development and programming, systems analysis, operations research and many other fields.
Begin your journey into Mathematics by way of the TFC:
Semester One
TFCMATHS 89F: The Reach of Mathematics
This course aims to link mathematics to the world of students who are not likely to be majoring in subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics. MATHS 89F will include several important mathematical ideas within historical, environmental, societal, political, financial, justice, entertainment and cultural contexts. The course will also be guided by the interests of its learners as citizens and consumers, who will be encouraged to draw on the mathematics they are already familiar with.
Assessments
- Coursework: 30%
- In-class tests: 70%
Timetable
- Lectures: Four one-hour lectures per week
- Tutorial: One one-hour workshop/tutorial per
week
TFCMATHS 90F: Mathematics for Education
Develop your understanding of essential mathematics concepts, including fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, proportion, and algebra. Applying these concepts in contexts such as financial literacy, problem solving, and real-life mathematics is a key component of this course.
Assessments
- Coursework: 50%
- Final exam: 50%
Timetable
- Lectures: Two two-hour lectures per week
TFCMATHS 91F: Foundation Mathematics 1
The semester will commence with study skills, including an introduction to tutorials, how to use a scientific calculator, an introduction to collaborative learning, problem solving techniques and investigation. Skills will be applied and reinforced first in the context of arithmetic, including a study of number sets, large and small numbers, percentages and the metric system. The investigation of patterns lays a foundation for the algebra that follows. Algebra covers manipulation of expressions and formulae, solving equations and inequalities, and applies these skills to problem solving.
Assessments
- Coursework: 40%
- Mid-semester and end of semester test: 60%
Timetable
- Lectures: Four one-hour lectures per week
- Tutorial: One one-hour workshop/tutorial per
week
Semester Two
TFCMATHS 92F: Foundation Mathematics 2
We consolidate the study skills from Semester One, especially in the areas of technology and collaborative learning. We explore trigonometry, mainly in relation to right-angled triangles. Functions and their graphs are the main focus of the semester, particularly the graphs of straight lines and parabolas.
Assessments
- Coursework: 65%
- Final test or examination: 35%
Timetable
- Tutorials: Four one-hour tutorials per week
Additional requirements
In addition to time spent on assignments, you should plan to spend at least one hour reading and working out problems for every hour you spend in lectures. You can work in groups on methods of solving problems but mustn’t copy each other’s assignments. You’ll need a calculator with scientific functions. Choose one that has a fraction function. Your tutor can advise you. You’ll also need graph paper, particularly for Maths 92F and refill paper or an exercise book for note taking and problem solving.