Course outline

Code: MTH202
Title: Calculus and Algebra
Faculty of: Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Teaching Session: Semester 2
Year: 2014
Course Coordinator: Dr Aaron Wiegand Email: awiegand@usc.edu.au
Course Moderator: Dr Robert McDougall Email: rmcdouga@usc.edu.au

1.

What is this course about?

1.1

Course description

In this course, you master important mathematical tools and techniques that are applied in most fields of
science, engineering and mathematics. You build on your existing skills in algebra and differential Calculus,
study integral Calculus, and then explore more advanced techniques to solve differential equations (which
describe the nature of dynamic systems). Calculus is the mathematics of change and is essential for the
scientific exploration of the physical world and also the development and application of many technologies,
especially in the engineering disciplines.

1.2

Course content

Differential calculus, integral calculus, differential equations, Laplace transform.

2.

Unit value

12 units

3.

How does this course contribute to my learning?

On successful completion of this

course you should be able to:

You will be assessed on the

learning outcome in task/s:

Completing these tasks successfully

will contribute to you becoming:

Explain and apply the theory, tools

and techniques of topics related to
differential and integral Calculus.

1: On-line Exercises
2: Tutorial Exercises
3: Mid Semester Exam
4: End of Semester Exam
2: Tutorial Exercises
3: Mid Semester Exam
4: End of Semester Exam

Knowledgeable.
Empowered.

2: Tutorial Exercises
3: Mid Semester Exam
4: End of Semester Exam

Empowered.
Knowledgeable.

Select and combine mathematical

tools to solve mathematical
problems in mathematics and
science.
Comprehend and communicate
concepts and techniques relevant to
mathematics, using either written
English or mathematical notations,
as appropriate.
Version Semester 2 2014

Recfind File Number: F14932

Creative and critical thinkers.

Empowered.

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Course Outline:
Calculate and record results
accurately and precisely.

4.

MTH202 Calculus and Algebra

1: On-line Exercises
2: Tutorial Exercises
3: Mid Semester Exam
4: End of Semester Exam

Empowered.
Creative and critical thinkers.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the Undergraduate Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of prerequisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites

4.1

Enrolment restrictions

Nil

4.2

Pre-requisites

MTH101 or MTH102

4.3

Co-requisites

Nil

4.4

Anti-requisites

MTH502

4.5

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (optional)

All content covered in MTH102 is assumed to have been mastered. In particular, students entering MTH202
must have a good knowledge and understanding of the theory and application of topics such as logarithms,
algebra, trigonometry, limits, and introductory differential Calculus, including standard differentiation
techniques, implicit differentiation and optimization. If students are not absolutely familiar and capable
(fluent) in these topics, they are advised to undertake some review and study prior to the commencement
of the first week of semester.

5.

How am I going to be assessed?

5.1

Grading scale

Standard High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL)

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Course Outline:

5.2

Assessment tasks

Task
No.

MTH202
Assessment
Tasks
On-line
Exercises

Individual
or Group

Tutorial
Exercises

Individual

Mid Semester
Examination
End of
Semester
Examination

MTH202 Calculus and Algebra

When should I
submit?

Where should I
submit it?

As often as you like

until the specified
closing date
Tutorial class of the
following week.

Web Page

Individual

Weighting What is the

%
duration /
length?
14
Up to 2
hours per
week
16
Up to 2
hours per
week
20
1 hour

Week 7 Tutorial

N/A

Individual

50

Centrally scheduled
examination period

N/A

Individual

2 hrs
+ 10 min
perusal

In class

100%

Assessment Task 1: On-line Exercises

Goal:

Product:
Format:

These exercises will address the essential, foundation knowledge that you must know in relation
to differential and integral calculus. These exercises will help you recall and practice using your
mathematical knowledge and techniques until you are fluent and accurate and provide
immediate feedback regarding your general ability with many of the relevant mathematical
techniques.
This task is comprised of small sets of on-line exercises that will be made available each week
from weeks 1-12.
Individual students log into the online system and receive a unique set of questions.
The exercise-sets will be composed of a range of questions or tasks that relate to the
foundational content or content covered in the lecture material, tutorials and readings.
You will calculate the answers and submit these directly back into the web page. The submitted
answers are marked immediately and the correct answers are shown.
In most cases, the exercise-sets will be available as assessment for two weeks, during which time
you may submit as many attempts at each exercise-set as you wish.
Some of the very basic exercise sets are time-limited.

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Course Outline:
Criteria

MTH202 Calculus and Algebra

Marks are awarded entirely on the basis of the answers that you type into the computer and
submit to the server.
Achieving correct answers requires the careful selection and application of relevant
mathematical technique so, indirectly, you are also assessed on your ability to:

think analytically
select the relevant mathematical tools for the various questions
apply mathematical tools to particular examples
calculate accurately
format answers correctly, as specified by the system

In the event that you attempt an exercise-set more than once during the time the exercise-set is
available as assessment, it is the highest mark from all your submissions of that exercise-set that
will count towards your grade.
Each individual exercise set has equal weighting towards your final grade, irrespective of the
nature and number of questions they may contain.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Problem solving
Introductory
Assessment Task 2: Tutorial Exercises
Goal:
Product:
Format:

Criteria

To ensure that you are reviewing the course material on a frequent basis, and to provide ongoing feedback regarding your written communication of mathematical working and concepts.
Written assignments (must be hand-written)
From weeks 1 to 12, a problem (or a small set of less technical problems) will be posted on
BlackBoard. You will be required to write out a fully-worked solution before you attend your
tutorial the following week. You must show your work to your tutor at the following weeks
tutorial.
In order to earn maximum marks, you must achieve a perfect score on at least eight submissions.
If you submit more than eight sets of problems, your best eight scores will count towards your
grade.
In most cases, your submission will be assessed and scored by the tutor in the tutorial and you
will be given verbal feedback regarding your work. If time does not permit this, your submission
will be kept and scored before the next tutorial.
Your work will be assessed against criteria which include correctness of working, correct use of
mathematical notation and communication, and presentation and layout.

A more detailed guide regarding how these submissions are to be scored will be provided on
Blackboard.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Developing
Problem solving
Introductory

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Course Outline:

MTH202 Calculus and Algebra

Assessment Task 3: Mid Semester Examination

Goal:

The mid-semester exam encourages you to revise the course material and gives you an
opportunity to assess your learning progress against the learning outcomes of this course.
Product: Written Exam
Format:
Individual.
Mixed practical and theoretical written questions.
To be run in your scheduled week 7 tutorial class.
Criteria
You will be assessed on your ability to:
recall the theoretical and practical components of the course materials covered in the
lectures, tutorials and readings from weeks 1-6
apply the theory to particular examples
decide which is the most appropriate method to solve a particular problem
derive solutions to particular problems
communicate the methods, reasoning and working by which solutions may be calculated
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Problem solving
Developing
Communication
Developing
Assessment Task 4: End of Semester Examination
Goal:

The end of semester examination gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge,
understanding and skills associated with all the course content and the learning outcomes of this
course.
Product: Final Exam
Format:
Individual.
Mixed practical and theoretical written questions.
Criteria
You will be assessed on your ability to:
recall the theoretical and practical components of the course materials covered in the
lectures, tutorials and readings from weeks 1-13
apply the theory to particular examples
decide which is the most appropriate method to solve a particular problem
derive solutions to particular problems
communicate the methods, reasoning and working by which solutions may be calculated
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Problem solving
Developing
Communication
Developing

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Course Outline:

5.3

MTH202 Calculus and Algebra

Additional assessment requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
a)
The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
b)
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
c)
The student has not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Blackboard
As a student enrolled in this course you will have access to course information on the Blackboard site. You
are strongly recommended to log onto the course site on a regular basis. All course announcements,
course changes, posting of course materials and grades (via My Interim Results) will be accessed through
Blackboard. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate internet access (either off campus or oncampus) in order to access Blackboard regularly and to complete required assessment tasks.
Safe Assign
In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its
assessment tasks are submitted electronically via Safe Assign. This software allows for text comparisons to
be made between the students submitted assessment item and all other work that Safe Assign has access
to. If required, details of how to submit via Safe Assign will be provided on the Blackboard site of the
course.

5.4

Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate:
5% (of the assessment tasks identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified
as the due date for the assessment task.
10% (of the assessment tasks identified value) for the third day
20% (of the assessment tasks identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and
including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task.
A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date
identified as the due date for the assessment task.
Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late.
To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

6. How is the course offered?

6.1

Directed study hours

PER WEEK:

2 hours lectures

2 hours tutorial

6.2

Teaching semester/session(s) offered

Semester 1 and Semester 2

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Course Outline:

6.3

MTH202 Calculus and Algebra

Course activities

Teaching
Week /
Module

What key concepts/content will I learn?

Introduction
Revision of Differential Calculus, part I

2
3

Revision of Differential Calculus, part II

Equations of lines, planes and surfaces:
Parametric form
Vector form
Introduction to Multivariable Calculus (Vector
Calculus)
Partial Derivatives: 1st and 2nd
Introduction to Laplace's equation
Scalar fields
Directional derivatives and Gradient
Min. & Max. of Surfaces
Integral Calculus (Introduction)
- field lines of differential equations
- anti-differentiation (indefinite integral)
- integration between limits (definite int.)
IntCalc: Techniques for complex functions
- by substitution
- by parts
- by trigonometric substitution
IntCalc: Areas under curves
IntCalc: Area between two curves
st
IntCalc: Solving separable 1 order ODEs
IntCalc: Mean value of a function
IntCalc: Volumes of revolution
IntCalc: Arc length
IntCalc: Surface Area of revolution
Complex numbers
Euler's formula
ODEs: Ordinary Differential Equations
Definition, characteristics, notation
"Solving" DE's & Initial Value Problems (IVP)
Separation of variables
1st Order Linear ODE's
Integrating factors
The Laplace Transform:
Introduction & Definition
Calculation
Inverse Laplace Transform (use of tables)
Using Laplace Transforms to solve DEs.
Course consolidation

10
11

12

13

What activities will I engage in to learn the

concepts/content?
Directed Study Activities
Independent Study
Activities
Lecture
Revision:
Tutorial
- Read text and notes
- Practice problems
- Browse internet / videos
NB: this is true for ALL
weeks of the semester!
Lecture
Tutorial

Revise Vectors:
Components, Unit vectors,
Dot & Cross product

Lecture
Tutorial

Lecture
Tutorial
Lecture
Tutorial

Lecture
Tutorial (EXAM)

Lecture
Tutorial
Lecture
Tutorial

Lecture
Tutorial
Lecture
Tutorial

Lecture
Tutorial

Lecture
Tutorial

Homework & Tute: Partial

fraction decomposition

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Course Outline:

MTH202 Calculus and Algebra

Please note that the above schedule is a guide to course content and may be subject to variation. While
every endeavour will be made to keep to the schedule, timing and treatment of material may vary, in order
to accommodate student needs, availability of staff, resources, events of significance and extreme weather
events.

7. What resources do I need to undertake this course?

7.1

Prescribed text(s)

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below:
Author
Year
Title
Publisher
James Stewart
2012
Calculus, International Metric
Thomson Brooks/Cole 7th Edition.
Edition, 7th Edition
Metric International Version.
ISBN-13: 9780538498845

7.2

Required and recommended readings

Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its Blackboard site. These
materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further
information regarding particular aspects of your course.

7.3

Specific requirements

N/A

7.4

Risk management

There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the
Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas.

8.

How can I obtain help with my studies?

In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Student Life and Learning
provides additional assistance to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can
drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: +61 7 5430 1226 or Email:
studentlifeandlearning@usc.edu.au

9.

Links to relevant University policies and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs

Review of Assessment and Final Grades

Supplementary Assessment

Administration of Central Examinations

Deferred Examinations

Student Academic Misconduct

Students with a Disability

http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching

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Course Outline:

MTH202 Calculus and Algebra

10. Faculty specific information

General enquiries and student support
Faculty Student Support Office
Tel: +61 7 5430 2869
Fax: +61 7 5456 5010
Email: SHEinfo@usc.edu.au
Office Opening Hours
8.30am - 5.00pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
9.00am - 5.00pm Tuesday
Closed Saturday and Sunday