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Courses in Mathematics and Statistics Level 1 Modules Level 2 Modules Level 3 Modules Level 4 Modules Level 5 Modules Honours timetable 2011/2012 Sem. 1 2011/2012 Sem. 2 2012/2013 Sem. 1 & Sem. 2 2013/2014 Sem. 1 & Sem. 2

MT1008 MATHEMATICAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY This module provides an introduction to the use of Information Technology in Mathematical Science. The topics covered include basic IT skills, data handling and analysis, and the use of a computational algebra package such as MAPLE. Students will undertake small projects and present short written reports. No previous knowledge of computing is required. Aims - to develop skills in the use of information technology and mathematical and statistical software for solving scientific problems; - to develop understanding of the computational, mathematical and statistical techniques necessary for the use of such software; - to show the effectiveness and limitations of such software. Objectives By the end of the module a student should have: - learned to use the application packages appropriate to word-processing (with emphasis on processing mathematical text), graphics and spreadsheets; - learned to use a statistical package such as R; - learned to use a computer algebra package such as Maple. Syllabus Introduction to MicroSoft Word, LaTeX and Excel Symbolic Computation Introduction to symbolic computation, defining functions and manipulating expressions, differentiating, integrating and plotting, loops and conditionals, solving problems with Maple. Data analysis Getting data into R and looking at it, descriptive statistics, random variation, confidence intervals, simple hypotheses, fitting linear models. Textbooks The university has a site licence for Maple, and students may put it up on their own machines. The statistical package R can be obtained free of charge from: CRAN Summaries and hand-outs are provided. Lectures, practicals and tutorials Lectures are held in the Microlab. There are four lectures, one class test, one tutorial and one practical each week. Assessment 100% of the mark is from continuous assessment during the semester. Re-assessment is by resubmission of appropriate project work and/or resit of class test(s). Prerequisites Higher or A-level Mathematics Antirequisites CS1002 or CS1006 or any 2000-level CS module Availability This module is taught every year in Semester 1 at 11.00. Lecturers Dr D H Mackay (Module coordinator), Dr M L Burt Click here for access to past examination papers for this module. Click here to see the University Course Catalogue entry. Revised: PMH (September 2012)