Foundational Mathematics
Course Code: Y1A2
ECTS Credits: 3.0
Course Description
Foundational Mathematics equips students with the essential mathematical skills required for success in the Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence curriculum. The course identifies individual learning needs through a series of diagnostic quizzes and supports personalised development through targeted self-study. Students are required to take a formal mathematics exam at the end of the first block, which contributes to the overall assessment of that block.
The course begins with ungraded quizzes that assess key mathematical domains. Based on their performance, students receive tailored recommendations for review materials to help them strengthen specific concepts before the final exam. Although the quizzes do not count toward the final grade, they play a critical role in guiding students toward the required level of proficiency. Successful completion of the course ensures students are mathematically prepared for more advanced modules in the programme.
Course Content
- Solving linear equations and inequalities
- Understanding and manipulating algebraic expressions
- Graphing and interpreting linear equations
- Solving systems of equations graphically and algebraically
- Understanding functions, domains, and ranges
- Evaluating and transforming functions
- Working with polynomial functions and factoring techniques
- Dividing polynomials and identifying zeros
- Exponential and logarithmic functions and equations
- Solving rational and radical equations
- Introduction to right-triangle trigonometry
- Unit circle and radian-degree conversions
- Sinusoidal functions and real-world modelling
- Laws of sines and cosines
- Descriptive statistics: mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation
- Understanding and interpreting bar graphs and box plots
- Introduction to limits and continuity
- Derivatives as limits and the concept of the tangent line
- Basic rules of differentiation: power rule, product rule, quotient rule, chain rule
- Implicit differentiation and second derivatives
- Applications of derivatives: critical points, curve sketching, optimisation, motion, related rates
Prerequisites
- None