Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The module is designed to raise student awareness and competence in mathematical and statistical operations such that they will be able to cope with the numeracy demands of an undergraduate business degree at Newcastle University or other UK HEI. It is also targeted at raising student awareness of the English nomenclature involved in mathematics and statistics at this level as many students will be mathematically competent but uncertain about the terminology/lexis used in a UK context. The module’s specific aims are:

•       To equip students with the skills in mathematics and statistics required for entry to a Business School programme at Newcastle University, roughly equivalent to grade B at GCSE.
•       To focus students on mathematical concepts and principles through English
•       To develop student independence in applying mathematical knowledge in preparation for research and project-related tasks

Outline Of Syllabus

Basic Number Theory – limits of accuracy; approximation; ratios; percentages; area; volume.
Algebra – symbolic representation in order to solve problems; functions, linear and quadratic equations; equation solving, linear programming
Graphs – scatter, line, bar, relationship between equations and graphs, gradients of lines.
Statistics and Probability – Basic data handling and summary statistics, averages (mean, mode, median), measures of spread (variance, standard deviation), introduction to probability, simple regression analysis, graphical representation of data (histograms, cumulative frequency curves, piecharts, boxplots etc.)
Use of Excel to produce basic graphs and summary statistical data.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

To apply basic number theory
To describe how to set and solve equations
To explain how graphs can be used to represent data
To identify the relationship between graphs and equations
To apply basic statistics and probability theory
To explain the difference between the mean, median and mode
To dsecribe what measures of spread mean

Intended Skill Outcomes

To calculate fractions, percentages and ratios
To express problems in the form of algebraic symbols
To solve linear and quadratic equations
To draw up charts and graphs to represent data
To draw the graph of an equation
To calculate the gradient of a graph line
To calculate and interpret the mean, mode, median, variance and standard deviation of a set of data
To assess probabilities from given data
To use Excel to calculate basic statistics
To fit a simple regression line through a set of data
To use a calculator for mathematical and statistical operations.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures are used to introduce concepts and techniques. In this area practice is crucially important, hence the number of seminar hours, which will be devoted largely to problem solving and practice in a safe and supervised atmosphere. The Study Clinics provide an opportunity for particular problems to be addressed in smaller groups. Some of the seminar sessions should take place in a computer lab in order to allow students to use software packages to undertake analysis.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Class tests are used in semester 1 to check on students’ progress and provide them with feedback on how they are doing. These provide the most efficient and sensible way of testing mathematical skills and problem solving. The semester 2 project requires not only analysis and the opportunity to use Excel, but also the ability to collect data and some explanation of the significance of the data analysed. This tests not only students’ skills at carrying out calculations and using IT packages, but also their ability to explain in words the significance of the data and their analysis of it. The final piece of assessment in as unseen exam at the end of the module. This is an appropriate test of skills in this area and will help prepare students for unseen examinations on maths and stats at stage 1.

General Notes

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