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Module

MAS1802 : Problem Solving and Computing II (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Andrew Duncan
  • Lecturer: Dr Lee Fawcett, Dr Michael Dritschel, Dr Joe Matthews
  • Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

The aim of the module is to help students think about and solve problems that have not been directly demonstrated to them and which can be formulated mathematically.

Module summary

Although formally two separate modules, MAS1801 and MAS1802 should be considered as a pair. The objective is to allow students to experience independent thinking and critical appraisal rather than more traditional mathematics teaching and learning. This will be achieved by presenting unfamiliar problems for solution, with little or no guidance as to methods. Some problems may be expressed already in mathematical language, whereas others will be based on real world scenarios and the first task will be to think logically through the meaning of the problem and how to express it in a manner that can be solved. Students will work alone or in groups for different problems, the module will encourage students to write and present mathematics clearly and accurately, and it will require use of computers to support learning and problem solving.

Outline Of Syllabus

Use of R for mathematical computing. Getting started, input and output, data types, plotting and simple calculations, control statements, functions, random variables.

Individual and group problems on existing mathematical knowledge (such as calculus, sequences and series, single value functions, curve sketching and simple numerical analysis, linear algebra, matrix manipulations, permutations and combinations).

Mathematical problems and puzzles from logic, number theory, geometry, algebra, probability, strategy.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture102:0020:00Problem classes
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture131:0013:00Formal lectures
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion113:0013:00Revision for unseen exam
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion11:301:30Unseen exam
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery120:102:00Office hours
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study150:3050:30Studying, practising and gaining understanding of course material
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

After an initial week of lectures introducing the module explaining the expectations of the students, the organisation of the module, allocating students into teams, and distributing course materials, there will be one one-hour lecture and one two-hour problem class per week for ten weeks. Lectures will address all students while each problem class will involve approximately five teams of five students. In each week the lecture will provide the material for the week's study and the students will work in teams in the problem class. In weeks 2 to 6, students will submit their work at the end of each problem class, and in weeks 7 to 11, they will submit a team project on this material. In addition office hours (two per week) will provide an opportunity for more direct contact between individual students and the lecturer: a typical student might spend a total of one or two hours over the course of the module, either individually or as part of a group.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination902A40N/A
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Prob solv exercises2M10Solving computing problems
Prob solv exercises2M20Solving written problems
Written exercise2M30Team project (maximum 1000 words)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

In order to pass the module it will be necessary to pass the both the exam and the team project (a mark of at most 34 will be awarded to a student who fails the exam and/or the team project).

A formal unseen exam is important to test individual understanding.

In weeks 2 to 6, the weekly assessments will encourage participation and encourage teamwork; each of the weekly problem class assessments is worth approximately 4%. In weeks 7 to 11, there will be approximately four computing exercises of approximately equal weight and a team project; the team project is a written report which will be marked by a module lecturer with one third of the mark allocated by means of peer assessment.

Reading Lists

Timetable