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Overview

Course Prescription

An introduction to computational mathematics and programming in MATLAB. The course will introduce some basic concepts in computational mathematics and give applications that include cryptography, difference equations, stochastic modelling, graph theory and Markov chains.

Course Overview

This course is an introduction to essential tools in computational mathematics, particularly mathematical modelling and scientific computation. Students learn how to formulate mathematical models of a variety of real-world problems, and how to solve them using analytical and numerical methods. The software package MATLAB is taught and used extensively. After successfully completing MATHS 162 and other core mathematics courses, students will be well-prepared for further courses in mathematics, such as MATHS 260 and MATHS 270. MATHS 162 is a requirement for a major in mathematics. Those not wishing to continue studying mathematics will find that the modelling and computational foundations laid in this course will support their work in other areas of science.

Key Topics

Programming

  1. If statements, for loops and while loops.
  2. Reading and debugging code.
  3. Creating and using functions.
Difference equations
  1. Building models as difference equations.
  2. Fixed points.
  3. Stability.
  4. Bifurcations.
  5. Chaos.
Cryptography
  1. Creating ciphers and de-ciphers in Matlab.
  2. Modular arithmetic.
  3. Cribbing and frequency analysis.
Stochastic methods and stochastic modelling
  1. Randomness, probability and simulation
  2. Random variables.
  3. Estimating probabilities.
  4. Monte Carlo integration.
Networks and graphs
  1. Walks and circuits.
  2. The travelling salesman problem.
  3. Colourings.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in. For each week of this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1-hour tutorial, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Corequisite
Restriction

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, including labs, to receive credit for components of the course.
  • Lectures will be available as recordings. Labs, however, will not be available as recordings.
  • The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetabled class.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

COURSEBOOK: MATHS 162 has its own coursebook, covering all of the material covered in this class. You can download this coursebook for free from the MATHS 162 Canvas page.

MATLAB: MATHS 162 is also a course that will teach you how to code in MATLAB, a numerical computing environment and programming language. You can download MATLAB for home use by following the instructions here: https://www.software.auckland.ac.nz/en/matlab.html


Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Additional Information on Assessment

Students must get higher than 35% on their final exam in order to pass the course.

Special Requirements

You will either need a home computer to run MATLAB on, or you will need to be regularly on campus to make use of the University of Auckland's computer labs to work on any assignment tasks that use MATLAB.  You can find details about our computer labs here: https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/services/it-essentials/computer-facilities

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Based on student feedback from past cohorts, the order of chapters in MATHS 162 has been slightly modified to allow for the introduction of programming concepts over multiple weeks. The coursebook will also be modified to reflect this rearrangement.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Additional Information on Tuākana

Whanaungatanga and manaakitanga are fundamental principles of Tuākana Maths, a community of learning for Māori and Pasifika students taking mathematics courses. The Tuākana Maths programme provides workshops, drop-in times, and a space where Māori and Pasifika students can work alongside our Tuākana tutors and other Māori and Pasifika mathematics students.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.