General Education Outcomes
MTH 103 satisfies the A1 - science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) and B3 - mathematical, statistical, or computational general education outcomes.
Course Goals
The goals of the course are:
- Provide an introduction to applied mathematics, which is essential to natural and mathematical sciences, and other areas.
- Expose students to mathematical concepts and provide mathematical skills needed in their area of specialization through use of applied problems.
- Provide a bridge for the student from high-school or lower-division mathematics courses to applied calculus courses.
- Help students to become effective mathematics problem solvers. In particular: understand concepts rather than merely mimic techniques, demonstrate understanding through explanation, understand the relationship between a process and the corresponding inverse process, and select the proper mathematical tool or tools for the task at hand.
The language of science is mathematics, and functions and modeling are an indispensable part of science, technology, engineering, and other fields. MTH103 is intended for students in life sciences and any other areas where applications of mathematics are important. This course will make precise and deepen your understanding of fundamental concepts such as algebraic expressions, equations, graphs, functions, and modeling. You will apply these concepts to problems in the physical and biological sciences involving change, motion, and growth. You will also receive an introduction to exponential, logarithmic, and periodic functions and their applications. At the end of the semester you will be able to calculate with and apply these concepts and methods, including functions that are linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic and periodic. You will become comfortable working with algebraic expressions in the context of real life applications.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course you should be able to:
- Functions. Use functions defined algebraically, numerically and, graphically to determine properties and behaviors of those functions.
- Linear Functions. Recognize the relationship between linearity and constant rate of change, identify slope and intercepts of a linear function, derive equations of straight lines and linear functions, and model real life processes by using linear functions.
- Quadratic Functions. Identify different forms of quadratic functions, their geometric properties and graphs, and solve quadratic equations.
- Power Functions. Relate basic properties of a power function to the properties of the exponent, use the laws of exponents to put functions in a form where the exponent can be clearly recognized, and model real life processes by using power functions.
- Exponential Functions. Interpret different forms of an exponential function in terms of properties of the function, model real life processes by using exponential functions.
- Logarithmic Functions. Use properties of logarithms to solve exponential equations, and use logarithms in applied problems.
- Trigonometric Functions. Determine period and amplitude of a periodic function from a formula or the graph, or a verbal description of the function, use families of trigonometric functions for modeling.
- Written Mathematical Communication. Communicate effectively in written form mathematical ideas and solutions, by stating in a complete, clear, concise, and organized manner steps, calculations, solution strategy, conclusions, and when appropriate, interpreting results in practical or applied terms.