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Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title Calculus for Teachers
Module Code MS116
School School of Mathematical Sciences
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Peter Taylor
Semester 2: Peter Taylor
Autumn: Peter Taylor
Module TeachersPeter Taylor
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 10
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Repeat examination
Array
Description

This course concentrates on developing mathematical knowledge and skills for prospective mathematics teachers, focussing on the topic of calculus. The course reviews some foundational mathematics involving functions, inequalities, quadratic equations, trigonometric identities, exponential and logarithmic functions. The course also develops skills in the techniques of differentiation and integration. Enhancing the student's ability to solve mathematical problems and deal with pedagogically related mathematics tasks lies at the heart of this module.

Learning Outcomes

1. perform standard algebraic manipulations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and exponents
2. compute limits, including limits of indeterminate forms.
3. differentiate algebraic, trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential functions, including differentiating combinations of these functions using the product, quotient and chain rules.
4. graph functions by computing intercepts and asymptotes, finding and classifying critical points, computing domains of increase and decrease etc.
5. explain how the fundamental theorem of calculus connects the concept of the Riemann integral to the concept of the anti-derivative.
6. use common integration techniques including substitution and integration by parts.
7. apply various approximation techniques including the Newton-Raphson method, local linear approximations, Maclaurin and Taylor approximations.
8. carry out pedagogically related mathematics tasks



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture72lecture
Tutorial24No Description
Independent Study154No Description
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Foundations
Absolute value and inequalities; polynomials; functions and graphs; lines and parabolae; trigonometry; complex numbers including De Moivre's theorem

Limits and continuity
Informal treatment of limits of functions, infinite limits and continuous function.

Differential Calculus
Tangents to curves and derivatives; rates of change; sum, product, quotient and chain rules; differentiation of polynomial and trigonometric functions; Mean Value theorem; critical points and extremum problems; curve sketching; rational functions

Integral Calculus
Area under a curve as motivation; the Riemann integral; antiderivative; fundamental theorem of calculus; applications involving area; methods of integration including substitution, integration by parts and partial fractions

Transcendental Functions
Inverse functions and their derivatives; inverse trigonometric functions and their derivatives, logarithmic and exponential functions; growth and decay problems;

Other Topics in Calculus
Limits and L'Hopital's rule, Taylor and Maclaurin series; first order differential equations; Newton's method

Vectors
Vectors in 2 and 3 dimensions, inner and vector products, lines and planes in R3, systems of 2 or 3 linear equations

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment20% Examination Weight80%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
In Class Testn/a4%Week 6
In Class Testn/a4%Week 11
In Class Testn/a4%Week 21
In Class Testn/a4%Week 25
In Class Testn/a4%Week 30
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 3
Indicative Reading List

  • Howard Anton, Irl C. Bivens, Stephen Davis: 2017, Anton's Calculus: Early Transcendentals, , 11th Edition, Global Edition, 1,2,3,4,5,7,9, Wiley, 978-1-119-248
  • Bremigan, Bremigan and Lorch: 0, Mathematics for Secondary School Teachers,
Other Resources

50676, 0, DCU Maths Learning Centre, http://www.dcu.ie/maths/mlc/index.shtml,
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