Engineering Maths 1A (H1033)

15 credits, Level 4

Autumn teaching

Tis is one of two mathematics modules taken in the first year. You’ll revise and consolidate A-level topics, paying particular interest to those with practical applications in an engineering context, such as:

  • exponential and trigonometric functions
  • matrices
  • complex numbers
  • vectors
  • differential and integral calculus
  • curvature
  • calculus of several variables.

The tools you’ll learn will be used in later year’s modules. 

Topics include:

  • revision of exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, and partial fractions
  • application of trigonometry to waves
  • complex number arithmetic in Cartesian, polar and exponential forms; the Argand diagram, root-finding and De Moivre’s Theorem
  • vector arithmetic, scalar product, vector product, lines and planes
  • matrix arithmetic, inverses, solving simultaneous linear equations by Gaussian Elimination and inverse matrix methods
  • differentiation, higher derivatives, product, quotient and chain rule; parametric and implicit differentiation; curvature and radius of curvature
  • calculus of single and several variables, definite and indefinite integrals, partial derivatives, area bounded by a curve from first principles
  • integration by parts, by substitution, mean value, root mean square value, volume of revolution.

Teaching

79%: Lecture
21%: Practical (Workshop)

Assessment

20%: Coursework (Problem set)
80%: Examination (Unseen examination)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 38 hours of contact time and about 112 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.