MT3510 Introduction to Mathematical Computing

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not available to students on a single or joint honours programme in the School of Computer Science

Planned timetable

A number of tutorial times will be available during the week. Lectures will be in a pre-recorded format, released roughly on the days indicated (Monday (Odd), Wednesday, Friday).

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr D Lucas

Dr D Lucas
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Chrissy Fell; Dr Collin Bleak

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Computation is an important part of a modern mathematician's toolkit, and this module introduces computing. This module develops foundational computing skills in Python and sharpens these skills through practice with exploration and problem-solving within the contexts of Applied, Pure, and Statistical Mathematics.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

IF NOT ALREADY PASSED YOU MUST TAKE 1 MODULE FROM MT3501-MT3508

Assessment pattern

1 x 20% team project, 2 x 25% individual projects, 30% assessed tutorial work

Re-assessment

Take-home examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 tutorial (x 11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

26

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

120

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Decompose a mathematical or statistical problem into its constituent parts, recognise the hypotheses (input) and the desired conclusions (output), and implement this understanding as a computer program.
  • Construct modular computer programs using the basic control structures (conditionals, loops, function calls); compound data structures (numerical, arrays, and dictionary); and algorithms combining control and data structures.
  • Read and analyse the structure of a program; assess its fitness for purpose; assess its asymptotic efficiency; conduct error analysis and correct errors (debugging).
  • Work with data: acquiring data from files or the web; visualisation; numerical manipulation; networks; plots; and text manipulation.
  • Write programs to solve problems in selected mathematical domains, including a selection from computational algebra and combinatorics; numerical analysis and optimization; data analysis.