OVERVIEW

The modules Elements of Mathematics (1srt semester) and Elements of Mathematics 2 (2nd semester) constitute the course Institutions of Mathematics whose subject is the study of real functions of one and two real variables, the differential calculus, and the integral calculus

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Provide tools and contents to be used in subsequent chemical and physical courses: differential equations with separable variables, linear 1st order, linear 2nd order with constant coefficients. Numerical series. Functions in two variables. Double integrals.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquisition of a correct methodological approach to learning of scientific disciplines, based on the use of language and mathematical reasoning as useful  tools for the interpretation of the real world and not as mere abstract notions.

Acquisition of group work skills, metacognitive reflection on one's own work and that of others, error detection and analysis and input for reflection.

Acquisition of specific technical contents:

•  the concept of differential equation and solutions of  the most common types of differential equations
• the concept of number series and some criteria for the convergence
•  the main properties of functions in two variables
• the computation of double integrals

Acquisition of the ability to apply the above knowledge in the solutions of chemical and physical problems.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is organized in theoretical and exercises lectures, which are based on teaching methods that aim to encourage students to take an active role in the development of the learning process.

The course also provides classroom and online instructional tutorials,, which are based on a workshop approach and make it possible to implement flexible learning pathways adapted to the needs of individual students.

The material course is made available on the Aulaweb site of the course: handouts of lectures, exercises sheets, texts and solutions of guided exercises, texts and solutions of written exams from previous years.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Differential equations.
• Numerical series and convergence criteria.
• Elements of analytic geometry in the plane and in the space.
• Functions of several variables: domains and level curves, limits and continuity, differentiability, critical points, relative minima and maxima, maximum and minimum absolute and bound.
• Double integrals in Cartesian coordinates and polar coordinates.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Istituzioni di Matematica , M.Bertsch, Ed. Bollati Boringhieri
Analisi Matematica 1 e 2, M.Bramanti, C.D. Pagani, S.Salsa Ed. Zanichelli

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The class will start according to the academic calendar.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written test and an oral test about the arguments treated out in the course.The written and oral tests must be done in the same exame session (June-July, or September, or January-February).

The written exam can be replaced by the successful completion of two intermediate tests taken in the exam session after each semester.

Students with DSA certification (specific learning disabilities), disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teachers at the beginning of the course to establish teaching and examination methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take account of individual learning arrangements and provide appropriate compensatory tools.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment concerns the acquisition of the concepts developed in the course, the ability to apply these concepts to the resolution of exercises and the reasoning skills of the student.

The written exam can be substituted by two partial exams on the topics, respectively, of the first and the second part of the course; the partial exams will be held in the exam session after the respective semester.   

Both the partial and the complete written tests are organized on several questions with graded difficulty, which make it possible to obtain a precise assessment of the degree of achievement of the educational goals. To this aim, the board of examiners establishes the criteria for the award of partial scores to the various responses taking into account the difficulty of the proposed topics. Based on these criteria it is possible to accurately associate the total score gained to the achievement of the expected learning outcomes.

The oral examination is always conducted by two professors with years of experience of examinations in the discipline. The exam commission verifies with high accuracy the achievement of the educational objectives. If these objectives are considered met, a weighted average of the written (complete or intermediate) and oral exam evaluation is done. 

The exam is not passed when the educational objectives are not met; in this case the student is invited to deepen the study and to require further explanation by the lecturer about some parts of the contents and about the study method to be adopted.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For CTC, the course of Institutions of Mathematics is a prerequisite to all the 3rd-year courses.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.