OVERVIEW

The course Principles of Mathematics consists of the modules Elements of Mathematics  (cod. 72565, 1st semester) and Elements of Mathematics 2 (cod. 72566, 2nd semester). The course covers the study of real-valued functions of one and two real variables, their differential calculus and the integral calculus, and the complex numbers.

This section provides information that is common to the two modules; the specific information can be found in the modules sheets.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course covers the study of real functions with one or two real variables, and their differential and integral calculus. The aim of the course is to give students the tools to use these essential notions in the subsequent courses of physical and chemical character.

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.

PREREQUISITES

• Algebraic calculus, polynomial and fractional equations and inequations
• Analytical geometry elements (Cartesian coordinate system in the plane, equations of lines and the canonical form of conics in the plane)
• Definition of a matrix, determinant of 2x2 and 3x3 matrices
• Absolute value, definition and basic properties, simple equations and inequations
• Roots, definition and basic properties, simple equations and inequations
• Powers, exponentials, logarithms, definition and basic properties
• Basics on exponential and logarithmic functions
• Basic elements of trigonometry

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

The detailed programs of the two modules are described in the modules sheets.

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

Since 25/9/2017, according to the schedule indicated on the sites  www.ctc.unige.it and http://www.fisica.unige.it/scienzadeimateriali/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam for the course Principles of Mathematics consists of a written test and an oral test about the arguments treated out in the two modules. 

The written test can be replaced by the successful completion of two partial tests: the first one on the contents of the module Elements of Mathematics takes place at the end of the first semester during the winter exam session, and a second one on the contents of the module Elements of Mathematics 2 that takes place at the end of the second semester during the summer exam session.

Students must achieve the minimum mark of 18/30 in the written test (or in each of the two partial tests) to be admitted to the oral examination. Among the students admitted to the oral examination, those the teachers think need a complemetary examination must do the oral test. All the other admitted students can avoid the oral examination. In this last case, the registered final mark of the exam will be the minimum between 24 and the mark achieved in the written test (or the average of the two marks achieved in the partial tests). Written and oral tests must be done in the same exam session. 

Students with SLD (specific learning disability) certification, 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 into account of individual learning arrangements and provide appropriate compensatory tools.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

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

The written tests (intermediate and complete) 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, both in the traditional and in the experimental modality, is always conducted by two professors with years of experience of examinations in the discipline. The examination committee 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. For every academic year the examination committee sets the relative weight to be given to each test.

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 the 2nd-year course of Physical Chemistry 2, and 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.