I am emailing a link of this to everyone on the class list every week. If you are not receiving these emails or want to have them sent to another email address feel free to email me at jpmccarthymaths@gmail.com and I will add you to the mailing list.

Week 1

In week one we spoke about the questions that the derivative and the definite integral were originally formulated to answer. This led us onto a how to formulate the idea of a limit. We showed that the derivative correctly asked for the slope of a tangent to the line (i.e. the slope of the line).

Tutorials

Tutorials start properly this week:

  • BIS/BEN: Tuesday 17:00 in PF45
  • BIO: Friday 09:00 in PF45

We will discuss these times further on Monday.

Academic Learning Centre

I would urge anyone having any problems with material that isn’t being addressed in the tutorials to use the Academic Learning Centre. As you can see the timetable is quite generous. You will get best results if you come to the helpers there with specific questions. You could also win a tablet device if you enter a competition that they are running.

Week 2

In Week 2 we will look at differentiating some common functions.

Continuous Assessment

As can be seen here in the Module Descriptor, there will be two 15% tests: one in Week 5 and one in Week 10. I hope to give you two week’s notice of each of these and also provide sample tests.

Study

Please feel free to ask me questions about the exercises via email or even better on this webpage — especially those of us who struggled in the test.

Math.Stack Exchange

If you find yourself stuck and for some reason feel unable to ask me the question you could do worse than go to the excellent site math.stackexchange.com. If you are nice and polite, and show due deference to these principles you will find that your questions are answered promptly. For example this question regarding the derivative of y=(x+a)^n.

Calculators

Please note the following taken from the CIT code of conduct for CIT examination candidates:

“Where a pocket calculator is used it must be silent, self-powered and non-programmable. 

It may not be passed from one candidate to another. Instructions for its use may not be 
brought into the Examination Hall. 
The term ‘programmable’ includes any calculator that is capable of storing a sequence of 
keystrokes that can be retrieved after the calculator is turned off or powers itself off. Note that the 
capacity to recall, edit and replay previously executed calculations does not render a calculator 
programmable, provided that this replay memory is automatically cleared when the calculator is 
powered off. Also, the facility to store numbers in one or more memory locations does not render 
a calculator programmable. 
Calculators with any of the following mathematical features are prohibited: 
• Graph plotting 
• Equation solving 
• Symbolic algebraic manipulation 
• Numerical integration 
• Numerical differentiation 
• Matrix calculations 
Calculators with any of the following features are prohibited 
• Data Banks 
• Dictionaries 
• Language translators 
• Text retrieval 
• Capability of remote communication“

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