MSP1038 : Introductory Algebra
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Professor Tamara Rogers
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To understand the essential concepts of algebra relevant for the physical science, including complex numbers, vectors and matrices.
Outline Of Syllabus
Complex Numbers
- Arithmetic
- The complex plane
- Polar form
- Euler's formula
- de Moivre's theorem
Roots of unity
Vectors
- Sums
- Products (scalar, vector, triple)
- Orthogonality
- Equations of lines and planes
Linear Algebra
- Matrix addition
- Multiplication and inversion
- Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
- Diagonalization
- Determinants
- Cramers rule
- Gaussian elimination
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Revision Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Formal Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 25 | 1:00 | 25:00 | Completion of in-course assignments |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 53 | 1:00 | 53:00 | Preparation time for lectures, background reading, coursework review, examination revision |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The teaching methods are appropriate to allow students to develop a wide range of skills, from understanding basic concepts and facts, to higher-order thinking.
Lectures are used for the delivery of theory and explanation of methods, illustrated with examples, and for giving general feedback on marked work.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 60 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 10 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 10 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 10 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 10 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
A substantial formal unseen examination is appropriate for the assessment of the material in this module. The format of the examination will enable students to reliably demonstrate their own knowledge, understanding and application of the learning outcomes.
Examination problems may require a synthesis of concepts and strategies from different sections, while they may have more than one way for solution. The examination time allows the students to test different strategies, work out examples and gather evidence for deciding on an effective strategy, while carefully articulating their ideas and explicitly citing the theory that they are using.
The coursework assignments allow the students to develop their problem-solving techniques, to practise the methods learnt in the module, to assess their progress and to receive feedback; these assessments have a secondary formative purpose as well as their primary summative purpose.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MSP1038's Timetable