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MA11A-Introduction to Analysis

Module Provider: Mathematics
Number of credits: 20 [10ECTS credits]
Level: 4
Terms in which taught: Autumn, Spring and Summer
Module Convenor: Dr CJ Smith
Pre-requisites: A-Level Mathematics
Co-requisites: MA11B and MA11C
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2009/0

Email: Calvin.Smith@reading.ac.uk

Aims:
To motivate students' appreciation of the need for proof and their ability to construct for themselves formal proofs.
To develop the manipulative skills and mathematical intuition necessary for analysis.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module students are expected to be able to:

  • use skill in logical reasoning and problem-solving;
  • construct simple mathematical proofs;
  • manipulate simple inequalities;
  • use the idea of limit of a sequence and sum of an infinite series;
  • use the ideas of supremum and infimum.

    Additional outcomes:

    Outline content:
    Analysis could be summarised as dealing with the idea of the limit. In order to do this we need some preliminaries and this course accordingly falls into two parts. The first half deals with the nature of the number system, the ideas and techniques of proof and a section developing the skills of dealing with sequences, series and inequalities, and considers the structure and defining properties of the real number system and of sets of real numbers. The second half applies these ideas to the concept of the limit of an infinite sequence and infinite series, and the definition of functions and sets.

    Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
    Lectures supported by problem sheets and tutorials.

    Contact hours:

      Autumn Spring Summer
    Lectures 20 20 4
    Tutorials/seminars 10  10   
    Practicals      
    Other contact (eg study visits)      
    Total hours 30  30 
    Number of essays or assignments 1 x summative  1 x summative   
    Other (eg major seminar paper) 8 x formative  8 x formative   

    Assessment:
    Coursework:
    One piece of assessed work in each of the Christmas and Easter vacations each contributing 10%
    Relative percentage of coursework: 20%
    Examinations
    A three hour exam. This contributes 80% of the overall assessment.
    Requirements for a pass
    A mark of 40% overall.
    Reassessment arrangements
    Re-examination in August/September only.

    Last updated: 23 November 2009

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