James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

BR1244:03

Mathematics A1

Townsville, Cairns

External mode only with on-campus tutorial assistance.

Staff: Mr M McLean (Townsville campus); Ms M Collins (Cairns campus).

The material covered in this subject must be completed in a 13 week semester. This is less time than that recommended for the secondary school curriculum. This means that the material covered falls short of what could be expected for year 11 students. But once this material has been mastered, the student will be in a much better position to cope with material from the Mathematics A, year 11 curriculum which will be covered in the remainder of the semester.

Learning Objectives:

  1. develop confidence in multiplication and division, decimals and use of a calculator;
  2. revise fraction and decimal calculations and be able to calculate both powers and roots;
  3. learn to calculate using standard units of measure such as time, mass, volume, length and scientific notation;
  4. apply skills to cope with finances in society: wage and salaries, tax, superannuation, budgeting for a small enterprise and understanding profit and loss;
  5. learn basic algebraic concepts such as the X-Y axis, graphing of variables and their interpretation.

Assessment by assignments and the option of an end-of-semester examination.