MA181-4-AU-CO:
Discrete Mathematics
2025/26
Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
10 May 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC L1G2 Economics and Mathematics (Including Placement Year),
BSC LG11 Economics and Mathematics,
BSC LG18 Economics and Mathematics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC LG1C Economics and Mathematics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G100 Mathematics,
BSC G102 Mathematics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G103 Mathematics (Including Placement Year),
BSC G104 Mathematics (Including Foundation Year),
MMATG198 Mathematics,
BSC 5B43 Statistics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC 9K12 Statistics,
BSC 9K13 Statistics (Including Placement Year),
BSC 9K18 Statistics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC G1G4 Mathematics with Computing (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G1G8 Mathematics with Computing (Including Foundation Year),
BSC G1GK Mathematics with Computing,
BSC G1IK Mathematics with Computing (Including Placement Year),
BSC G1F3 Mathematics with Physics,
BSC G1F4 Mathematics with Physics (Including Placement Year),
BSC G1F5 Mathematics with Physics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC GCF3 Mathematics with Physics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC I1G3 Data Science and Analytics,
BSC I1GB Data Science and Analytics (Including Placement Year),
BSC I1GC Data Science and Analytics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC I1GF Data Science and Analytics (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIG199 Mathematics and Data Science
The first part of the module introduces the mathematics of sets in a non-axiomatic way, covering what is commonly referred to as naïve set theory. The versatility of using sets to define other mathematical objects is illustrated by studying functions and relations as sets. Further, the notions of countable and uncountable sets are explored.
Understanding and producing different types of mathematical proofs is an important part of the module. Besides standard techniques (direct proofs, proofs by contradiction, etc.) mathematical induction is introduced and studied as a powerful technique for proving statements about natural numbers.
The last part of the module introduces the basic ideas in propositional logic. This includes the use of truth tables, the laws of propositional logic, as well as the notion of a logical argument.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide a general understanding of sets and their connection to counting and defining other mathematical objects (including relations), mathematical proofs (especially inductive arguments), and the main ideas in propositional logic.
By the end of the module, students will be expected to:
- Have a basic knowledge of sets and the operations defined on them;
- Have a basic knowledge of binary relations and be able to check that a given relation is a partial order or an equivalence relation;
- Be able to compare the cardinalities of different sets using functions;
- Have a basic understanding of countable and uncountable sets;
- Be able to use mathematical induction;
- Have a basic understanding of propositional logic and be able to use truth tables for checking the validity of a logical argument.
For students outside of the Department, an appropriate A level in Mathematics (or equivalent) is required for this module. If you are unsure whether you meet this criteria please contact maths@essex.ac.uk before attempting to enrol.
Indicative syllabus:
Sets:
Basic definitions
Set operations
Laws of set algebra
Principle of duality
Inclusion-exclusion for two sets
The power set of a set
Countable and uncountable sets
Relations:
Binary relations
Relation representations
Inverse of a relation
Composition of relations
Reflexivity, symmetry, transitivity, anti-symmetry
Computation of the transitive closure of a relation
Equivalence relations and equivalence classes
Partial and total orders
Functions:
Functions as relations
Composition of functions
Injective, surjective, and bijective functions
Inverse of a function
Induction and recursion:
Mathematical induction
Recursively defined sequences
Strong mathematical induction
Logic:
Propositions and logical connectives
Truth tables
Logical equivalence, tautologies, and contradictions
Laws of propositional logic
Logical arguments
Teaching in the School will be delivered using a range of face to face lectures, classes, and lab sessions as appropriate for each module. Modules may also include online only sessions where it is advantageous, for example for pedagogical reasons, to do so.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assignment 1 |
07/11/2025 |
|
| Coursework |
Assignment 2 |
08/12/2025 |
|
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 90 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 90 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Christopher Saker, email: cjsake@essex.ac.uk.
Professor Chris Saker
maths@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 16 hours, 12 (75%) hours available to students:
4 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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