MA185-4-AU-CO:
Mathematical and Computational Modelling

The details
2024/25
Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
10 May 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

MA209

Key module for

BSC N233 Actuarial Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC N233DT Actuarial Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC N323 Actuarial Science,
BSC N323DF Actuarial Science,
BSC N323DT Actuarial Science,
BSC N324 Actuarial Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N325 Actuarial Science (Including Foundation Year),
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 GN13 Finance and Mathematics,
BSC GN15 Finance and Mathematics (Including Placement Year),
BSC GN18 Finance and Mathematics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC GN1H Finance 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),
MSCIN399 Actuarial Science and Data Science,
MSCIG199 Mathematics and Data Science,
BSC N333 Actuarial Studies,
BSC N333DT Actuarial Studies,
BSC N334 Actuarial Studies (Including Placement Year),
BSC N334DT Actuarial Studies (Including Placement Year),
BSC N335 Actuarial Studies (Including Year Abroad)

Module description

This module gives an introduction to programming skills for mathematical and actuarial sciences students in the context of a range of mathematical modelling topics.


Mathematical modelling skills will be an important focus alongside learning how to structure and implement codes in both Matlab and R. A key part of the module will be investigative open-ended computational modelling studies at both the group and individual level.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To introduce mathematical and actuarial sciences students to programming using the Matlab and R languages.

  • For students to develop their programming skills while undertaking open-ended investigation of a range of mathematical and computational modelling topics.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to:



  1. Be able to use appropriate mathematical software to design, implement, debug, and test simple computer programs.

  2. Have a conceptual understanding of the syntax and operations of the R and MATLAB languages, and ability to convert code between the two languages.

  3. Have a conceptual understanding of data structures in R and MATLAB and ability to generate, organise, analyse and visualise data.

  4. Have conceptual understanding of the mathematical modelling cycle, and the ability to perform the steps required to design a mathematical model for a given problem, solve or simulate it using appropriate software, and interpret the results.

Module information

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



  • Programming:

    • basic structure of code; commands and syntax in R and Matlab; converting between the languages; algorithms; functions; variables; lists; strings; for and while loops; if else and other logical statements; recursive functions; random numbers; basic probability distributions; graphical output; plots and display; graphical parameters; data input and output; arrays and data structures; indexing and selecting data;
      debugging code; computational modelling; converting mathematical models into code; numerical integration and differentiation; computer simulations; interpreting numerical outputs.



  • Mathematical Modelling:

    • problem solving and the modelling cycle; creating, solving, and interpreting a model and solutions.



Learning and teaching methods

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.

Bibliography*

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     
Coursework   Assignment 2     
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 60 minutes during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 60 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

Coursework Exam
50% 50%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
50% 50%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Dmitry Savostyanov, email: d.savostyanov@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Dmitry Savostyanov
maths@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
No
Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 46 hours, 42 (91.3%) 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.

 

Further information

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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