MA111-7-SP-CO:
Foundational Mathematics for Data Science
2023/24
Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
03 January 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC G305JS Applied Data Science
The module develops the foundational mathematical skills needed for students studying data science.
It will introduce standard mathematical approaches necessary for data science, such as: widely used functions; basics of differentiation and integration; vectors and matrices; different metrics and when they are used.
The aims of this module are:
- To support students from a wide range of educational backgrounds, to give them an understanding of the core mathematical skills needed within the study of Data Science.
- To introduce students to important mathematical functions.
- To equip them with the techniques needed to solve problems from calculus, linear algebra and discrete mathematics.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
- Have a comprehensive understanding of basic mathematical functions and be able to plot them.
- Understand standard mathematical notation.
- Have a comprehensive understanding of the basic rules of the differential and integral calculus for functions of one variable.
- Be able to perform simple operations on vectors and matrices.
- Have a comprehensive understanding of the mathematical notion of distance and will be able to calculate simple distance metrics.
- Be familiar with the notion of a set and have a comprehensive understanding of basic set operations.
Indicative syllabus:
Foundations: logs, exponentials, trigonometry, polynomials, inequalities, mathematical notation, plots of functions.
Calculus: derivatives, integrals.
Linear Algebra: vectors, matrices, metrics.
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.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assignment 1 |
|
15% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 2 |
|
15% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 3 |
|
15% |
| Written Exam |
Final test |
|
55% |
Additional coursework information
The coursework comprises:
- 3 e-assessments each worth 15%
- 1 in-class written test worth 55%
Updated reassessment strategy:
If the student fails the module the mark for the 3 e-assessments will be aggregated in order to calculate what reassessment is required.
- If they fail the e-assessments they will resit one e-assessment which will be worth 45%
- If they fail the test they will resit the test
- If they fail both the aggregated e-assessments and the test they will resit one e-assessment (worth 45%) and the written test.
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
Dr Wenxing Guo, email: wg22745@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Wenxing Guo
wg22745@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Yinghui Wei
University of Plymouth
Available via Moodle
Of 78 hours, 75 (96.2%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
3 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
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