| Code | Faculty | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 02240185 | Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences | Department: Mathematics and Applied Mathematics |
| Credits | Duration | NQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum duration of study: 1 year | Total credits: 137 | NQF level: 08 |
The programme consists of seven honours modules (five modules of 15 credits each from the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and two modules of 16 credits each from the Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education) as well as the compulsory research project (30 credits). Elective modules should be selected according to the prerequisites of these modules.
Candidates are required to familiarise themselves with the General Regulations regarding the maximum period of registration and other requirements for honours degrees.
The progress of all honours candidates is monitored biannually by the postgraduate coordinator/head of department. A candidate’s study may be terminated if the progress is unsatisfactory or if the candidate is unable to finish his/her studies during the prescribed period.
The BScHons degree is awarded with distinction to a candidate who obtains a weighted average of at least 75% in all the prescribed modules and a minimum of 65% in any one module.
Minimum credits: 137
Select any two electives offered in the BScHons (Mathematics) or BScHons (Applied Mathematics) programmes, provided that the prerequisites are met with.
Module content:
Perspectives in the teaching and learning of mathematics. This module will focus on contemporary issues in mathematics education such as: Types of mathematical knowledge in teacher education; learning theories in mathematics education; use of technology in the teaching of mathematics; classroom research; gender; language; culture (Ethno mathematics). Mathematics in context: prospects and challenges. This module also focuses on the role of mathematics in different contexts (including vocational and real life contexts): Nature of mathematics – mathematics as a human activity; rationale for learning mathematics; the theory of realistic mathematics education; content-driven and context-driven approach in mathematics; mathematical literacy; knowledge ‘transfer’: some challenges – school mathematics vs real world.
Module content:
The nature of educational enquiry: contexts of research, research ethics, truth, rationality, subjectivity and objectivity; Quantitative and qualitative modes of enquiry, research designs and data collection techniques. Various approaches to qualitative research including case study research, historical research, ethnographic research, and action research. Basic concepts and principles of quantitative research. Statistical techniques in the educational research process. Survey methodology and questionnaire design. Classification and graphical representation of data. Descriptive measures. Statistical inference. Data-processing procedures. Parametric versus non-parametric tests. Some test statistics (e.g. F-Test and T-test). Formulating a research methodology for a limited project.
Module content:
An analysis as well as an implementation (including computer programs) of methods are covered. Numerical linear algebra: Direct and iterative methods for linear systems and matrix eigenvalue problems: Iterative methods for nonlinear systems of equations. Finite difference method for partial differential equations: Linear elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic and eigenvalue problems. Introduction to nonlinear problems. Numerical stability, error estimates and convergence are dealt with.
Module content:
Study of main principles of analysis in the context of their applications to modelling, differential equations and numerical computation. Specific principles to be considered are those related to mathematical biology, continuum mechanics and mathematical physics as presented in the modules WTW 772, WTW 787 and WTW 776, respectively.
Module content:
Classical optimisation: Necessary and sufficient conditions for local minima. Equality constraints and Lagrange multipliers. Inequality constraints and the Kuhn-Tucker conditions. Application of saddle point theorems to the solutions of the dual problem. One-dimensional search techniques. Gradient methods for unconstrained optimisation. Quadratically terminating search algorithms. The conjugate gradient method. Fletcher-Reeves. Second order variable metric methods: DFP and BFCS. Boundary following and penalty function methods for constrained problems. Modern multiplier methods and sequential quadratic programming methods. Practical design optimisation project.
Module content:
Field-theoretic and material models of mathematical physics. The Friedrichs-Sobolev spaces. Energy methods and Hilbert spaces, weak solutions – existence and uniqueness. Separation of variables, Laplace transform, eigenvalue problems and eigenfunction expansions. The regularity theorems for elliptic forms (without proofs) and their applications. Weak solutions for the heat/diffusion and related equations.
Module content:
A selection of special topics will be presented that reflects the expertise of researchers in the Department. The presentation of a specific topic is contingent on student numbers. Consult the website of the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics for more details.
Module content:
Measure and integration theory: The Caratheodory extension procedure for measures defined on a ring, measurable functions, integration with respect to a measure on a σ-ring, in particular the Lebesgue integral, convergence theorems and Fubini's theorem.
Probability theory: Measure theoretic modelling, random variables, expectation values and independence, the Borel-Cantelli lemmas, the law of large numbers. L¹-theory, L²-theory and the geometry of Hilbert space, Fourier series and the Fourier transform as an operator on L², applications of Fourier analysis to random walks, the central limit theorem.
Module content:
An analysis as well as an implementation (including computer programs) of methods is covered. Introduction to the theory of Sobolev spaces. Variational and weak formulation of elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic and eigenvalue problems. Finite element approximation of problems in variational form, interpolation theory in Sobolev spaces, convergence and error estimates.
Module content:
Mathematical modelling of Random walk. Conditional expectation and Martingales. Brownian motion and other Lévy processes. Stochastic integration. Ito's Lemma. Stochastic differential equations. Application to finance.
Module content:
This module aims at using advanced undergraduate mathematics and rigorously applying mathematical methods to concrete problems in various areas of natural science and engineering.
The module will be taught by several lecturers from UP, industry and public sector. The content of the module may vary from year to year and is determined by relevant focus areas within the Department. The list of areas from which topics to be covered will be selected, includes: Systems of differential equations; dynamical systems; discrete structures; Fourier analysis; methods of optimisation; numerical methods; mathematical models in biology, finance, physics, etc.
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