Introductory Mathematics for Engineering

This course answers the question, “What am I going to use all this math for?” It is suited both for students seeking to apply their math knowledge to real-world problems and to students interested in engineering. Class will consist of a combination of lectures, exercises, and exams emphasizing both the fundamentals of pre-calculus and the basic differential and integral calculus. Each topic is presented in the context of an engineering problem ranging from the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration to two- dimensional static equilibrium. This class meets for 32 weeks total divided into four eight-week quarters. Students will watch a weekly lecture video and then meet once a week for a 1.5 hour recitation. Each quarter students will be assigned weekly homework and quizzes. Each quarter will end with an exam testing the material covered in that quarter with the exception of the final quarter which will end with a comprehensive final exam.

Suggested prerequisites: Algebra II, Geometry, and exposure to Trigonometry.

Course Objectives:

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain information presented in mathematical forms.
2. Understand and apply quantitative principles and methods in the solution of problems.
3. Make judgements and draw appropriate conclusions based on the quantitative analysis of data, while recognizing the limits of this analysis.
4. Define, analyze, and solve mathematics problems in engineering contexts.
5. Think, react, and work in an imaginative way characterized by a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking.
6. Assess the accuracy and validity of findings and conclusions.

Texts:

• Introductory Mathematics for Engineering Applications, 1st Edition, by Kuldip Rattan & Nathan Klingbeil – ISBN 978-1-118-14180-9