Module Code - Title:
MA4001
-
ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS 1
Year Last Offered:
2026/7
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To develop the student's understanding of and problem solving skills in the areas of Pre-Calculus and Differential Calculus.
Syllabus:
[Series] and tests for convergence. Real valued [functions] of a real variable, [limits, continuity and differentiation from first principles]. Physical and graphical interpretation of derivatives.
[Transcendental functions]: properties of trignometric, exponential, logarithmic and hyperbolic functions and their inverses.
[Vector Algebra]: coordinates, resolution of vectors, dot product and cross product.
[Complex numbers]: Cartesian, polar and exponential forms. The algebra of complex numbers. The nth roots of unity.
[Differential Calculus: properties] of derivatives, product, quotient and chain rules. Derivatives of transcendental functions.
Applications of Differential Calculus to finding [maxima and minima, curve sketching, roots of equations] (Newton's method), [undetermined forms] (L'Hopital's Rule) and [Power Series] (Taylor and Maclaurin Series) of a univariate function.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
Represent a given complex number in the Cartesian and polar forms; perform arithmetic operations with complex numbers.
Given a real-valued function of a real variable, find its derivative from the definition and using tables combined with the product, quotient and chain rules.
Given a real-valued function of a real variable, find its domain, maxima and minima, inflection points, sketch its curve, find the equation of the tangent line to its curve at a given point, evaluate its limit at a given point or at an infinity.
Given a series, evaluate its sum or show that it diverges; given a power series, find its interval of convergence.
Given a real-valued function of a real variable, find its Taylor and Maclaurin series.
Perform arithmetic operations with vectors in 3-space and evaluate their dot products and cross products.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
N/A
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Normal mathematics lectures. Students will have weekly homework (not for credit), a mid-term exam worth 30% and a final exam worth 70%.
Prime Texts:
Stewart, J., Clegg, D.K. and Watson, S. (2021)
Calculus, 9th edition
, Cengage Learning
Adams, R.A. (2021)
Calculus: a complete course
, Pearson
Other Relevant Texts:
Atkinson, K. and Han, W. (2003)
Elementary Numerical Analysis, 3rd edition
, Wiley
Kreyszig, E. (2020)
Advanced Engineering Mathematics, 10th edition
, Wiley
Stroud, K.A. and Booth, D.J. (2020)
Engineering Mathematics, 8th edition
, Bloomsbury / Red Globe Press
Jeffrey, A. (2004)
Essentials of Engineering Mathematics
, Chapman & Hall/CRC
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN ELECTRONIC AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (SCIENCE CHOICE)
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENERGY
CERTIFICATE IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Module Leader:
James.Gleeson@ul.ie