Mathematics Literacy

Each year some students apply, or would like to apply, to study science at Rhodes University but feel that their mathematical background is not strong enough.  The course, Mathematics Literacy (MAT 1L) is designed to accommodate these students. Any student may join the course. The intention of the course is to cover those topics which will be most needed in first-year mathematics at university. In particular, the students will be trained to tackle problems that are based in real life.

The course starts with properties of numbers, different number systems for different types of problem. This leads the student through properties of the natural numbers, integers, rational numbers and real numbers. Many problems can be solved by letting some variable represent some unknown quantity and then form an equation in that variable. So, linear and quadratic equations will be studied as a means of solving problems. Then it becomes necessary to investigate functions, systems of equations and problems which generate systems and quadratic functions. This leads naturally on to polynomial functions and rational functions. The pattern of the course now becomes clear. As different types of problem occur, we develop the necessary functions, and other mathematical tools, to solve the problem. So next we study exponential and logarithmic functions, after introducing exponents, radicals and scientific notation.