Students

MATH6904 – Mathematical Modelling

2022 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Paul Bryan
Christian Thomas
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
math1010
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to a range of mathematical techniques from algebra and calculus. Its focus is on the modern application of these ideas, with a particular emphasis on applications to problems in economics, business and finance, and provides a sound mathematical basis for further study in these areas. A key focus of the unit is the development of a sound grasp of how mathematics is used to provide sophisticated modelling of complex real problems. The algebra content of the unit includes topics such as linear systems, matrices, determinants, vector spaces, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The study of these topics is applied to model various economic problems such as Leontief input-output models and dynamical systems used to predict long-term behaviours. The calculus content includes the development of the techniques of differentiation and integration with applications to constrained and unconstrained optimisation, including multivariable cases, and the development and application of a variety of useful approximation techniques. The techniques studied in the calculus are used to study and solve a wide variety of economic and financial problems.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Develop of a range of algebraic skills and proficiency in algebraic techniques applicable to economics, finance and statistics.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate knowledge of linear equations and linear models to solve problems in economics, finance and statistics.
  • ULO3: Apply a wide range of techniques and ideas from differential and integral calculus to the analyse business, economic and financial data.
  • ULO4: Investigate a range of optimisation problems using the techniques of calculus.
  • ULO5: Formulate models of a variety of real world situations using techniques from differential equations.

General Assessment Information

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION: Assignment submission will be online through the iLearn page.

Submit assignments online via the appropriate assignment link on the iLearn page. A personalised cover sheet is not required with online submissions. Read the submission statement carefully before accepting it as there are substantial penalties for making a false declaration.

  • Assignment submission is via iLearn. You should upload this as a single scanned PDF file.
  • Please note the quick guide on how to upload your assignments provided on the iLearn page.
  • Please make sure that each page in your uploaded assignment corresponds to only one A4 page (do not upload an A3 page worth of content as an A4 page in landscape). If you are using an app like Clear Scanner, please make sure that the photos you are using are clear and shadow-free.
  • It is your responsibility to make sure your assignment submission is legible.
  • If there are technical obstructions to your submitting online, please email us to let us know.

You may submit as often as required prior to the due date/time. Please note that each submission will completely replace any previous submissions. It is in your interests to make frequent submissions of your partially completed work as insurance against technical or other problems near the submission deadline.

LATE SUBMISSION OF WORK: 

Scheduled tests and exam must be undertaken at the time indicated in the unit guide. The Matlab assignment and the weekly homework must be submitted by 5:00 pm on their due date. Should these assessments be missed due to illness or misadventure, students should apply for Special Consideration.

A 12-hour grace period will be given after which the following deductions will be applied to the awarded assessment mark: 12 to 24 hours late = 10% deduction; for each day thereafter, an additional 10% per day or part thereof will be applied until five days beyond the due date. After this time, a mark of zero (0) will be given. For example, an assessment worth 20% is due 5 pm on 1 January. Student A submits the assessment at 1 pm, 3 January. The assessment received a mark of 15/20. A 20% deduction is then applied to the mark of 15, resulting in the loss of three (3) marks. Student A is then awarded a final mark of 12/20.

FINAL EXAM POLICY: It is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is, the final day of the official examination period. The only excuse for not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these special circumstances, you may apply for special consideration via ask.mq.edu.au.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during this supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application.

You can check the supplementary exam information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Matlab Assignment 10% No Week 12
Weekly Quiz 16% No weeks 2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,12
Major Test 2 12% No Week 11
Final Examination 50% No Exam period
Major Test 1 12% No Week 5

Matlab Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 7 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 10%

 

The problem set will be aimed at introducing Matlab as a mathematical tool. It will ask students to perform various tasks using Matlab, such as plotting functions, computing derivatives and integrals, performing Gaussian elimination, and solving linear optimisation problems.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop of a range of algebraic skills and proficiency in algebraic techniques applicable to economics, finance and statistics.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of linear equations and linear models to solve problems in economics, finance and statistics.
  • Apply a wide range of techniques and ideas from differential and integral calculus to the analyse business, economic and financial data.
  • Investigate a range of optimisation problems using the techniques of calculus.
  • Formulate models of a variety of real world situations using techniques from differential equations.

Weekly Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 9 hours
Due: weeks 2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,12
Weighting: 16%

 

The subject will have nine weekly online (iLearn) quizzes containing one to three short questions. The quizzes will last for one hour, and be available for a duration of one week. The quizzes will not run in Week 1, or weeks containing a midterm test. Each quiz is worth 2%, with the best eight quizzes counted to the overall grade.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop of a range of algebraic skills and proficiency in algebraic techniques applicable to economics, finance and statistics.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of linear equations and linear models to solve problems in economics, finance and statistics.
  • Apply a wide range of techniques and ideas from differential and integral calculus to the analyse business, economic and financial data.
  • Investigate a range of optimisation problems using the techniques of calculus.
  • Formulate models of a variety of real world situations using techniques from differential equations.

Major Test 2

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 7 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 12%

 

This will test the ability of students to analyse and solve mathematical problems using concepts and techniques in linear algebra and calculus.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop of a range of algebraic skills and proficiency in algebraic techniques applicable to economics, finance and statistics.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of linear equations and linear models to solve problems in economics, finance and statistics.
  • Apply a wide range of techniques and ideas from differential and integral calculus to the analyse business, economic and financial data.
  • Investigate a range of optimisation problems using the techniques of calculus.
  • Formulate models of a variety of real world situations using techniques from differential equations.

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 50%

 

This will be an invigilated exam, held during the final exam period. It will test the ability of students to synthesise the concepts taught in the course in order to analyse and solve mathematical problems with various applications.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop of a range of algebraic skills and proficiency in algebraic techniques applicable to economics, finance and statistics.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of linear equations and linear models to solve problems in economics, finance and statistics.
  • Apply a wide range of techniques and ideas from differential and integral calculus to the analyse business, economic and financial data.
  • Investigate a range of optimisation problems using the techniques of calculus.
  • Formulate models of a variety of real world situations using techniques from differential equations.

Major Test 1

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 7 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 12%

 

This will test the ability of students to analyse and solve mathematical problems using concepts and techniques in linear algebra and calculus.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop of a range of algebraic skills and proficiency in algebraic techniques applicable to economics, finance and statistics.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of linear equations and linear models to solve problems in economics, finance and statistics.
  • Apply a wide range of techniques and ideas from differential and integral calculus to the analyse business, economic and financial data.
  • Investigate a range of optimisation problems using the techniques of calculus.
  • Formulate models of a variety of real world situations using techniques from differential equations.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Classes:

  • Lectures:  There are two one-hour lectures each week.
  • SGTA classes: Students must register in and attend one one-hour class per week.

Course Notes: Student notes will be posted on iLearn.

Suggested textbooks: 

  • Algebra - Lay, Linear Algebra and its Applications, 5th edition.
  • Calculus - Stewart, Calculus (Metric Version), 8th edition.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
14/02/2022 Removed reference to hurdles since math6904 does not have a hurdle requirement

Unit information based on version 2022.03 of the Handbook