Students

MATH1007 – Discrete Mathematics I

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Christopher Gordon
math1007@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
12 WW room 618
Lecturer
Richard Garner
math1007@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
12 WW room 718
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides a background in the area of discrete mathematics to provide an adequate foundation for further study in computer science. It is also of great interest to students wishing to pursue further study in mathematics. In this unit, students study propositional and predicate logic; methods of proof; fundamental structures in discrete mathematics such as sets, functions, relations and equivalence relations; Boolean algebra and digital logic; elementary number theory; graphs and trees; and elementary counting techniques.

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: Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of discrete mathematics, including logic, sets, functions relations, proofs, counting arguments, elementary number theory, matrices, and graph theory.
  • ULO2: Construct logical, clearly presented and justified mathematical arguments in the context of discrete mathematics.
  • ULO3: Apply the principles, concepts, and techniques learned in this unit to solve practical and abstract problems.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate appropriate interpretation of information communicated in mathematical form and formulate ideas and language from discrete mathematics.
  • ULO5: Communicate to a general audience the relevance of mathematics to computer science.
  • ULO6: Demonstrate foundational learning skills including active engagement in your learning process.

General Assessment Information

HURDLES:  There are no hurdles for the unit.

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION:  Assignment submission will be online through the appropriate link on the MATH1007 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.

You should upload your work as a single scanned PDF file.

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). Use a scanning app like Clear Scanner, Microsoft Lens or Genius Scan to ensure your submission is 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 

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, assignments, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration: https://connect.mq.edu.au

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of '0' will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.  

In this unit, late submissions will accepted as follows:

  • Assignment - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies
  • Skills exercise - NO, unless Special Consideration is granted
  • Final exam - NO, unless Special Consideration is granted

Incorrectly submitted work

When submitting work, ensure the correct work is submitted. For example, ensure that not only the first page of a submission is uploaded.  Penalties apply when a corrected document is uploaded.

FINAL EXAM POLICY:  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 https://connect.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Assignment 30% No October 12, 11:55 pm
Skills exercise 20% No November 7, 11:55 pm
Final examination 50% No Exam Period

Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: October 12, 11:55 pm
Weighting: 30%

 

The assignment tests the ability of students to solve mathematical problems using concepts and techniques learnt in the unit.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of discrete mathematics, including logic, sets, functions relations, proofs, counting arguments, elementary number theory, matrices, and graph theory.
  • Construct logical, clearly presented and justified mathematical arguments in the context of discrete mathematics.
  • Apply the principles, concepts, and techniques learned in this unit to solve practical and abstract problems.
  • Demonstrate appropriate interpretation of information communicated in mathematical form and formulate ideas and language from discrete mathematics.
  • Communicate to a general audience the relevance of mathematics to computer science.
  • Demonstrate foundational learning skills including active engagement in your learning process.

Skills exercise

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: November 7, 11:55 pm
Weighting: 20%

 

Exercises designed to develop and assess discrete mathematics skills, reinforcing theoretical knowledge through consistent practice to promote mastery of essential concepts.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of discrete mathematics, including logic, sets, functions relations, proofs, counting arguments, elementary number theory, matrices, and graph theory.
  • Construct logical, clearly presented and justified mathematical arguments in the context of discrete mathematics.
  • Apply the principles, concepts, and techniques learned in this unit to solve practical and abstract problems.
  • Demonstrate appropriate interpretation of information communicated in mathematical form and formulate ideas and language from discrete mathematics.
  • Demonstrate foundational learning skills including active engagement in your learning process.

Final examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 50%

 

The exam will test the ability of students to utilise concepts and techniques learnt in the unit.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of discrete mathematics, including logic, sets, functions relations, proofs, counting arguments, elementary number theory, matrices, and graph theory.
  • Construct logical, clearly presented and justified mathematical arguments in the context of discrete mathematics.
  • Apply the principles, concepts, and techniques learned in this unit to solve practical and abstract problems.
  • Demonstrate appropriate interpretation of information communicated in mathematical form and formulate ideas and language from discrete mathematics.
  • Demonstrate foundational learning skills including active engagement in your learning process.

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

Learning activies

Content videos: the mathematical content of the unit will be available via short weekly videos, approximately eight videos of around 10-15 minutes for each week. These videos can be accessed via iLearn and ECHO360. In total you should expect to spend around two hours per week watching these videos.

Live lectures: live lectures will be delivered on campus, and are also livestreamed and recorded via ECHO360. These lectures give an alternative and more interactive take on the content in the videos. You should expect to spend a total of two hours each week attending lectures and/or reviewing lecture videos.

Small Group Teaching Activities (SGTA): you should register for and participate in one two-hour SGTA class on campus every week between week 2 and week 13. These give the chance to try problems for yourself in small groups of your peers, with assistance from the class instructors.

Workshops: the Numeracy Centre runs regular workshops for students in this unit.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

The recommended texts for MATH1007 are:

Other useful resources and materials will be made available via the MATH1007 iLearn site.

Technology Used and Required

Students are expected to have access to an internet-enabled computer with a web browser and Adobe Reader software. Most areas of the university provide wireless access for portable devices. There are computers for student use in the Library.

Difficulties with your home computer or internet connection do not constitute a reasonable excuse for lateness of, or failure to submit, assessment tasks.  

Unit Schedule

 

 

WEEK MODULE TOPIC ASSESSMENT DUE
1 Graphs Introduction to graph theory: undirected, directed and weighted graphs, degree of a vertex, equivalent graphs, complete and bipartite graphs.  
2 Graphs Walks, paths and cycles, trees and forests, Euler's formula.  
3 Graphs Algorithms on graphs: minimal spanning trees and shortest paths.  
4 Logic Propositional logic, truth tables, boolean algebra.  
5 Logic Laws of logic, predicate logic and negation, proofs.  
6 Logic Logic gates, digital circuits and minimisation.  
7 Logic Sets: Operations on sets, Cartesian products, powersets. Relations: symmetry, reflexivity, transitivity, equivalence.

 
8 Numbers Number bases. The Euclidean algorithm.  
MID-SESSION BREAK      
9 Numbers Numerical sequences. Convolution. Assignment
10 Numbers Induction and strong induction.  
11 Numbers Functions (injectivity, surjectivity, invertibility) and Principles of Counting.  
12 Numbers Counting: extended problems.  
13   Revision and discussion  
FINAL EXAM PERIOD    

Final exam

 

 

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, 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 from Previous Offering

  • Assignments have been reduced from two to one.
  • The SGTAs are no longer hurdles.
  • There are no longer in-session module exams.
  • Skills exercises have been introduced, due at the end of week 13 (but can be completed weekly).

Unit information based on version 2025.05 of the Handbook