MA210      Half Unit
Discrete Mathematics

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Jan van den Heuvel

Availability

This course is available on the BSc in Business Mathematics and Statistics, BSc in Mathematics and Economics, BSc in Mathematics with Economics and BSc in Statistics with Finance. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is available with permission to General Course students.

Pre-requisites

MA103 Introduction to Abstract Mathematics, or an equivalent course giving a background in rigorous mathematics.

Course content

This is a course covering a number of concepts and techniques of discrete mathematics. Topics covered: Counting: selections; inclusion-exclusion; generating functions; recurrence relations. Graph Theory: basic concepts; walks, paths, tours and cycles; trees and forests; colourings. Coding theory: basic concepts; linear codes.

Teaching

21 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT. 1 hour of lectures in the ST.

Formative coursework

Written answers to set problems will be expected on a weekly basis.

Indicative reading

PJ Cameron, Combinatorics (CUP 1994); NL Biggs, Discrete Mathematics (OUP 2004)


Extensive notes covering the course content will be distributed as well.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

Key facts

Department: Mathematics

Total students 2014/15: 40

Average class size 2014/15: 14

Capped 2014/15: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

PDAM skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills

Course survey results

(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 75%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.6

Materials (Q2.3)

2.3

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.9

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.8

Integration (Q2.6)

1.7

Contact (Q2.7)

1.9

Feedback (Q2.8)

2

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

59%

Maybe

40%

No

1%