MATH 1020: MATH 1020: Mathematics For Non-science

Chapter 0: Chapter 0: An IntroductionIntroduction

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Instructor: Prof. Ken Tsang

Room E409-R9

Email: kentsang@uic.edu.hk

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TA informationTA information

Ms Lisa Liu

Room E409 Tel:3620630 lisaliu@uic.edu.hk@uic.edu.hk

MATH 1020: Mathematics for Non-Science (4)ATS(Y1)(1) & TESL(Y1)

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Web-page for this classWeb-page for this classhttp://www.uic.edu.hk/~kentsang/math1020/math1020.htm

Or from Ispace

Use this Web-page as an official communication channel to all students taking this class

- Download lectures, or reading materials- Announcement of assignment, quiz, mid-term test- Posting solutions to assignment, quiz, mid-term

test- …

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TutorialsTutorials

One hour each weekTime & place to be announced later (we need

your input)

More explanationsMore examplesMore exercises

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Some tips to maximize your chances for Some tips to maximize your chances for success in this class?success in this class?

Work hard, more importantly, work smart:

1. Understand, don't memorize.

2. Ask why, not how.

3. See every problem as a challenge.

4. Learn techniques, not results.

5. Make sure you understand each topic before going on to the next.

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How is your final grade determined?

15%

15%

20%

50%

Assi gnmentsQui zzesMi d-term TestFi nal Exami nati on

Some flexibility to determine your “Continuous Assessment”

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UIC Score System

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Grade Distribution Guidelines

Mathematics is about – numbers, space, structures, …

Mathematicians seek out patterns, formulate new conjectures, and establish truth by rigorous deduction from appropriately chosen axioms and definitions.

Most important, it teaches us how to analysis problem in an abstract form, with logical thinking.

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Mathematics again? Why?Mathematics again? Why?

What is mathematics?What is mathematics?

“Mathematics sets the standard of objective truth for all intellectual endeavors, science and technology bear witness to its practical usefulness. Besides language and music, it is one of the primary manifestations of the free creative power of the human mind, and it is the universal organ for world-understanding through theoretical construction. Mathematics must therefore remain an essential element of the knowledge and abilities which we have to teach, of the culture we have to transmit, to the next generation.”

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--Hermann Weyl

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"The great book of nature can be read only by those who know the language in which it is written, and this language is mathematics.“

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“My own suspicion is that the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.”

John B. Haldane (1892–1964, British geneticist, pioneered the mathematical study of genetics):

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“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted”

-Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Mathematics for Non-ScienceMathematics for Non-Scienceis Mathematical Literacy in a modern World.

This course stresses the prevalence, relevance, and practicality of mathematics in modern society.

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What will you learn in this class?What will you learn in this class?

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How to solve daily problems in steps:1. Simplify the problem by abstraction2. Analyze it with logic3. Determine if there is any solution

Our emphasis Our emphasis

Training in Logical reasoningNOT tedious computation

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OK, any question?OK, any question?

That’s all for this introduction.If there is no question, let’s begin the real fun!

So, let’s start with something So, let’s start with something that we all find it fun…that we all find it fun…

GAME THEORY!

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