MATH12223 - Calculus and Linear Algebra A

Showing: 2026 HE Term 1
General Information

Unit Synopsis

The unit covers topics in single variable differential calculus and linear algebra. The emphasis is on a conceptual understanding of calculus through a visual, verbal, numerical and algebraic approach with particular focus on the practical power of calculus. Topics covered include functions, mathematical models of real world processes, complex numbers, vectors, matrices and systems of linear equations. However the main focus is on limits, continuity and derivatives which are studied extensively, and are used to derive the rules of differentiation like the product, quotient and chain rules as well as implicit differentiation. Applications of differentiation are discussed like l’Hospital’s rule and Newton’s method, and differentiation is applied to the areas of optimisation and determining the shape of curves. Mathematical software is also used to investigate and solve most problems studied in the unit. Note: if you have completed unit MATH11163 then you cannot take this unit.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 2
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 1
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite MATH11160 Technology Mathematics

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2017

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Term 1 - 2023 Profile
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Term 1 - 2024 Profile
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Term 1 - 2025 Profile
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Term 1 - 2026 Profile
Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Written Assessment 20%
2. Written Assessment 20%
3. Examination 60%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

Previous Feedback

No previous feedback available

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Unit Coordinator
Feedback:
Some students find it hard to learn and apply the Calculus knowledge.

Recommendation:
Remind the students frequently during lectures to review foundation mathematics topics to bridge knowledge gaps and introduce more practical examples in the lecture contents and tutorial materials.

Action Taken:
Students were regularly reminded during lectures to review key foundation mathematics topics in order to address knowledge gaps. Additional examples were incorporated into the lecture content to strengthen students' understanding and application of the concepts.
Source: Student Unit Feedback
Feedback:
Students were pleased with the organisation of the unit.

Recommendation:
Continue with the current learning and teaching practices.

Action Taken:
In Progress
Source: Student Unit Feedback
Feedback:
Most students found the mathematics study to be both challenging and enjoyable.

Recommendation:
Continue to provide a positive and supportive learning experience.

Action Taken:
In Progress
Source: Unit Coordinator's Reflections
Feedback:
Insufficient stronger links between unit content and its relevance to real-world contexts and career opportunities.

Recommendation:
Consider using real-world use cases to highlight the applied aspect of the unit content.

Action Taken:
In Progress
Unit Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Formulate and apply mathematical functions and graphs to model typical applied scenarios.
  2. Apply the concepts of limit, continuity and derivative of a function to solve problems.
  3. Apply the rules of differentiation like the product, quotient and chain rules, as well as implicit differentiation in appropriate situations.
  4. Apply differentiation to solve problems involving rates of change including optimisation, determining the shape of curves, l’Hospital’s rule and Newton’s method.
  5. Analyse and solve problems using complex numbers and trigonometry.
  6. Apply vectors and vector operators in two and three dimensional space, particularly for the equations of lines and planes.
  7. Solve systems of linear equations using elimination and row operations.
  8. Apply matrices and matrix operators, particularly for solving systems of linear equations.
  9. Use mathematical software to visualise, analyse and solve problems in single variable differential calculus and linear algebra.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 - Written Assessment
2 - Written Assessment
3 - Examination
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
6 - Information Technology Competence
8 - Ethical practice
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10
1 - Written Assessment
2 - Written Assessment
3 - Examination