Mathematical tools and data analysis (20624)          Academic Year: 2014-15

Yea: 1st
Term: 3rd
Number of ECTS credits: 4 credits
Student hours: 100 hours

Syllabus

Information expressed in numbers and graphs is a fundamental tool for analysing criminological and social reality. Social and criminological indicators are useful for being able to measure and compare different aspects of reality. Data abounds in our society and one of the criminologist's basic skills is knowing how to analyse it. On subsequent courses students will learn quantitative and statistical analysis techniques and a pre-requisite for being able to use them is having solid basic knowledge of mathematics. Furthermore, mathematics furthers logical thinking and analytical abilities which are highly useful in the world of work.

This course aims to provide students with mathematical knowledge in the areas of calculus and algebra. The applied use of mathematical tools is emphasised.

Section 1: Introductory contents

- Notation: symbols, letters and operators. Operator properties

- Extracting numerical information from a text

Section 2: Basic algebra

- From words to algebraic notation

- Linear, exponential and logarithmic equations

- Solving equations with one or two unknowns

- Applied algebra: absolute and relative data. Unit of measurement and comparison

Section 3: Functions

- Operations with functions

- Linear, quadratic, polynomial, exponential and logarithmic functions

- Presentation using graphs

Section 4: Some applications: Measuring change

- Graphs showing change over time

- Growth rates and percentages

- Estimations and predictions

Bloc Section 5: Calculus and matrices

- Derivative calculus

- Integral calculus

- Matrices

- Practical applications of calculus