How to use this book
This book provides essential maths background material for first-year students in science and engineering. In particular, the book is aimed at students in the following RMIT University courses.
- MATH2395 – Introduction to Engineering Mathematics;
- MATH2393 – Engineering Mathematics;
- MATH2443 – A Mathematical Toolbox for Scientists;
- MATH2469 – A Calculus Toolbox for Scientists;
- MATH2167 – Mathematics 1;
- MATH2168 – Mathematics 2.
Color coding
This book is not intended to be read from cover to cover. Rather, it is hoped that you can “dip into it” to find help when you are having difficulty.
To assist you in navigating to the relevant part of the book, each chapter begins with a quiz on the topics covered in the chapter. Quizzes appear in a textbox with a yellow header and light yellow background, as shown below:
Quiz
Answers
You will see answers to quiz questions here.
Answers to quiz questions are shown when you click on the word Answers in the textbox. You may skip all or part of a chapter depending on how well you do in the quiz.
Information in each chapter is grouped into sections. Each section contains a brief introduction and description of the background theory, then examples, and finally exercises. Examples are provided in text boxes with a green header and light green background as shown below:
Examples of a Particular Topic
- They are usually numbered
Exercises are provided in text boxes with a pink header and light pink background as shown below.
Exercises on a Particular Topic
Exercises appear here.
Answers
You will see answers to exercises here.
Answers may be seen by clicking on the word Answers in the textbox.
At the end of each chapter, we summarise Information that should be remembered, or key rules and results. These are displayed in a textbox with a grey header and light grey background, as shown below.
Key takeaways
- Important results and rules to remember appear here.
It is hoped that the color coding will assist you in finding what you need.
Hyperlinks
There are several hyperlinks in the book. They are identified by underlining of text. Clicking on a hyperlink will open a new window in your browser. Most hyperlinks will be to DESMOS interactive demonstrations. To exit a hyperlink, use the back button in the browser. Do not just close the window. Closing the window may also close the book.
Videos
There are several videos in the book. These are basic and intended to provide a fast introduction to a specific topic. In most cases, the book goes well beyond the material covered in the videos.
