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Overview

Learning MethodsMajor FocusThe AC DifferenceCareer Outlook

Learning Methods

We use various active learning methods such as interactive lectures, individual and group activities, project-based learning, problem-solving, and audio-visual presentations.

Major Focus

The focus of our courses is on the development of students’ mathematical thinking and behavior which consists of thinking in logical manner, constructing models to describe phenomena, and problem-solving.

The AC Difference

Small class sizes, enhanced teacher-student interaction, use of instructional scaffolding, and students’ prior knowledge and skills as a basis for building new mathematical knowledge.

Career Outlook

Mathematics develops quantitative skills and analytical abilities that are crucial in various fields including science, engineering, technology, social sciences, business, industry, and commerce. As such, there is a high demand for people with mathematics knowledge and skills in these areas, and the demand will continue to grow significantly.

Course Descriptions

Select a course below to see full descriptions. (#) Indicates amount of credits per course

MATH 099 Fundamentals of Algebra with Trigonometry (0)

This is a bridging course to provide students with the fundamental mathematical knowledge necessary for success in university-level mathematics.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 088 (formerly EASL 089, ENGL 097)

Transfers to:

Not Available

MATH 100 Precalculus (3)

Algebraic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions and their graphs. Conic sections, applications.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 088 (formerly EASL 089, ENGL 097), MATH 11 (B) or MATH 12 (C) or MATH 099 (C)

Transfers to:

SFU MATH 100 (3), Q
UVIC MATH 120 (1.5)
UNBC MATH 115 (3)
TRU MATH 1000 (3)

MATH 104 Differential Calculus w/Applications to Commerce & Social Sciences (3)

Limits and continuity, derivatives and rates of change, exponential and trigonometric functions and their applications to business and economics, Newton’s method, Taylor polynomial and Taylor series, maxima and minima, and graphing.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 088 (formerly EASL 089, ENGL 097), Math 12 (C+) or Math 100 (C)

Preclusions:

Students with credit for MATH 151 may not take MATH 104 for further credit.

Transfers to:

UBC MATH 104 (3)
SFU MATH 157 (3), Q
UVIC MATH 102 (1.5)
UNBC MATH 100 (3), Precludes credit for UNBC MATH 152
TRU MATH 1140 (3); ALEX MATH 104 (3) & ALEX MATH 105 (3) = TRU MATH 1140 (3) & TRU MATH 1240 (3), Exempt TRU MATH 1170 (3) for BBA

MATH 105 Integral Calculus w/Applications to Commerce & Social Sciences (3)

Antiderivatives, the definite integral, techniques of integration, applications of integration, partial derivatives, optimization with and without constraints, an introduction to differential equations, discrete and continuous random variables and probability.

Students may receive credit for only one of Math 104 or Math 151; Math 105 or Math 152.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 088 (formerly EASL 089, ENGL 097), MATH 104 or MATH 151

Preclusions:

Students with credit for MATH 152 may not take MATH 105 for further credit.

Transfers to:

UBC MATH 105 (3)
SFU MATH 158 (3), Q
UVIC MATH 101 (1.5)
UNBC MATH 101 (3)
TRU MATH 1240 (3); ALEX MATH 104 (3) & ALEX MATH 105 (3) = TRU MATH 1140 (3) & TRU MATH 1240 (3), Exempt TRU MATH 1170 (3) for BBA

MATH 115 Discrete Mathematics (3)

Offers an intensive introduction to discrete mathematics. Topics include: functions, relations, sets, cardinality, propositional and predicate logic, proof techniques, combinatorics, discrete probability, asymptotic notation, and an introduction to elementary number theory and abstract algebra. The course will provide a basis to study higher level mathematics.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 088 (formerly EASL 089, ENGL 097), MATH 12 (C) or MATH 100 (C)

Preclusions:

Students with credit for CPSC 115 may not take MATH 115 for further credit.

Transfers to:

UBC CPSC 1st (3), Exempt from UBC CPSC 121
SFU MACM 101 (3), Q/B-Sci
UVIC MATH 122 (1.5)
UNBC CPSC 141 (3) or UBC MATH 1XX (3), Must have C- or better to use as a prerequisite

MATH 123 Mathematics for Everyday Life (3)

What are your chances of winning the lottery? When the media reports statistics on poverty, climate change or the spread of a rare disease, are they getting it right? What do all those numbers mean for you? How do advertisers use statistics to influence our thinking? How accurate are public opinion polls? What is the best way to manage your day-to-day finances?

These are some of the questions we will be investigating in this course. This is a non-traditional, application-based course centered around the use of mathematics in the real world, intended for non-science (liberal arts) majors. Topics include: reasoning and number sense, percentages and estimations, math for financial matters, such as loans and investments; and probability and statistics.

Further topics such as geometry, math in art and music may also be explored.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 088 (formerly EASL 089, ENGL 097), and MATH 11 (B) or MATH 12 (C) or MATH 099 (C)

Transfers to:

UBCV MATH 1st (3) Not for credit in science
SFU MATH 197 (3)
UVIC MATH 1XX (1.5) Not for credit for degrees within the Faculty of Science
UNBC MATH 1XX (3) Not for credit for degrees within the Faculty of Science and Engineering
TRU MATH 1100 (3)

MATH 151 Calculus I (3)

Functions and graphs, conic sections, limits and continuity, derivatives, techniques and applications of differentiation, trigonometric functions, logarithms and exponentials, extrema, the mean value theorem and polar co-ordinates. Students may receive credit for only one of Math 104 or Math 151; Math 105 or Math 152.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 088 (formerly EASL 089, ENGL 097), Math 12 (B) or Math 100 (C)

Preclusions:

Students with credit for MATH 104 may not take MATH 151 for further credit

Transfers to:

UBC MATH 100 (3)
SFU MATH 151 (3), Q
UVIC MATH 100 (1.5)
UNBC MATH 100 (3), Precludes credit for UNBC MATH 152
TRU MATH 1140 (3)

MATH 152 Calculus II (3)

Integrals, techniques and applications of integration, approximations, sequences and series, area and arc length in polar co-ordinates. Students may receive credit for only one of Math 104 or Math 151; Math 105 or Math 152.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 088 (formerly EASL 089, ENGL 097), MATH 151

Preclusions:

Students with credit for MATH 105 may not take MATH 152 for further credit

Transfers to:

UBC MATH 101 (3)
SFU MATH 152 (3), Q
UVIC MATH 101 (1.5)
UNBC MATH 101 (3)
TRU MATH 1240 (3)

MATH 232 Elementary Linear Algebra (3)

Matrix arithmetic, linear equations, and determinants. Real vector spaces and linear transformations. Inner products and orthogonality. Eigen values and eigenvectors.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 098, MATH 151, MATH 104 (B), or MATH 105

Transfers to:

UBC MATH 221 (3)
SFU MATH 232 (3), Q
UVIC MATH 211 (1.5)
UNBC MATH 220 (3)
TRU MATH 2120 (3)

MATH 251 Multivariable Calculus (3)

Rectangular, cylindrical and spherical coordinates. Vectors, lines, planes, cylinders, quadric surfaces. Vector functions, curves, motion in space. Differential and integral calculus of several variables. Vector fields, line integrals, fundamental theorem for line integrals, Green’s theorem.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 098, MATH 152 or MATH 105(B)

Transfers to:

UBC MATH 200 (3)
SFU MATH 251 (3), Q
UVIC MATH 200 (1.5)
UNBC MATH 200 (3)
TRU MATH 2110 (3)

MATH 255 Ordinary Differential Equations (3)

This is a first course in the theory of ordinary differential equations. Topics include the solution of first- and higher order differential equations (ODEs), power series solutions, Laplace transforms, linear and non-linear systems, stability, Euler methods and applications. Analytic and quantitative methods will be used to investigate the solutions to ODEs and discuss their behavior.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 098, MATH 152 or MATH 105 (B)

Transfers to:

UBC MATH 255 (3)
SFU MATH 260 (3)
UVIC MATH 2XX (1.5)
UNBC MATH 2XX (3)
TRU MATH 2240 (3)

Faculty

Kamran Fakhar (PhD, MPhil, MSc, BSc)

Instructor

Kamran Fakhar (PhD, MPhil, MSc, BSc)

Instructor

Kamran Fakhar is a Mathematics Instructor at Alexander College, since 2016.

He received his Ph.D. in applied mathematics in 2005 from USTC, post doctorate at ICTS from 2005-2007 and a research associate position in UBC since 2014.

He has published over 40 research articles in international referred journals. He also supervised two PhD and five master’s students.

Kamran has more than 12 years of teaching experience which includes teaching mathematics at different levels at different universities and colleges inside and outside Canada.

He also has won several scholarships, academic awards, medals and distinctions certificates during his academic carrier.

Krishna Subedi (PhD, MEd, MA, BA, BCom)

Math Program Coordinator, Instructor

Krishna Subedi (PhD, MEd, MA, BA, BCom)

Math Program Coordinator, Instructor

Dr. Subedi joined Alexander College in 2009 as an instructor in the mathematics department and has been teaching various mathematics courses ever since. He received his MA (mathematics) from Tribhuvan University, Nepal; an MEd (mathematics emphasis) from Endicott College, USA, and a PhD from Simon Fraser University, Canada.

His research interests are in the field of theories and pedagogical practices in teaching and learning mathematics. He is particularly interested in exploring how teachers and students deal with mathematical abstraction in teaching and learning in an attempt to translate abstract mathematical concepts into understandable ideas.

Telyn Chan-Kusalik (MSc, BA)

Instructor

Telyn Chan-Kusalik (MSc, BA)

Instructor

I have taught at the University of the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Community College, Thompson Rivers University, and Champlain Regional College.

I hold an M.Sc. in Pure Mathematics from McGill University, a B.A. (honours) in Mathematics and Philosophy from Queen’s University, and a Provincial Instructor’s Diploma from Vancouver Community College.

I take a teaching approach which is technology-intense and learner-centred, and I ensure that students in my classes are encouraged to participate.

In my studies, I took an interest in Foundations of Mathematics, but my more recent research interests lie in Teaching and Learning.

I like getting a chance to meet students, colleagues, and others interested in my work. Contact me at t.kusalik@alexandercollege.ca or stop by my office hours.

Luc Lapierre (MSc, BSc)

Instructor

Luc Lapierre (MSc, BSc)

Instructor

Luc Lapierre obtained an M.Sc. in pure mathematics from Simon Fraser University in 2016. He joined Alexander College in January 2017, and has enjoyed teaching there ever since.

Luc’s research portfolio centers on cryptographic primitives arising from finite fields of characteristic two, and algebraic graph theory.

Aside from learning and sharing mathematics, Luc enjoys olympic weightlifting, ice hockey, and caring for his five rabbits.

Resources

BCcampus Open Education

OpenStax CNX

Khan Academy

Wolfram Alpha

Symbolab

Mathworld

EqWorld

Geogebra

Derivative calculator

Integral Calculator

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