Search AC Website

Top Links
Semester Schedule myAC Student Portal Subject Areas Library
A blackboard full of math equations

Mathematics

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.

Course Decriptions

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

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)

Transfer to:

Not Available

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)

Transfer to:

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

Transfer 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 1150 (3), MATH 1140 (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.

Transfer to:

UBC MATH 105 (3)
SFU MATH 158 (3), Q
UVIC MATH 101 (1.5)
UNBC MATH 101 (3)
MATH 1250 (3), MATH 1240 (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.

Transfer 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

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)

Transfer 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)

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

Transfer 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)

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

Transfer to:

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

Transfer to:

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

Transfer to:

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

Transfer to:

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

Faculty

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.

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.

Resources

  1. BCcampus Open Education: BCcampus Open Education is an open-source textbook on various subjects including mathematics and statistics and is partly supported by the BC Ministry of Advance Education.
  2. collection.bccampus.ca

  3. OpenStax CNX: Openstax CNX is an open source platform which contains textbooks and educational materials in variety of subjects from school, college and university level students to professionals.
  4. openstax.org

  5. Khan Academy: Khan Academy is not-for-profit organization that offers short instructional videos on many topics in mathematics and other subjects and offers practice exercises as well.
  6. khanacademy.org

  7. Wolfram Alpha: Wolfram Alpha is a computational knowledge engine that can graph various functions and perform computation related to elementary mathematics to advance mathematics including calculus, linear algebra and statistics.
  8. wolframalpha.com

  9. Symbolab: Symbolab is an online “answer engine” that computes step-by-step solutions to mathematical problems in a variety of topics.
  10. symbolab.com

  11. Mathworld: Mathworld has extensive math resource of all kinds. There is an alphabetical index by topic, interactive entries, Mathworld classroom, and Wolfram Alpha (a computational knowledge engine).
  12. mathworld.wolfram.com

  13. EqWorld: EqWorld provides information on solution to various classes of ordinary/ partial differential and other mathematical equations. It also provides links to other mathematical websites and software packages.
  14. eqworld.ipmnet.ru

  15. Geogebra: Geogebra is a dynamic mathematics software that brings together geometry, algebra, spreadsheets, graphing, statistics and calculus in one single mathematical package.
  16. geogebra.org

  17. Derivative calculator: This calculator supports computing higher order derivatives of function of one or more variables (partial derivatives) including implicit differentiation and calculating roots/zero.
  18. derivative-calculator.net

  19. Integral Calculator: This calculator supports computing definite and indefinite integrals (antiderivatives) with one or more variables (double integrals).
  20. integral-calculator.com

Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.

Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.