Course Objectives

Abstract

This 4-credit course will provide students with the basic quantitative skills necessary for an undergraduate degree in forestry. Undergraduate students in forestry take a very broad range of courses many of which require a general understanding of functions or specific mathematical applications. A general understanding of functions will include the following topics; composition, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent). The students should develop their ability to build up complicated functions from simpler ones or to understand complicated expressions for functions by breaking them down to simpler ones. The topics covered will include Differential Calculus including derivatives as slopes/growth rates, and Integral calculus as areas and sums; in addition the Chain rule (using function composition) and Integration by Parts are covered. This course would not preclude credit for a later differential calculus course and moreover would provide excellent background for less prepared students who wish to take MATH 100. Problem solving is the cornerstone of mathematics instruction. Students must learn the skills of effective problem solving, which include the ability to: read and analyze a problem identify the significant elements of a problem select an appropriate strategy to solve a problem work alone or in groups verify and judge the reasonableness of an answer, and communicate solutions. Acquiring these skills can help students become reasoning individuals able to contribute to society. Becoming a mathematical problem solver requires a willingness to take risks and persevere when faced with problems that do not have an immediately apparen