Mathematics (Further)

Course summary

Course details may be subject to change. If you are interested in studying A Levels at New College Durham please just complete one application form and you will be able to choose your subjects once you have had your interview. You do not need to apply for each of the subjects you are interested. This course broadens and deepens the areas covered in AS/A-Level Mathematics. It develops your mathematical ability and introduces you to new topics such as matrices and complex numbers, which are vital for maths-rich degrees in areas such as sciences, engineering, statistics and computing, as well as mathematics itself. Further Mathematics is usually studied alongside AS/ALevel Mathematics. It also complements A-Levels in Physics and Chemistry. Study Aims This Further Mathematics qualification is a separate qualification to A-Level Maths, however, it can only be studied if A-Level Maths is being studied alongside. It is a fantastic qualification for enthusiastic and talented mathematicians and provides students with clear progression into higher education degree courses in Mathematics, Physics, high-level Engineering and Computer Programming. The material that you cover on the course requires a fantastic initial understanding of mathematics, which you will develop significantly over time, as you study more about the abstract and complex nature of mathematics. Modules Studied You will study a range of topics, including: ● Complex numbers ● Three-dimensional vectors ● Hyperbolic functions ● Volumes of revolution ● Differential equations ● Matrix algebra and financial modeling ● The Maclaurin Series and De Moivre’s Theorem. You will also adapt and expand on knowledge and skills in vectors, trigonometry, proof, sophisticated algebraic manipulation and calculus (studied in A-Level Maths) and learn how to work and convert between different coordinate systems, including Cartesian form, parametric form and polar coordinates. You will study two applied components within Further Maths. One is Mechanics, which further develops the knowledge and skills acquired in the Mechanics component of A-Level Maths, whilst also introducing new topics on impulse and momentum; Hooke’s Law; Work, Power and Energy; and elastic collisions. The other is on Discrete Mathematics, which is a modern area of mathematics based on algorithms and processes. These are the building blocks to a lot of computer programming. You will study: Graph Theory and Algorithms on graphs; Linear Programming; and Critical Path Analysis.