BMTC-131

About the Course

This is the first mathematics course you will be studying in the Bachelor’s Degree Programme. The aim of this course is to develop an understanding of basic mathematical concepts and techniques that you will require for studying other mathematics courses of the programme, as well as any further study and work you undertake in mathematics.

Calculus is divided into two broad areas, differential calculus and integral calculus. Broadly speaking, differential calculus is the study of change and integral calculus is about adding up the parts. Differential calculus helps you to find, for example, the effect of changing conditions on a system being investigated, and hence to gain control over the system. The process of this mathematical investigation uses the powerful technique of modelling the phenomena concerned. The models usually involve differential equations. Differential calculus is useful in formulating models and integral calculus is used to solve the differential equations associated with the model. Apart from well known applications in physics, mathematical models based on calculus are used for the study of population ecology, cybernetics, management practices, economics and medicine.