Mathematics Premaster Course

6 EC

Semester 1, period 1, 2

5252MAPC6Y

Owner Pre-master Chemistry (joint degree)
Coordinator Arno Foerster
Part of Pre-master Chemistry (joint degree), year 1
Links Visible Learning Trajectories

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

This course extends the mathematics from high school / HLO such you are sufficiently equipped for your physics and chemistry courses.

We start with calculus (differentiation, integration, differential equations, complex numbers). Next we will introduce some basic linear algebra (solving systems of linear equations, matrices, determinants, eigendecompositions, etc.) In the last part of the course we will deal with calculus of functions of multiple variables.

The focus will be on concepts rather than advanced calculation techniques. Examples will be taken from physics, chemistry and biology.

Study materials

Literature

  • Steiner, Erich; "The Chemistry Maths Book" (2008), 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978–0–19–920535–6

Syllabus

  • Mathematics premaster for chemistry 

Objectives

  • The student can solve equations and evaluating limits.
  • The student can differentiate and integrate functions of a single variable.
  • The student can solve standard differential equations.
  • The student can perform calculations with complex numbers.
  • The student can solve systems of equations and operate with matrices.
  • The student can compute the inverse, determinant, and eigenvalues and eigenvectors and a matrix.
  • The student can perform partial differentiation.
  • The student can integrate functions of several variables over simple regions.

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Self-study
  • Seminar

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

  
Partial exam 3  

Lecture

24

 (12 x 2 uur)

exercise class

24

 (12 x 2 uur)

Exam

3

  

Self study

86

  

Total

140

(5 EC x 28 uur)

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade
  • Final mark = 50% partial exam 1 + 50% partial exam 2
  • The single resit consists of two parts one covering the part for exam 1 and the other the part for exam 2. You can make only one part or both to improve your grade.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Weeknummer Onderwerpen Studiestof
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Contact information

Coordinator

  • Arno Foerster