Course
Mathematics: Theory and Practice - 3 ECTS
This course aims to provide a basic understanding of selected Mathematical concepts that many branches of science relies on.
Course outline
Target group and learning outcomes
The structure of the course is designed for PhD candidates. Yet I am certain that prospective MSc students would benefit from it. After
successful completion of this course, participants should have a better understanding of:
- The importance of paradoxes in mathematics, and logic. Several famous paradoxes and Gödel’s incompleteness theorems.
- Relation between infinity and cardinality.
- Types of cardinalities, ergo continuum hypothesis.
- Most common methods to prove a statement.
- The basic real analysis concepts such as Couchy sequences, continuity, dense sets, compactness, connected sets, derivatives, chain rule, measure spaces, Reimann sums and integrals. Extreme value theorem, and its importance for maximization problems. Lebesgue integral and the difference between Reimann and Lebesgue.
Assumed prior knowledge and course material
No prior knowledge needed other than basic high school math. There is no book the course is following, also there is no shortage of explanations on the Internet for these topics. Moreover students should take notes at the meetings.
Session times and outline in hours
The course consists only of theory and some exercises to have a deeper understanding of the concepts. The daily sessions involve 3-4 hours per day.
Requirements and ECTS
There will be one exam. The mean of the exam and course participation score will be the final grade of the students.
Course fee
WGS PhDs with TSP | € 225 |
a) All other PhD candidates b) Postdocs and staff of the above mentioned Graduate Schools | € 450 |
All others | € 675 |
Fee includes coffee/tea, and course materials.
NB: for some courses, PhD candidates from other WUR graduate schools with a TSP are also entitled to a reduced fee. Please consult your Education/PhD Programme Coordinator for more information