ENGSCI 311 : Mathematical Modelling 3
Engineering
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
- Models for Optimisation
- Data Analysis
- Ordinary Differential Equations
- Partial Differential Equations
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
Learning Outcomes
- Model situations requiring optimisation with linear, non-linear and integer programming models. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Build optimisation models in Excel, and interpret and communicate the results. (Capability 3.2 and 6.1)
- Further develop understanding of linear regression models, as applied to situations with multiple variables, interactions, and generalised linear models for classification. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Conduct analyses in R on the type of data that arises in engineering practice, and communicate the results. (Capability 3.2 and 6.1)
- Further develop knowledge of solving first and second order systems of ordinary differential equations, using eigenvalue and eigenvector methods. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Understand and use ODE solution methods to analyse signals and determine the stability of the solution to a system of ODEs. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Formulate and solve physical models requiring the use of partial differential equations, using separation of variables. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Understand how finite difference methods can be applied to solve partial differential equations numerically. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| Assignments | 16% | Individual Coursework |
| Quizzes | 14% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 20% | Individual Test |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
10% Rule applies: final mark cannot exceed exam mark by more than 10 percentage points.
A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.
The test and exam are in-person and completed on paper. Students must sit the final exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
Late Policy: Late submissions will be dealt with under the course policy published on Canvas. In short, there are no late submissions allowed for Quizzes. Late assignments will be penalised at 4% of the marks available per hour, and this is automatically applied by Canvas.
Extensions: Procedures for extensions for illness or other unexpected events will be published on Canvas.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 4 hours of lectures and/or lectorials, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Lectures will be available as recordings.
The course may include recorded lectorials once a week as appropriate.
Attendance on campus is required for the test and exam.
The final exam will take place in a form prescribed by University policy.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
The SET Evaluations from 2024 S2 stated that students found the Practice Problems Book, quizzes, and lectorials helpful, The worked examples in the coursebook and the general course organisation was also well appreciated. For the in-person test and exam, the permitted A4 sheet was deemed to be useful. All of these will be continued in 2025.
Based on the SET evaluations from 2024 S2, the following changes are intended:
- Content Pacing: the course team will aim to pace the course better, however this is challenging with a new team each year. It is important to the course team that the lectures are delivered well, and we will incrementally improve on this ahead of the 2025 delivery.
- Test and Assignment Schedules: unfortunately these are difficult to change given wider limitations, but will be taken into account when setting assessments.
Other Information
The course policy for late assignments, extensions and exemptions will be published on Canvas when that is available. This policy will be strictly enforced. Please note that pressure of coursework alone or personal travel are not sufficient reasons to grant extensions or exemptions. Extensions will also not be granted for individual technological issues, or submitting incorrect files to Canvas. Please ensure that you give yourself sufficient time to check that you have submitted the correct files for each assignment.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Students will be represented by their elected Part III specialisation class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
All queries regarding coursework extensions or exemptions should be directed to the course coordinator. Appropriate evidence may be requested.
Please note that pressure of coursework alone or personal travel are not sufficient reasons to grant extensions or exemptions. Extensions will also not be granted for individual technological issues, or submitting incorrect files to Canvas. Please ensure that you give yourself sufficient time to check that you have submitted the correct files for each assignment.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.