Community engagement is one of the cornerstones of the vision of the University of Pretoria. The Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics is therefore fully committed to its engagement in a number of community projects.
The Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics presents several short courses via CE at UP. Some of the courses in the list below were initiated in 2006 as a result of an agreement between the Department and the government Department of Trade and Industry. Since then the courses are opened to the public.
Basic Mathematics: This course addresses typical problems experienced by first-year students and provides basic pre-knowledge and applications for all study programmes at UP that include mathematics modules. After successful completion of this course, candidates should have improved knowledge of mathematics for success in all study programmes at UP. For more information see http://scarlacc.up.ac.za/CEatUP/default.aspx under "Courses".
Introductory Calculus and Linear Algebra: This course offers participants the opportunity and training to acquire the basic principles and methods of calculus and linear algebra and their applications to simple, concrete real-life situations. The course is aimed at professionals who need a working knowledge of mathematics.
Course content: Functions, limit and continuity, differentiation, applications of differentiation, antiderivative and integration, systems of linear equations, matrices, determinants, vector algebra and complex numbers.
For more information see http://scarlacc.up.ac.za/CEatUP/default.aspx under "Courses".
Special Topics of High School Mathematics for Teachers: This course will equip participants with further methodological knowledge and skills for presenting the Grade 12 mathematics curriculum to matriculants. Participants are trained in using the techniques that they are expected to use in their classrooms. On completion of the course, the participating teacher should have a sufficient content knowledge base and understanding of the academic and methodology aspects of successfully teaching mathematics in Grade 11and 12.
For more information see http://scarlacc.up.ac.za/CEatUP/default.aspx under "Courses".
Real Analysis for Business and Economics: Part I This course offers participants the opportunity and training to acquire a working knowledge of the concrete and abstract notion of distance, proximity, continuity, completeness, convergence and compactness, as well as the skill to apply this knowledge to mathematical models in business and economics.
Course content: The real line and the linear structure in higher dimensions, elementary topology and the topological aspects of convergence, completeness and compactness. Static models in economics and comparative statics, static optimisation. Applications to representing consumer preferences (utility function), to consumer theory, to equilibrium in a pure exchange economy.
For more information see http://scarlacc.up.ac.za/CEatUP/default.aspx under "Courses".
Real Analysis for Business and Economics: Part II
Dynamical Systems with Applications to Economics: This course is aimed at professionals who need a working knowledge of dynamical systems and the ability to apply the mathematical theory to real life models.
Brief description: Discrete and continuous dynamical systems in one and higher dimensions with applications to the analysis of models in economics.
Dynamical Optimisation with Applications to Economics: This course is aimed at professionals who need a working knowledge of dynamic optimisation and the ability to apply the mathematical theory to real-life models. The course gives an introduction to the theory of dynamic optimisation and its application to models in economics.
Annual Mathematics Competition
The annual Mathematics Competition has been running for the past 19 years. Since its inception in 1990, the competition has been going from strength to strength under the able leadership of Dr Willie Greybe. After Dr Greybe’s retirement in 2006 the competition was taken over by Miss Rita Möller, Miss Amanda Verwey and Mrs Alta van der Merwe.
Initially the competition consisted of only two sections, namely for Grade 8 to 9 and Grade 10 to11. Approximately 10 years ago a primary school section (Grade 6 to 7) was added. In 2011 more than 4000 learners took part in this event, with entries from all over the country and even from neighbouring countries Lesotho, Namibia, etc. The competition runs in early summer every year (Sept/Oct) with exact dates announced in advance. Certificates are issued to all participants.
Contact person: Rita Möller (Tel 012 420 2279)
The South African Interprovincial Mathematics Olympiad (SAIPMO)
Senior team members at work during a training session
Background
The Interprovincial Mathematics Olympiad is a yearly event when the cream of the mathematically talented students competes against each other on provincial level. A junior team and a senior team, each consisting of 10 members are selected per province. A position in one of the teams is earned on grounds of continuous achievement and specific achievement in the SA Maths Olympiad, one of the activities of the South African Mathematics Foundation.
The competition has been running for the past 16 years and the emphasis is on the fun element. Gauteng North traditionally provides fierce competition to the other provinces.
How it works
After one or two workshops to prepare for the day, every team meets at a university in their province (University of Pretoria for Gauteng North). Traditionally the competition starts with an individual section where every member of the team is presented with a paper consisting of 15 questions (worth 100 points) to be completed in an hour. The papers are marked while the team members relax for half an hour. A total for the team out of a possible 1000 points is calculated. The individual section is then followed by the team section. Here the team as a whole is presented with 10 questions that they have to complete in 60 minutes. Strategy is of vital importance. Because mathematics is often practised as a solitary activity the idea of a team paper is quite novel. Team members have to work together but at the same time utilise the strengths of the individual members.
The questions are of such nature that only one final answer is presented which earns either 100 points or nothing. A score out of 1000 is calculated for the team section. The results of the team section often swing the overall results. The two scores are added to present a score out of 2000 for the team. Results are then communicated.
UP with Science
UP with Science is a science enrichment programme for senior secondary school learners presented by the University of Pretoria. Learners (Grade 10 to 12) from approximately 40 schools in the wider metropolitan area of Pretoria take part in this project. The Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics is particularly involved with the learners from Grade 10 and 11.
The Grade 11 learners usually work on their project on several Saturdays from February to June, and give a presentation on their topic during the Winter Week in the last week of June. In 2008 we had four pupils working on a project on some of the mathematical consequences of Newton's laws of motion for planetary orbits. Activities included deriving one of Kepler's laws of planetary motion from Newton's, simulating such orbits on a computer. They also visited, with the physics group, the Radio Astronomy Observatory in Hartebeesthoek. For more information about the Observatory visit their website at http://www.hartrao.ac.za.
Approximately 40 grade 10 learners attend presentations by the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics as well as the Department of Insurance and Actuarial Science. For more information about UP with Science click here.
"Take a Girl Child to Work" Day
“Take a Girl Child to Work" Day is a national yearly event aimed at exposing girls at secondary school level to a variety of career options. The Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics traditionally invites a number of girls from high schools in Pretoria to enjoy a hands-on experience of academic life on this day. The girls are informed of career options in mathematics while spending a day in the university environment, experiencing all of its facets.
The Department extends an invitation to contact Prof Ansie Harding for taking part in this event.
Towela Koumba from Pretoria High School for Girls with Prof Jean Lubuma
Mathematical camps
The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) presents mathematical camps for the training of selected high school learners at several universities including the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at UP.
In 2009 two successful mathematical camps were hosted during the school holidays in April. The learners stayed at the Magrietjie Residence and lectures were given at the department.
The South African teams selected to participate in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) and the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) attended one camp to prepare for the Olympiads. Phil Labuschagne, the leader of the SA team to PAMO and David Hatton, the leader of the SA team to IMO, were responsible for the teams’ training programme. For more information on their performance in Bremen, Germany, click here.
The SAMF also identified 20 talented learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Department of Science and Technology funded a year-long training programme, which involves the attendance of three mathematical camps, also providing additional resource material and participation in the Mathematical Talent Search. Eighteen of the learners attended the camp at the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at UP and received training from five Olympiad veterans.
Geredigeer deur: Ronel Oosthuizen