NCSSM COURSE CAtAlOG - North Carolina School of Science and ...

MA460 Number Theory
One trimester
Credit: One unit core mathematics or core elective credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Dean of Mathematics.
Meeting pattern: Five periods per week.
Selected topics from number theory, an advanced area of mathematics, are
studied. They include divisibility properties of integers, special properties of
prime numbers, congruences, Euler’s Phi function, and some applications to
fields such as cryptography and computer science. The concept of proof is
developed over the trimester and students work to improve their ability to read
and write mathematics. Students with programming experience are
encouraged to use this tool to investigate some of the ideas presented in the
course. Strong interest and talent in mathematics are required.
NOTE: MA460 Number Theory and MA476 Group Theory are offered in alternate
years and one is not pre-requisite for the other. Students may begin their study
in either year or may complete one in the junior year and then may enroll in the
other in the senior year.
MA462 Modeling with Matrices
One trimester
Credit: One unit core mathematics or core elective credit.
Prerequisite: MA422 AP Calculus BC (II) and permission of the Dean of
Mathematics.
Meeting pattern: Four periods per week including lab.
This introduction to linear algebra develops the arithmetic and algebra matrices
and how matrices and matrix operations can be used to model a variety of realworld
phenomena. While focusing on applications, the course considers linear
transformations, Euclidean vector spaces and inner product spaces, and
eigenvectors and eigenvalues. Models include least squares, Fourier analysis, CT
scans, morphs, and age specific growth models.
MA464 Combinatorics and Game Theory
One trimester
Credit: One unit core mathematics or core elective credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Dean of Mathematics.
Meeting pattern: Four periods per week.
This is a college-level mathematics course that introduces students to some of
the major topics in combinatorics. Topics incude permutations and
combinations, binomial and multinomial expansions, inclusion-exclusion,
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