This is the 2021-2022 course web page for MAS115: Mathematical Investigation Skills, which will be updated as the module progresses. For official course information, including timetabling and syllabus, please consult the list of current modules.
MAS115 is a 20-credit, year-long module. Over the year you will develop important skills needed to investigate and report on mathematical problems. These skills will be useful during your degree and beyond; such transferable skills are very useful in the workplace and valued by employers.
A course information sheet is below.
There is an online discussion board for MAS115. This is a forum for MAS115 students to use to ask and answer (anonymously, if preferred) questions on the material for the course. Your lecturers will look at it too and be notified of new posts. The board can be found in Blackboard so log-in with your usual username and password when asked.
Bryony Moody has an online office hour at 1pm on Fridays. To book appointment slots for this office hour, please use the links provided in Blackboard. If these times cause difficulties, e.g. due to a timetable clash, please email Bryony directly (her contact details can be found at the bottom of this page).
The course materials, by lecturer, are below. If you encounter any accessibility issues, please see the SoMaS Accessibility Statement or contact Alex or Sam directly (our contact details can be found at the bottom of this page).
The materials for the Python lectures and labs from Semester 1 are below. PDF and HTML files are provided for accessibility reasons.
Week | Lectures | Computer labs | Exercise solutions | Homework solutions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Handout: PDF, HTML | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML | ||
2 | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | |
3 | Handout: PDF, HTML | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML |
4 | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | |
5 | Handout: PDF, HTML | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML |
6 | Handout: PDF, HTML | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML Optional revision session Sheet: PDF, HTML Recording, Notebook |
PDF, HTML | |
8 | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | |
9 | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | |
10 | Peer assessment session | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML |
11 | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML | |
12 | Lab sheet: PDF, HTML Optional revision session 2 Sheet: PDF, HTML Recording, Notebook |
PDF, HTML | PDF, HTML |
The materials for the lectures and labs on presentation from Semester 1 are below. Source (.tex) files are provided for accessibility reasons.
Week | Lectures | Computer labs | My lab attempts | Model homework |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Video 1: Introductory Lecture Video 2: Clarity of Writing Clarity of Writing slides (Also available as .tex file) | Lab sheet Week 1 / slide version Video: Lab 1 demonstration (Also available as .tex file) | PDF, LaTeX | PDF, LaTeX |
2 | About LaTeX slides (Also available as .tex file) Activity handouts: 1 2 | Lab sheet Week 2 / slide version (Also available as .tex file) | PDF, LaTeX | PDF, LaTeX |
3 | Packages and Environments slides (Also available as .tex file) Activity handout: PDF | Lab sheet Week 3 / slide version (Also available as .tex file) | PDF, LaTeX | PDF, LaTeX |
4 | Images and Punctuation slides (Also available as .tex file) Activity handout: original corrected | Lab sheet Week 4 / slide version (Also available as .tex file) | PDF, LaTeX | PDF, LaTeX |
5 | LaTeX errors and let-downs slides (Also available as .tex file) Activity handout: original corrected | Lab sheet Week 5 / slide version (Also available as .tex file) | PDF, LaTeX | (see MAS110 solutions) |
6 | Beamer slides (Also available as .tex file) | Lab sheet Week 6 / slide version (Also available as .tex file) | PDF, LaTeX | (mini-project) |
8 | HTML slides (Also available as .tex file) Activity document: original / annotated Webpage: to display / as coded / with CSS / with different CSS | Lab sheet Week 8 (Also available as .tex file) | Webpage, CSS | (mini-project) |
9 | CSS, webspace and domain names slides (Also available as .tex file) | Lab sheet Week 9 Download this webpage's HTML (right-click, save as): this page (Also available as .tex file) | Webpage, CSS | (peer assessment) |
10 | Lab sheet Week 10 Download the week10text text file (Also available as .tex file) | Webpage, CSS | (mini-project to webpage) | |
11 | Referencing and plagiarism, and group project launch | Lab sheet Week 11 Downloads: projectiles.xlsx, solver.xslx |
My projectiles sheet: .xlsx, Google sheet Euclidean algorithm: .xlsx, Google sheet My solver sheet: .xlsx only |
(no homework) |
The materials for the lectures and labs on R from Semester 2 will be below.
Week | Lectures | Computer labs | Solutions | Additional Material |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lecture: Slides: PDF |
Lab Sheet and R script | Tasks 1 and Homework 1 | R Markdown template |
2 | Lab Sheet and R script | |||
3 | Lab Sheet and R script | Tasks 3 and Homework 3 | ||
4 | Lab sheet and R script | Tasks 4 and Homework 4 | ||
5 | Lecture: Slides: PDF |
Lab sheet and R script | ||
6 | Lecture: Slides: PDF |
Lab Sheet and R script |
The Semester 1 mini-project was released in Week 6 of Semester 1. (You may be asked to log-in with your standard university username and password.)
The Semester 2 mini-project was released in Week 6 of Semester 2. (You may be asked to log-in with your standard university username and password.)
The Semester 1 group project was released in Week 11 of Semester 1. (You may be asked to log-in with your standard university username and password.)
The Semester 2 group project was released in Week 8 of Semester 2. (You may be asked to log-in with your standard university username and password.)
Remember: you must participate satisfactorily in all group projects to pass the module.
Here is guidance on uploading zip files to the upload system: PDF, HTMLThe project upload system can be found at the link below. You should use your standard university username, and you will have been emailed a password. If you are trying to connect from a computer not on the University's network (that is, not using a University PC or University Wifi), then you will need to set up a VPN connection. If you have trouble establishing a VPN connection, see this advice.
Ctrl+N
or via the File menu.
Dr Alexander Fletcher
Email: a.g.fletcher@sheffield.ac.uk
Dr Sam Marsh
Email: s.j.marsh@sheffield.ac.uk
Ms Bryony Moody
Email: b.moody@sheffield.ac.uk