Module Information

Module Identifier
Module Title
Academic Year
Semester 1
A-level Mathematics or equivalent.
Other Staff

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 22 Hours. (22 x 1 hour lectures)
Seminars / Tutorials 4 Hours. (4 x 1 hour tutorials)


Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 20%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   (written examination)  80%
Supplementary Assessment 2 Hours   (written examination)  100%

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, a student should be able to:
1. identify simple loci analytically and geometrically;
2. find equations of angular bisectors and prependiculars;
3. determine lengths of tangents to a circle and whether two circles are orthogonal;
4. determine equations of coaxial circle systems;
5. identify the type of a conic from its equation;
6. determine the equations of the tangents and normals to conics;
7. use vectors to solve elementary problems in geometry;
8. express the coordinates of a general point of certain curves parametrically;
9. compute scalar and vector products of two vectors;
10. compute scalar and vector triple products of three vectors;
11. determine the vector equations of lines and planes;
12. determine the angle between two planes and the shortest distance from a point to a plane.
13. solve elementary problems in kinematics.

Brief description

This module introduces some of the fundamental notions of geometry - points, lines, curves, planes and surfaces - analytically, in the language of coordinate geometry. Conics are classified in terms of their equations and geometric properties. The concepts of tangent and normal are developed.


To develop geometric intuition and the ability to view geometric problems analytically and vice versa.


  1. COORDINATE GEOMETRY IN THE REAL PLANE: The straight line. Loci. Conics - particular forms and the general form. Identification of centres, foci and major and minor axes. Cases of degeneracy. The general equation of the tangent. Families of lines and conics. Parametric plane curves. Tangents and the use of derivatives. Polar coordinates.
  2. INTRODUCTION TO VECTOR METHODS: Unit vectors. Scalar and vector products, angles. Position vectors. Linearly independent vectors. Vector equations of lines and planes. Introduction to kinematics.

Reading List

Recommended Text
M D Weir, J Hass, F R Giordano (2005) Thomas' calculus. 11/e Addison-Wesley Primo search
Supplementary Text
J Stewart (2001) Calculus: concepts and contexts 2/e Brooks/Cole Primo search


This module is at CQFW Level 4