Some definitions of mathematical terms:

An independent variable is that variable which is presumed to affect or determine a dependent variable. It can be changed as required, and its values do not represent a problem requiring explanation in an analysis, but are taken simply as given.
For example, means that y, the dependent variable, is the square of x, the independent variable.

Officially, the course MST209 (Mathematical Methods and Models) began four days ago. Finally today I am able to read the Course Guide. The course consists of 7 TMA - whereas the TMA 1 is splitt in two TMAs (the first one is due on 11th February, so I need to hurry) -, 2 CMAs and one three-hour exam at the end.

I will work through 28 course units which are combined in 7 blocks and each block covers either mathematical methods or mathematical models. The first block is a methods block and the second is a model block.

Again the course material consists of a wide range of multimedia. 

• Computer algebra activities with Mathcad
• Multimedia packages (video clips, computer graphics, audio)
• film sequences on DVD

Also, a handbook, similar to that one in M208 is provided and I am allowed to use it in the exam and again as in M208 I may annotate it in any way. 

I will start with working through the Computing Booklet which shows how to install the software and gives a small introduction to it. Then I will straight go on with Unit 1 which revises many topics from MST121 and MS221 which I did last year.