Skeiðsgongd

Course information

Title: Mathematics and Statistics for Biologists
Course number: 3515.22
Academic year: 2024-2025
ECTS: 7.50
Level: Bachelor
Faculties: Science and Tecnology
Educations: BSc in Biology, BSc in Molecular Life Sciences
Prerequisites: Upper Secondary School with B-level in mathematics
Language of instruction: The course is taught in Faroese. Instructional materials are in English and possibly Scandinavian languages and Faroese. Assignments, discussions etc. are in Faroese.
Registration: Students on the first semester of B.Sc. in Biology and B.Sc. in Molecular Life Sciences are automatically enrolled. Applicants for an individual course must apply via the Student Service Center at lss@setur.fo
Beginning date: Friday, August 30, 2024
End date: Friday, December 20, 2024

Academic content

Purpose: To give the student basic knowledge to mathematics and statistics and their use in biology.
Learning outcomes: On completion of the course, the successful student should be able to: • demonstrate basic knowledge regarding population mathematics and difference equations, matrices and eigenvalues, population and sampling statistics, probability and probability distributions, estimation and hypothesis testing • point out simple mathematical and statistical models in biology and explain variables and parameters in the models • make calculations in the models and interpret the results within a biological context.
Content: Difference equations. Logistic growth and other growth rates. Matrices. Inverse matrix, eigenvalue and eigenvectors. Models for age groups and species, predator and prey, competition, symbiosis. Prediction of polulations with matrices and eigenvectors. Equilibria, oscillations and stability. Basic statistics. Population, sampling, data management and presentation. Measures of central tendency and dispersion. Basic probability concepts and distributions. Normal, binomial, and poisson distributions. Estimation and confidence interval. Hypothesis testing. Analysis of frequencies. Correlation and simple regression analysis. Comparisons of means. Exercises and projects from biology.
Learning and teaching approaches: Lectures and problem solving.

Assessment

Assessment method: A 4 hour written examination counting 75% of the grade. All auxiliary material allowed excluding communication equipment. Six compulsory homeworks, of which four to be approved, and the last two count 25% of the grade.
Examination (internal/external): External
Grading scale: 7-scale
Exam date/dates: The exam is set for week 2, 2025
Deadline for withdrawal from exam: Friday, August 30, 2024

Academic responsibility and teachers

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