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Magic, Music, and Mathematics (MAST10020)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5Not available in 2020
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
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Mathematics appears all around us in the world. While the uses of mathematics in areas such as finance, engineering and science are well known, it is less obvious how mathematical concepts and structures arise in entertainment, the arts and indeed in almost every field of human endeavour. In this subject we will develop the tools to appreciate and examine how mathematical concepts and structures arise in many diverse areas. There will be four modules over the semester covering: magic, juggling, music, and games. We will see how mathematical concepts can be applied to these areas to help us understand their structure and to help us produce new patterns and tricks. These modules will be bookended by discussions of the mathematical principles that are to be found in these topics, and in the world more generally.
Intended learning outcomes
At completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Appreciate that mathematical structures exist throughout nature and that the natural world is therefore susceptible to logical reasoning.
- Analyse how to count things combinatorially, which is of fundamental importance in understanding probability.
- Appreciate that the concept of proof is a crucial element of mathematical reasoning.
- Describe the waves that create the sound we hear as music.
- Communicate mathematical ideas and arguments using mathematical notation and terminology.
- Apply mathematical techniques and concepts to reason about structures arising in performance arts.
Generic skills
- Problem solving skills: the ability to engage with unfamiliar problems and identify relevant solution strategies.
- Analytical skills: the ability to construct and express logical arguments and to work in abstract or general terms to increase the clarity and efficiency of analysis.
- Collaborative skills: the ability to work in a team.
- Time management skills: the ability to meet regular deadlines while balancing competing commitments.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Year 10 mathematics or equivalent.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Oral presentation given during workshop class
| Throughout the semester | 10% |
Essay
| End of semester | 25% |
Four assignments
| Throughout the semester | 40% |
Essay
| Mid semester | 25% |
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Dates & times
Not available in 2020
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
Magical Mathematics by Persi Diaconis and Ron Graham, Princeton University Press, 2016.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 15 February 2024