Course overview
The mathematics required to describe most "real life" systems involves functions of more than one variable, so the differential and integral calculus developed in a first course in Calculus must be extended to functions of more variables. In this course, the key results of one-variable calculus are extended to higher dimensions: differentiation, integration, and the link between them provided by the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus are all generalised. The machinery developed can be applied to another generalisation of one-variable Calculus, namely to complex calculus, and the course also provides an introduction to this subject. The material covered in this course forms the basis for mathematical analysis and application across an extremely broad range of areas, essential for anyone studying the hard sciences, engineering, or mathematical economics/finance.
Topics covered are: introduction to multivariable calculus; differentiation of scalar- and vector-valued functions; higher-order derivatives, extrema, Lagrange multipliers and the implicit function theorem; integration over regions, volumes, paths and surfaces; Green's, Stokes' and Gauss's theorems; differential forms; curvilinear coordinates; an introduction to complex numbers and functions; complex differentiation; complex integration and Cauchy's theorems; and conformal mappings.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts of calculus involving more than one real variable
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts of calculus for one complex variable
- Be able to state and apply the major results in the course
- Apply the theory in the course to solve a variety of problems at an appropriate level of difficulty
- Demonstrate skills in communicating mathematics orally and in writing