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Engineer thinking of taking on Mathematics BSc part time

Hi All,

I just need advice on what books to look at based on the syllabus below:

Essential Mathematics 1:
https://mcs-notes2.open.ac.uk/files/MST124syllabus.pdf

Essential Mathematics 2:
https://mcs-notes2.open.ac.uk/files/MST125syllabus.pdf

I'm taking on the open university Mathematics BSc part-time as it's my only option, can't afford to go back to brick.

If anyone give me a list of books to start with or the best in your opinion.

Thanks
Kind Regards
Mike

Reply 1

username1732133

Original post by modrisco89

From the work I've done with OU students, I get the impression that the notes provided for each module will be all that you need.
You could also post in the OU forum and a current maths student might be able to advise you better.

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

The above is correct, the OU provides you all the materials you need for the modules. You will be sent them shortly before the module(s) begin - they are also available online usually (and definitely were for both those modules when I began taking them a couple years ago :wink:

).

For some of the later modules in pure maths it may be helpful to supplement your knowledge with textbooks on those topics to get more depth in the area, but for the more "maths methods" type modules (including MST124/125, which mostly cover A-level Maths and Further Maths topics, with a couple random things thrown in) the OU materials are should be fine by themselves (I found them to be quite good for learning from personally).

The only thing I think from those two modules where you may want to have some alternative reference is the number theory section of MST125, perhaps (since thats more on the pure maths side of things). Although I can't really recommend anything on that personally because number theory has never made sense to me :tongue: