| Over the past decade or so I have become increasingly concerned that many students on B.Sc. and HND courses in the biological sciences have great difficulty with numerical calculations relating to aspects of biology, whether it is with both the mathematics and the applications, or just a problem applying the mathematics to a particular situation. While many mathematics textbooks exist, these tend to be either too general and lacking in relevant examples, or too advanced, covering topics which are not required by most biology students. (I am using the term ‘biology’ to cover all the biologically-related disciplines such as ecology, zoology, botany, biochemistry, physiology, and microbiology.)
This book is intended to be used primarily by such first year students to develop their skills in this area. Rather than provide a conventional textbook, I have chosen to write this as a self-contained workbook. The aim is for most students to be able to work through the book independently of any mathematics lectures. Alternatively, it could be used as part of a variety of courses, whether skills-based or subject-based. In my own university I have used it in place of lectures as the basis of a numeracy skills module for a variety of biology students. The students also received some tutorial help. |
