This package covers several basic mathematical concepts which students must understand if they are to complete calculations essential for pharmaceutical and life sciences. Concepts covered include types of number, indices, logarithms, rules for indices and logarithms in calculations, and how to plot graphs. The package is highly interactive and there are many examples and questions interspersed throughout the package.

Screen from the Mathematics for Pharmacists Page

Contents

The package is split into four activities:

1 Introduction to Numbers
In this activity, the student learns how to classify the important types of common number: for example, natural numbers, real numbers, integers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, prime numbers.

2 Indices
This activity takes the user through the concept of indices. The student looks at what indices are, and the rules of indices that apply when doing calculations involving indices. The student also looks at how to use a calculator to evaluate expressions involving indices.

3 Logarithms
This activity discusses what is meant by logarithms and the relations hip of logarithms to indices. The activity then discusses the rules for manipulating logarithms in calculations.

4 Graphs
The student is taken through how to plot data and graphs and after completing the activity, should know the shapes of plots of simple equations. The student also looks at how to determine the slopes and intercepts for straight line plots. The activity covers the use of logarithmic graph paper is covered.

Hardware and Software Requirements Windows Version The package is supplied on a CD-ROM Installation Disc and can be installed to a local hard disc or network drive. The minimum requirement is a PC with 100MHz Pentium processor , 8Mb of RAM and a VGA monitor capable of displaying 16-bit color (65, 536 colors) at 640 x 480 resolution. The program is 32-bit and is compatible with Windows 95, 98 and NT. Web Version The package is supplied on a CD-ROM Installation Disc for installation to a web server. The software runs on PC clients only. The minimum requirement is a 200MHz Pentium processor with 32Mb of RAM and a Super VGA monitor capable of displaying 16-bit color (65,536 colors) at 800 x 600 resolution. The program is compatible with both Netscape Navigator 4.x and Internet Explorer 4 or better and requires Java and Javascript to be enabled on browsers.