Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - MATH 155 D100

Mathematics for the Life Sciences II (3)

Class Number: 4272

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Mon, Wed, Fri, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 12, 2025
    Tue, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    MATH 150, 151 or 154, with a minimum grade of C-; or MATH 157 with a grade of at least B.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Designed for students specializing in the life sciences. Topics include: vectors and matrices, partial derivatives, multi-dimensional integrals, systems of differential equations, compartment models, graphs and networks, and their applications to the life sciences; mathematical models of multi-component biological processes and their implementation and analysis using software. Students planning to take MATH 251 are recommended to consider MATH 152 as the prerequisite pathway. See an advisor to determine what may be best for you. Students with credit for MATH 152 or 158 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

Mathematics is used throughout the life sciences, from infectious disease modelling, to understanding food webs and ecosystem stability, to calculating the volume of an organ. Most uses of mathematics in the life sciences require more than one variable, such as modelling interacting species, multiple antigens on the surface of a virus, or calculating BMI from the height and weight of a person. In this course, we will discuss mathematical tools to work with more than one variable and apply them to a wide range of biological problems. 

Topics Covered: 

Applying qualitative analysis to biological models
Differential equations
Linear algebra and applications 
Partial derivatives 
Applications of Integration 
Graph theory

Grading

  • Quizzes (best 9 out of 10) 10%
  • Online Questions 10%
  • Midterm 1 15%
  • Midterm 2 15%
  • Final Exam 50%

NOTES:

THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE ANY OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION.

REQUIREMENTS:

This course is delivered in person, on campus. Should public health guidelines recommend limits on in person gatherings, this course may include virtual meetings. As such, all students are recommended to have access to strong and reliable internet, the ability to scan documents (a phone app is acceptable) and access to a webcam and microphone (embedded in a computer is sufficient).

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

 *Note: if you purchased a multi-term WebAssign access code in a previous term for MATH 154, do NOT purchase again.*

Biocalculus: Calculus, Probability, and Statistics for the Life Sciences
James Stewart, Troy Day
Cengage, 2016

Purchasing a hard copy of this text which does not come with WebAssign will still require the purchase of digital bundle access (ISBN 9781337772396 for single-term, or ISBN 9781337823708 for multi-term).

WebAssign assignments are part of the marking scheme for the course. The WebAssign access code includes access to the electronic version of the textbook and WebAssign assignment access.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.