CS4755
Mathematics for AI
Module Introduction
Meet the Tutors
Dr Mohammed Hadi
Email – m.hadi2@aston.ac.uk
Dr Liam Escott
Email – l.escott@aston.ac.uk
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Module Timeline
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Module aims
• AI has gained importance in the last decade and its future is promising.
• AI is concerned with the goal of building intelligent computing machines.
• Mathematics plays an important role as its builds the foundation for programming for AI.
• The course covers the basic ideas, algorithms and accompanying mathematical foundation that one
would need to later pursue research in AI.
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Module learning outcomes
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of underlying mathematical principles from linear
algebra, multivariate calculus, probability, statistics and logic.
• Apply the methods in related practical AI research.
• Critically evaluate solutions to practical problems.
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Main contents
• Linear Algebra: scalars, vectors, matrices, tensors; matrix norms; special matrices and vectors;
eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
• Multivariate Calculus: derivatives; integrals; gradient; differential operators; convex optimization.
• Probability and Statistics: elements of probability; random variables; distributions; variance and
expectation; special random variables; descriptive and inferential statistics; confidence intervals.
• Logic: propositional logic; predicate calculus.
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Assessment
• Assessed Exercises
– 2 exercises, each worth 25%.
– 50% of the module.
Meet us through
WASS before you
pick a topic!
• Report
– Individual assignment (1500 ± 10%). 30/01/2024 Coursework set.
20/02/2024 You may submit your selected topic by this
– 50% of the module. date, although you can submit earlier.
(Blackboard à Assessment Submission)
– Online submission only. By 5:00 PM Report submission date and time
23/04/2024
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Lectures and Tutorial
Lecture and tutorial – Tuesdays, 09:00 -12:00, MB404
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Some useful / interesting references
• Math is fun: Calculus - https://www.mathsisfun.com/calculus/
• Review of Simple Univariate Calculus, by Arne Hallam (useful!):
http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/classes/econ500/hallam/documents/Calc_Sim_000.pdf
• Practice exercises (with solutions):
– https://www.math-exercises.com/limits-derivatives-integrals/derivative-of-a-function
– https://www.khanacademy.org/math/multivariable-calculus/multivariable-
derivatives/partial-derivatives/e/basic-partial-derivatives
– https://www.khanacademy.org/math/multivariable-calculus/multivariable-
derivatives/partial-derivative-and-gradient-articles/a/the-gradient
• Visit Aston LDC to learn how about academic writing (very important for your report!)
– https://www.aston.ac.uk/current-students/learning-development-centre/academic-writing-
and-study-support 9
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