CM1119 Problem Solving and Maths Coursework Semester 1 , RGU

Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify appropriate methods and strategies for solving problems in a variety of domains.
2. Employ critical thinking tools and techniques to analyse facts and evidence towards identifying solutions to problems.
3. Apply basic reasoning skills in the construction of logical and sound arguments in communicating solutions to problems.
4. Apply data-driven approaches to solving problems.
5. Apply analytical and mathematical modelling skills to a range of problems relevant to computing domains.

What is expected of me in this assessment?

Task(s) – content

You are an analyst at a New York real estate firm, and your role includes needing to analyse data to understand the property market, and devise solutions problems related to the construction of new homes.

Your boss has recently given you two tasks: the first is to analyse and understand a set of data relating to properties bought and sold in various boroughs. The second is to present a recommendation for where a set of new homes should be build.

Task 1 – data analysis

You have two sets of property sales records from two different boroughs. You need to perform the following sub-tasks:

• Identify the unique properties sold in either or both boroughs.
• Define a function to calculate the price per square foot for each property.
• Apply this function to the combined list of unique properties.
• Create a matrix of price per square foot and perform matrix multiplication with another given matrix to analyse the impact of different market conditions.

1. Borough A Properties:

Property 1: {BOROUGH: “Manhattan”, NEIGHBORHOOD: “Midtown”, BUILDING CLASS 

CATEGORY: “Residential”, TAX CLASS AT PRESENT: 2, BLOCK: 101, LOT: 1, EASEMENT: NA,

BUILDING CLASS AT PRESENT: “A”, ADDRESS: “123 Main St”, APARTMENT NUMBER: 1A, ZIP CODE: 10001, RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 10, COMMERCIAL UNITS: 2, TOTAL UNITS: 12, LAND SQUARE FEET: 5000, GROSS SQUARE FEET: 15000, YEAR BUILT: 2000, TAX CLASS AT TIME OF SALE: 2, BUILDING CLASS AT TIME OF SALE: “A”, SALE PRICE: 5000000, SALE DATE: “2023-01- 15”}

Property 2: {BOROUGH: “Manhattan”, NEIGHBORHOOD: “Downtown”, BUILDING CLASS
CATEGORY: “Commercial”, TAX CLASS AT PRESENT: 4, BLOCK: 102, LOT: 2, EASEMENT: NA, BUILDING CLASS AT PRESENT: “B”, ADDRESS: “456 Market St”, APARTMENT NUMBER: NA, ZIP CODE: 10002, RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 0, COMMERCIAL UNITS: 5, TOTAL UNITS: 5, LAND SQUARE FEET: 8000, GROSS SQUARE FEET: 24000, YEAR BUILT: 1995, TAX CLASS AT TIME OF SALE: 4, BUILDING CLASS AT TIME OF SALE: “B”, SALE PRICE: 8000000, SALE DATE: “2023-02- 20”}
2. Borough B Properties:

Property 3: {BOROUGH: “Brooklyn”, NEIGHBORHOOD: “Williamsburg”, BUILDING CLASS CATEGORY: “Residential”, TAX CLASS AT PRESENT: 2, BLOCK: 201, LOT: 3, EASEMENT: NA,

BUILDING CLASS AT PRESENT: “A”, ADDRESS: “789 Park Ave”, APARTMENT NUMBER: 2B, ZIP CODE: 11211, RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 8, COMMERCIAL UNITS: 1, TOTAL UNITS: 9, LAND SQUARE FEET: 6000, GROSS SQUARE FEET: 18000, YEAR BUILT: 2010, TAX CLASS AT TIME OF SALE: 2, BUILDING CLASS AT TIME OF SALE: “A”, SALE PRICE: 6000000, SALE DATE: “2023-03- 10”}

Property 4: {BOROUGH: “Brooklyn”, NEIGHBORHOOD: “Bushwick”, BUILDING CLASS

CATEGORY: “Commercial”, TAX CLASS AT PRESENT: 4, BLOCK: 202, LOT: 4, EASEMENT: NA, BUILDING CLASS AT PRESENT: “B”, ADDRESS: “1010 Broadway”, APARTMENT NUMBER: NA, ZIP CODE: 11221, RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 0, COMMERCIAL UNITS: 3, TOTAL UNITS: 3, LAND SQUARE FEET: 7000, GROSS SQUARE FEET: 21000, YEAR BUILT: 2005, TAX CLASS AT TIME OF SALE: 4, BUILDING CLASS AT TIME OF SALE: “B”, SALE PRICE: 7000000, SALE DATE: “2023-04- 05”}

Task 2 – construction recommendation

The firm has identified four possible sites for new construction, with each connected via road and rail. Each site has different transportation costs for getting construction materials to the site, and removing waste. There are also various local opinions that must be taken into account when creating a final recommendation.
You have two sub-tasks:

1. Identify the two most suitable sites based on transportation costs, taking into account both road and rail.
2. Analyse the statements from local figures to ensure their opinions are full captured

The output from these sub-tasks should be your final recommendation for a site. You may supplement the provided evidence own research. You may use a generative AI tool (such as Chat GPT) to produce resources that support your investigation (e.g., generating an argument that you subsequently analyse). If you do use a generative AI tool you must fully acknowledge this. It is also expected that you will take the source into account as part of your analysis.

As a guideline, it is expected that you will:

1. Apply suitable problem solving strategies to determine the most cost-effective way of transporting materials to, and removing waste from, each site. The chosen strategy or strategies should determine the number of trips required by each mode, taking into account the stated constraints, then use those numbers to calculate a cost based on the figures provided for each site (covered in the Problem Solving Strategies theme).
2. Use MonkeyPuzzle to analyse statements from local figures. There is no expectation that you will analyse all statements – just those that are relevant based on your investigation so far (covered in the Reasoning and Critical Thinking theme).
3. (If you wish) carry out additional research, potentially including the use of Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT), and analyse it using MonkeyPuzzle (covered in the Reasoning and Critical Thinking theme).
4. Use MonkeyPuzzle to bring together your findings in a sound, logical and coherent argument in favour of a single site (covered in the Reasoning and Critical Thinking theme).