MATHEMATICS

MATHEMATICS

The goal of the mathematics program is to develop the critical thinking and mathematical reasoning skills of each student. Teachers focus on the knowledge and mastery of skills and their applications in real-life situations. Students are expected to learn to read, write, and speak effectively about mathematics, both independently and while working in groups. Daily homework problems are an essential component of each course, providing students with the opportunity to practice problem-solving. Multiple tests and quizzes during each marking period are designed to assess students’ abilities to synthesize all current topics. Additional labs and projects supplement course concepts by providing students with hands-on applications. Regular and Honors sections, as well as electives, allow for the needs of each student to be met.

Requirements: To satisfy the requirement of six semesters of study, students must complete Algebra II. However, students are strongly encouraged to take eight semesters of mathematics in order to satisfy the entrance requirements of selective colleges and universities.

Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) sections are offered; course placements are based upon factors including prior performance, student interest, and department approval. Students enrolled in AP courses are required to take the courses for the full year and to take the AP exams. These exams carry an additional fee of approximately $100, and AP courses may involve work over long breaks and sometimes over the summer.

Intermediate Algebra

Full-year course

Prerequisites: none In this course, students build a strong foundation for Algebra II by improving number sense, and deepening their understanding of linear equations, functions, and systems. In addition, students build on their algebraic experience with quadratic, exponential, polynomial, and rational functions. Integrated problem-solving opportunities allow students to apply the concepts covered to other mathematical disciplines as well as real-world situations.

MATHEMATICS

Geometry

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra I and department approval The geometry course is a foundational level course which examines two and three-dimensional figures and their properties. Using algebra, inductive and deductive reasoning, constructions, measurement, and coordinate geometry, students study these properties.

Geometry Accelerated

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra I and department approval This course covers traditional topics in geometry, emphasizing discovery along with the development and application of algebraic skills. Topics include the Pythagorean Theorem, parallel lines, similar triangles, congruent triangles, an introduction to trigonometry, circles, area, and volume. The course contains some work with formal geometric proofs, as well as a short unit reviewing topics that appear on the SAT, such as data analysis, counting principles, probability, and logical reasoning.

Geometry Honors

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra I course or Intermediate Algebra and department approval Proof is a cornerstone of this comprehensive course in Euclidean geometry. There is a balanced treatment of important aspects of the subject: theory and applications, formal and informal reasoning, symbolic and visual thinking, and coordinate and transformational methods. Algebra skills are reinforced and applied throughout. The course contains some work with formal geometric proofs, as well as a short unit reviewing topics that appear on the SAT, such as data analysis, counting principles, probability, and logical reasoning.

Algebra II

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra I course, Geometry course, and department approval This foundational Algebra II course continues to develop the students’ algebraic and reasoning skills, as well as their abilities to understand mathematical models. The fall semester builds on students’ knowledge of linear, quadratic, and polynomial functions. During the spring, students extend their algebraic skills to include work with rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. As time allows, additional topics may include sequence and series and trigonometric ratios, as well as SAT preparatory work.

MATHEMATICS

Algebra II Accelerated

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra I course, Geometry course, and department approval This course continues to develop the students’ algebraic skills and introduces elementary functions with attention to graphing, evaluating, simplifying, solving, and modeling. Linear, absolute value, piecewise, quadratic, polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions are explored both with and without the use of a graphing calculator. Other topics include inequalities, inverses, complex numbers, systems of equations, sequences, series, counting methods, and probability.

Algebra II Honors

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra I course, Geometry course, and department approval The course covers all of the topics of Algebra II. Topics such as quadratics, polynomials, rationals, exponentials, logarithmics, series and sequences, and conics are studied in detail. These functions are explored both with and without a graphing calculator.

Functions and Trigonometry

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra II course and department approval Functions and Trigonometry is intended to extend the topics of Algebra II to prepare students for Precalculus. The course reviews, reinforces, and strengthens the concepts and skills studied in Algebra II with emphasis on solving equations and inequalities. The new topics include complex numbers, exponential and logarithmic functions, and sequences and series. Trigonometry is introduced through right triangles and extended to include the circular functions.

Pre-Calculus Accelerated

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra II course and department approval This course includes a detailed study of trigonometry. New topics, such as conic sections and matrices, are introduced. There is continued study of sequences and series, combinations, permutations, probability, exponential, logarithmic, polynomial, and rational functions with and without the use of a graphing calculator. The application of these topics to real-world problems is emphasized and developed throughout the course.

MATHEMATICS

Pre-Calculus Honors

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra II course and department approval This course includes a detailed study of trigonometry. New topics, such as conic section, parametric equations, and polar coordinates, are introduced. There is continued study of sequences and series, combinations, permutations, probability, exponentials, logarithmics, polynomials, and rational functions with and without the use of a graphing calculator. During the later portion of the course, introductory calculus topics are introduced in preparation for AP Calculus.

Calculus Honors

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Pre-Calculus course and department approval This course introduces the two major ideas of calculus: the derivative and the definite integral. It further explores how they relate to each other on a conceptual level using graphs, numerical values, and applications. The derivative of a function is explored in-depth as we learn analytic techniques and take advantage of the power of graphing calculators to help us solve interesting and challenging real-world problems. This course is appropriate for students intending to continue calculus in college or who may need this understanding for the study of social or natural sciences or business.

AP Statistics

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra II Accelerated or Algebra II Honors and department approval This college-level course introduces the concepts of elementary probability, descriptive and inferential statistics, and experimental design. With the use of a graphing calculator, computation is de-emphasized, and the focus is on communicating and interpreting statistics. The course requires students to describe data, make conclusions based on statistical analysis, and communicate these conclusions through written explanations. Students are required to take the AP Statistics Exam in May.

AP Calculus AB

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Pre-Calculus course and department approval This college-level course in differential and integral calculus focuses on conceptual understanding and thinking skills. It follows the content, goals, and philosophy of the reform calculus curriculum and makes extensive use of the graphing calculator to explore ideas and to solve problems. Students are required to take the AB version of the AP Exam in May.

MATHEMATICS

AP Calculus BC

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Pre-Calculus Honors and department approval This college-level course focuses on conceptual understanding and thinking skills and follows the content, goals, and philosophy of the reform calculus curriculum. It extends the study of differential and integral calculus to power series, polar coordinates, and parametric equations. Students are required to take the BC version of the AP Exam in May.

AP Computer Science Principles

Full-year course

Prerequisites: Algebra II Accelerated or Algebra II Honors and department approval

This course counts towards either a Math or Science course in the distribution requirement

The fundamental computational, mathematical, and reasoning skills used in computer science provide the focus for this course. Topics include number systems and ways of expressing information, algorithms (breaking large problems into smaller, solvable pieces), ways computers work and communicate with each other and with humans, and social and ethical issues surrounding modern computer use. Students are required to take the AP Computer Science Principles Exam in May.