MATHEMATICS/SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY

MATHEMATICS UNITS 1 & 2

The study of Mathematics at VCE is designed not only to develop knowledge and skills but also to apply this knowledge to analyse, investigate and solve problems in a variety of situations. Students are encouraged to use, where appropriate, CAS calculators and computer software.

Unit 1 & 2: VCE Vocational Major (VM) Numeracy

In Unit 1 students will develop their numeracy practices to make sense of their personal, public and vocational lives. They will develop mathematical skills with consideration of their local, community, national and global environments and contexts, and an awareness and use of appropriate technologies.

In Unit 2 students will develop and extend their numeracy practices to make sense of their personal, public and vocational lives. They will develop mathematical skills with consideration of their local, community, national and global environments and contexts, and identification and appropriate selection and use of relevant technologies.

Unit 1 & 2: General Mathematics

General Mathematics Units 1&2 provide preparation for the study of VCE General Mathematics at the Units 3& 4 level and contain assumed knowledge and skills for these units. The areas of study for Units 1& 2 of General Mathematics are ‘Data analysis, probability and statistics’, ‘Algebra, number and structure’, ‘Functions, relations and graphs’ and ‘Space and measurement’.

Unit 1 & 2: Mathematical Methods

Mathematical Methods Units 1 & 2 involves the study of Calculus, Probability & Statistics, Functions, Graphs and Algebra. The course is intended for students who are interested in mathematics and/or pursuing tertiary studies with a mathematical content. It may be taken on its own or with Specialist Mathematics for students intending to take double Mathematics in Year 12.

Unit 1 & 2: Specialist Mathematics

Specialist Mathematics consists of the following areas of study: ‘Proof and Number’, ‘Circular (Trigonometric) Functions’, ‘Algebra’, ‘Calculus’, and Vectors in Two and Three Dimensions’. It is intended for those students who will be studying Specialist Mathematics and Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4. Specialist Mathematics 1 & 2 must be taken with Mathematical Methods Units 1 and 2.

Mathematical Methods 1 and 2 is a prerequisite for Mathematical Methods 3 and 4 and Specialist Mathematics 3 and 4. Specialist Mathematics 1 & 2 is a prerequisite for Specialist Mathematics 3 & 4.

MATHEMATICS UNITS 3 & 4

There are three units of study being offered to VCE students at the 3 & 4 level. General Mathematics provides students with a Unit 3 & 4 sequence in Mathematics but it is not intended that these students will undertake further studies in a mathematics area.

Mathematical Methods will provide a mathematics course for those students requiring knowledge of Mathematics for tertiary studies, in the biological sciences or less mathematically based courses, whilst Specialist Mathematics is required for tertiary studies in engineering or mathematically based courses. Students attempting Specialist Mathematics will need to take Mathematical Methods to obtain the basic skills.

The appropriate use of technology to support and develop the teaching and learning of Mathematics is to be incorporated throughout these courses. This will include the use of some of the following technologies for various areas of study or topics: CAS calculators, spreadsheets, graphing packages, dynamic geometry systems and computer algebra systems. In particular students are encouraged to use graphics calculators and other technologies both in the learning of new material and the application of this material in a variety of different contexts.

Units 3 & 4: General Mathematics

General Mathematics Units 3 &4 focus on real life application of mathematics and consist of the areas of study ‘Data Analysis, probability and statistics’ and ‘Discrete mathematics’. Unit 3 comprises Data Analysis and Recursion and financial modelling, and Unit 4 comprises Matrices and Networks and decision mathematics.

Units 3 & 4: Mathematical Methods

Mathematical Methods Units 3 & 4 consists of the following areas of study: Coordinate Geometry, Circular (Trigonometric) Functions, Calculus, Algebra and Statistics and Probability, which must be covered in a progression from Units 3 & 4, with an appropriate selection of content for each of Unit 3 & 4.

Units 3 & 4: Specialist Mathematics

Specialist Mathematics consists of the following areas of study: Logic and Proof, Circular (Trigonometric) Functions, Algebra, Calculus, Vectors in Two and Three Dimensions, Data Analysis, Probability and Statistics. All of this material is covered in a progression from Unit 3 to Unit 4.

Units 3 & 4 Vocational Major (VM) Numeracy

In Unit 3 students further develop and enhance their numeracy practices to make sense of their personal, public and vocational lives. Students extend their mathematical skills with consideration of their local, community, national and global environments and contexts, and the use and evaluation of appropriate technologies.

In Unit 4 students further develop, enhance and extend their numeracy practices to make sense of their personal, public and vocational lives. Students extend their mathematical skills with consideration of their local, community, national and global environments and contexts, and use of, evaluation and justification of appropriate technologies.