Foundation Mathematics

Prerequisites

Successful completion of Year 9 Mathematics or Year 9 Numeracy.

Course Description

Foundation Mathematics follows on from both Numeracy and Mainstream Year 9 Mathematics. This course prepares students for VCE Further Mathematics. Students who have achieved an average below D over the course of Year 9 Mathematics or are studying Year 9 Numeracy are encouraged to select this course. The Foundation Mathematics course focusses on preparing students for VCE Further Mathematics. The course assessments are entirely technology active. Students who complete this subject will not be allowed to select IB Mathematics – Standard Level or VCE Mathematical Methods in Year 11.

The course provides a curriculum that gives relevance and meaning to the learning of mathematical concepts and core concepts of the Victorian Curriculum. Problem-solving and modelling are developed progressively throughout the course. The use of scientific calculators is integrated into the course as an instructional aid and as a computational tool. Notebook computers are used to aid in the understanding of mathematical concepts and skills and to facilitate problem-solving and modelling tasks.

Students build on skills from previous years in the areas of Number and Algebra, Geometry and Measurement, Probability and Statistics.

Essential Questions

How are linear equations used in problem-solving?
What does the gradient of a straight line represent?
How do we estimate and approximate?
How is our number system structured?
What are the chances of events occurring?
What is the best central tendency measure for determining an average?

Areas of Study

Number and Algebra

Revision of fractions, decimals, percentage and ratios.
Indices and surds.
Matrices.
Algebraic simplification, expansion, linear equations and interpreting formulae.
Use and interpretation of formulas and algebraic expressions to describe relationships between variable and to model patterns.
Foundations of Financial Mathematics – interest, break even point.

Measurement and Geometry

Spatial relations, geometric objects and mensuration (length, area and volume).
Pythagoras's Theorem.
The two-dimensional representation of linear graphs on a Cartesian plane.
Interpretation of scales.
Estimation and Approximation strategies.

Probability and Statistics

Interpreting results obtained from experimental and theoretical probabilities.
Use of tree diagrams, Venn diagrams and two way tables.
Collecting, presenting and analysing data.
Use of measures of central tendency to summarise and interpret data
Understanding types of data.

Assessment