Mathematics and Applications

Common Unit

Prerequisites

Year 9 Foundation or Year 9 Mathematics

Course Description

Mathematics and Applications course is a modified Victorian Curriculum to support students who find mathematics challenging. Mathematics is compulsory in year 10 and the IB Diploma and is student choice in VCE. This course is developed to support students to continue pathways in mathematics in Year 11 and 12. Students who have achieved an average below D over the course of Year 9 Mathematics or are studying Year 9 Foundation and have achieved an average of D or higher are encouraged to select this course. This course supports students who might otherwise not have the skills ready to study VCE General Mathematics or IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretations (MAI). The course assessments are entirely technology active. The course focusses on preparing students with the breadth of knowledge they will be required to understand for the Year 11 IB or VCE courses that have an emphasis on Statistics, Probability and Functions.

Students requesting entry into this course will be reviewed by teachers and the Leader of Learning for Mathematics before subject approvals are granted. This review is conducted to ensure this course appropriately supports a student’s learning and provides the appropriate level of challenge to develop their knowledge and learning habits to prepare them to achieve their best outcomes in IB/VCE.

Students who choose this course with a desired pathway to IB will be required to complete an additional unit in Term 4 that will be conducted during lunchtimes to cover pre-requisite content required only for the IB MAI pathway that is not required in the VCE pathway. This is a compulsory term 4 unit for students whose subject preferences have selected IBMAI SL.

The course provides a curriculum that gives relevance and meaning to the learning of mathematical concepts and core concepts as a modified version of the Victorian Curriculum relevant to support students who experience challenges in mathematics in preparation to enable students to study VCE General and IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretations. This course does not cover all curriculum achievement standards for the standard Year 10 Victorian curriculum outlined in the VCAA scope and sequence. Problem-solving and modelling are developed progressively throughout the course. CAS technology is integrated into the course as an instructional aid and as a computational tool.

Year 10 Mathematics is a year-long course. Subject changes must abide by the Semester 1 subject change guidelines set by Senior School Curriculum with requests to change reviewed by the Leader of Learning Mathematics and availability. Students’ choice of mathematics is determined by their capability and potential to engage in the learning. Courses are designed to completed as a yearlong program. 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 variables and to model patterns.
Foundations of Financial Mathematics – interest, breakeven point.
Scientific Notation.

Measurement and Geometry

Spatial relations, geometric objects and mensuration (length, area and volume).
Pythagoras's Theorem and Trigonometry.
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