Welcome to the Math Department
The Mathematics Department offers a wide range of courses to meet the needs of all students. It is important that students select courses consistent with their abilities as well as their career goals. Many post secondary courses require mathematics as a prerequisite. Students should seek advice from both their math teacher and their counsellor before selecting their courses. Note: All mathematics students should have a scientific calculator.
MATHEMATICS 9
This course starts with a review of operations with integers and rational numbers without the aid of a calculator. Other topics include: the structure of the real number system, operations with power terms and scientific notation, polynomial operations, solving equations with variables on both sides and fractional coefficients, solving inequalities, solving word problems using equations, factoring, deductive geometry, measurement, trigonometry, transformations and probability. Problem solving will be integrated throughout the course. Students must have access to a scientific calculator.
MATHEMATICS 9 ESSENTIALS
This course should only be chosen on the advice of the Counsellor and the mathematics teacher. The course content does not parallel Mathematics 9. Basic mathematical skills and knowledge are covered in detail and the pace is suitable for students who have a history of difficulty with Mathematics. This course leads to Mathematics 10 Essentials and is not meant to prepare students for Mathematics 10.
APPLICATIONS OF MATHEMATICS 10
This course gives students the opportunity to explore the use of mathematics in the context of their lives and future careers. Students will develop their mathematical knowledge, skills and attitudes towards the subject through the use of more concrete activities and modeling. Project work is an important component of this course. This course has a mandatory graduation program exam.
ESSENTIALS OF MATHEMATICS 10
This course is designed to help students understand how mathematical concepts permeate daily life, business, industry, government, and the environment. Students must be able to use mathematics not just in their work lives, but also in their personal lives as citizens and consumers. This course is primarily designed for those students who have difficulties with mathematics. Topics will include: problem solving, personal banking, wages, salaries and expenses, spread sheets, rates, ratio and proportion, trigonometry, geometry, probability and sampling. This course has a mandatory graduation program exam.
PRINCIPLES OF MATHEMATICS 10
Topics in this course include: arithmetic sequences and series, operations with radicals, coordinate geometry and equations of lines, functions, operations with polynomials and factoring, rational expressions, trigonometry including the sine and cosine law, and statistics. Problem-solving will be integrated throughout the course. Students must have access to a scientific calculator or graphing calculator, such as a TI-83. This course has a mandatory graduation program exam.
ESSENTIALS OF MATHEMATICS 11
This course uses a variety of methods to solve real-life, practical, technical and theoretical problems. Topics include: problem-solving, relations and formulas, income and debt, data analysis and interpretation, measurement, technology, owning and operating a vehicle and personal planning.
PRINCIPLES OF MATHEMATICS 11
This academic course covers the following topics: personal finance, including payroll, investing, loans, mortgages and exchange rates; functions – operations, composition and inverses; quadratic functions – equations and inequalities; absolute value, radical and rational equations; mathematical reasoning – inductive and deductive; circle geometry – chords, angles and tangents; coordinate geometry – distance between points and lines and equation of circle. Problem-solving will be integrated throughout the course. Students must have access to a scientific calculator or graphing calculator, such as a TI-83.
MATHEMATICS 11 BRIDGE (MA11E Credit)
The main purpose of this course is to provide students the opportunity to gain a stronger foundation in the academic stream of Mathematics. Class composition is made up of previous Mathematics 10 or Mathematics 10E students. Topics are similar to the Mathematics 10 curriculum and attempt to bridge some topics taught in the Principles of Mathematics 11. The course demands students’ willingness to commit time and energy to the rigorous of a course that reviews topics ranging from Mathematics 9 and 10. Students eager to enroll in Principles of Mathematics 11 should aim for a minimum of a B in this course. Note: This course is not usually recognized as a Mathematics credit in most Academic Post Secondary Institutions.
PRINCIPLES OF MATHEMATICS 12
Topics in this course include: transformations, trigonometric functions, equations and applications, trigonometric identities, exponential and logarithmic functions and their application, permutations and combinations, probability statistics and conics. Independent problem-solving is stressed throughout the course. Students must have access to a graphing calculator, such as a TI-83. This course has an optional graduation program exam.
PRINCIPLES OF MATHEMATICS 9 HONOURS
This program of study is for those students who have displayed a natural aptitude for patterns and numbers. The course will follow the Principles of Mathematics 9 curriculum, but with an extensive concentration on theory, derivations, proofs and history. Homework will be a daily event with formal submissions once a week. Students will also be required to complete project work as well as unit examinations on all material taught. A rigorous midterm and final examination complete the formal examination process. Note that a key component of the honors course includes development of problem solving skills through participation in national and international mathematics contests.
PRINCIPLES OF MATHEMATICS 10/11 HONOURS
These programs are structured in a similar fashion to the Principles of Mathematics 9 Honours program. The core course material is based on the Principles of Mathematics 10/11 courses. However, significant emphasis is placed on theory and proofs. Homework and assignments are daily events. Rigorous midterms and a final examination are part of the evaluation process.
Note: Advanced optional topics in Mathematics may be covered with time permitting. Furthermore, students will be expected to participate in national and international mathematics contests throughout the year.
PRINCIPLES OF MATHEMATICS 12 HONOURS
This course continues from the Principles of Mathematics 11 Honours program. The core course material is based on Principles of Mathematics 12 and a portion of the Calculus 12 course. In addition, there will be extensive discussion regarding theory, proofs, and derivations for each of the topics covered. Homework continues to be a daily event. There will be an intensive evaluation process, including a midterm and final examination. Note that the final student evaluation will be adjusted to reflect the difficulty of the honours program. At the termination of this course, students will be required to write the Principles of Mathematics 12 Provincial Examination.
Note: Students will be expected to participate in national and international mathematics contests throughout the year.
CALCULUS 12
Prerequisite: Principles of Mathematics 12
This course is very useful for students who have strong mathematical ability and who intend to take calculus in their first year at a post secondary institution. The main topics are Functions, Limits, Continuity, Derivative Rules, Curve Sketching, Related-Rates Problems and Maximum-Minimum Problems. Derivations and Proofs will also be a key component of this course. Because this course is typically taught at the post secondary level, students will be expected to work fairly independently with appropriate instruction provided during class lectures. To be successful, students need to commit time and energy to critically analyzing problems and to seek understanding. Higher order conceptualization of Mathematics will be an everyday event. Successful students will be encouraged to write the "Challenge Exam" offered by British Columbia universities. The percent evaluation from the exam may be used for credit in lieu of certain first year mathematics courses offered at UBC, SFU, UVIC and UNBC.
CALCULUS 12 HONOURS
This course continues from the Principles of Mathematics 12 Honours program. Topics from Differential Calculus and Integral Calculus will be covered. As always, there will be extensive discussion regarding theory, proofs and derivations. Homework is a daily event. In addition, time permitting, Linear Algebra may be taught as an extension to this course. There will be an intensive evaluation process, including a midterm and final examination.
Note that the final student evaluation will be adjusted to reflect the difficulty of the honours program. At the termination of this course, students may write the Challenge Exam offered by UBC/SFU or the AP Calculus Exam.
Note: Students will be expected to participate in national and international mathematics contests throughout the year.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTED STUDIES: MATHEMATICS
This course continues from the AP Calculus 12 Honours program. Topics in Advanced Integration will be covered; in addition, a variety of topics such as Linear Algebra and Formal Logic may also be covered. An important emphasis will be placed on mathematics contests and competitions. Students will also gain valuable experience working with a department member as a teaching assistant in the mathematics department.
