Mathematics Courses
Core Classes
ALGEBRA 1 Full Year
The concepts needed for the further study of math are covered with the emphasis on problem solving. The student will develop the understanding of the real number system and perform the four basic operations on polynomial, rational and radical expressions. The concepts of simplifying and evaluating mathematical expressions, determining the solutions to equations and inequalities and the development of graphing are all used in the context of applications to real world situations. There will be constant emphasis on arithmetic skills and their applications.
ALGEBRA 1A / ALGEBRA 1B Full Year*
The concepts needed for the further study of math are covered with the emphasis on problem solving. The student will develop the understanding of the real number system and perform the four basic operations on polynomial, rational and radical expressions. The concepts of simplifying and evaluating mathematical expressions, determining the solutions to equations and inequalities and the development of graphing are all used in the context of applications to real world situations. There will be emphasis on reviewing basic arithmetic skills and the practical applications of algebra and arithmetic in everyday life. In the second semester, the course will concentrate on factoring, simplifying rational expressions, graphing in the coordinate plane, solving systems of equations and identifying functions.
*Enrollment in this course represents two courses for scheduling purposes. Placement in this class is based upon the math score on the Entrance Exam and math grades in the 7th and 8th grades. Recommendation from the 8th grade math teacher may be considered as well.
DESCRIPTIVE GEOMETRY Full Year
Using definitions, basic postulates and theorems, students will learn to solve problems involving triangles, other polygons, circles and solids. Other elements consist of areas of plane figures, areas and volumes of solids and the applications of coordinate geometry and basic trigonometry. The course includes a constant review of arithmetic and algebraic skills.
GEOMETRY Full Year
Students will be presented units that develop an understanding of applications of the basic theorems, postulates and definitions of geometry. Using these basic concepts will enable the student to study congruent and similar figures, discover the properties of geometric figures (especially triangles and rectangles), perform geometric constructions, use the basic elements of coordinate geometry and trigonometry, develop the properties of measurement and learn the principles of logical inference and proof.
INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA Full Year
Much of the work in this course will be a review of the material covered in first year algebra and geometry courses. The last part of the course will include the study of radicals, quadratic equations and relations, conic sections and a study of exponential and logarithmic functions. The emphasis is on understanding the concepts, problem solving techniques and applications on various models.
ALGEBRA 2 Full Year
In addition to both reinforcement and a more advanced study of the concepts studied in Algebra I, this course develops the concepts of radicals, complex numbers, functions, including quadratic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric and the real-life applications of trigonometry.
STATISTICS Full Year
This course will introduce general statistical principles, which will be useful to all students regardless of their field of specialization. Fundamentals of data collection, graphing, probability and measures of central tendency will be the primary focus of the course work. Studies involving student collected data outside of the classroom and computer assisted instruction will be an integral part of the course. Spreadsheets, graphical analysis and simulations will be used to investigate topics of student interest. This course provides an excellent framework for future study in statistics.
TRIGONOMETRY/ANALYTIC GEOMETRY Full Year
Trigonometry is presented as the study of properties and applications of circular functions. There will be an emphasis on graphing trigonometric functions, discovering identities for right triangles, solving trigonometric equations and solving problems involving the sides and angles of triangles and their applications to real life situations. Analytic Geometry is primarily the in-depth study of the properties and graphs of lines, conic sections as well as quadratic and other functions with an emphasis on the equation of each figure.
PRECALCULUS Full Year
This course includes the study of functions and graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponents and logarithms, a review of trigonometry and its applications, polar coordinates, conics and inequalities.
CALCULUS Full Year
This course offers students the opportunity to explore the fundamental principles of Calculus at a pace that provides students time to understand, appreciate and apply these concepts ultimately preparing students for a first-year college Calculus course. Topics include limits, some techniques of differentiation and integration and applications.
ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS Full Year
This course is a year-long advanced math class designed to give those students who have completed Calculus BC the opportunity to continue developing their calculus skills sharp. Students will leave the course with the ability to use modeling skills to represent properties of real-world problems mathematically, solve a variety of differential equations, including those based on real-world problems, and use solutions to analyze the behavior of real-world systems.
BEGINNING COMPUTER PROGRAMMING Full Year
This course examines the fundamentals of computer science. Topics include fundamentals of programming, basic problem-solving techniques, simple graphical user interfaces and algorithms and general object-oriented software engineering using the Java programming language. This course guides students in exploring the fascinating world of computer programming through working on a variety of individual and team projects. This course fulfills the first year provision of a two-year preparation for the College Board's Advanced Placement Computer Science exam.
Honors & Advanced Placement
ALGEBRA 1 HONORS Full Year
The student will develop an understanding of the real number system and be able to apply the four basic operations on polynomial, rational and radical expressions. The steps leading to solutions of linear and quadratic equations and of inequalities are geared to problem solving. Graphing on the coordinate system will aid in the basic understanding of functions. There will be an emphasis on the solution of real world problems.
GEOMETRY HONORS Full Year
Geometry is the study of figures and their properties. There is an emphasis on the study of congruent and similar figures, the properties of various figures (especially triangles and rectangles), the use of coordinate geometry, the methods of measurement, three-dimensional geometry and an introduction to trigonometry.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA/TRIGONOMETRY HONORS Full Year
This course is a continuation of the material studied in Algebra I. There is a review and further development of the structure of the real number system, the solving of equations and inequalities, the manipulation of polynomial and fractional expressions and graphing. This is followed by the study of radicals, complex numbers, quadratics, functions, analytic geometry, exponents, logarithms and sequences. The last quarter of the year is devoted to the study of trigonometry from the point of view of circular functions.
PRECALCULUS HONORS Full Year
This course includes the study of probability, statistics, analytic geometry in two and three dimensions, the theory of equations, graphing, progressions, exponential and logarithmic functions, a review of trigonometry and an introduction to calculus.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT STATISTICS Full Year
This course is an introduction to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing and drawing conclusions from data. Students will explore data, plan a study, anticipate patterns and use statistical inference.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS AB Full Year
This course of study follows that of the Advanced Placement Program. Beginning with an introduction to probability, the course consists of the study of differentiation and integration of polynomial, rational, irrational, logarithmic, exponential and trigonometric functions and their numerous applications. Students who progress satisfactorily in the course can take the Advanced Placement Calculus AB Examination in early May. Most colleges will award college credit for a calculus course to students who pass this examination.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS BC Full Year
Intended as a continuation of Calculus AB, material consists primarily of the study of graphs, differentiation and integration of vector, polar and parametric equations. Students will study more advanced forms of integration and the applications of the derivative and integral. The course will conclude with the study of sequences and series. Students who progress satisfactorily in this course can take the Advanced Placement Calculus BC Exam offered in May. Passage of this test can enable the student to receive a full year of college calculus credit.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPUTER PROGRAMMING Full Year
This course continues to explore the fundamentals of program design and data structures in computer science. Topics include algorithm analysis, abstract data structures, algorithm complexity, binary trees and other advanced software development and problem-solving techniques. This is the second year course of the two-year program preparing students for the College Board’s Advanced Placement Computer Science AB test, which is given in May.