Courses

Students are required to earn three (3) credits in mathematics for graduation. College-bound students are strongly encouraged to earn four (4) or more math credits.

Algebra I (Academic)

Prerequisites: None, but MAP Arithmetic score of 70 or higher is recommended.

Description: The academic Algebra I course is geared toward the average to above-average student. Students in this course may or may not have had an algebra course in an earlier grade, but are expected to have mastered the arithmetic skills necessary for success in high school-level mathematics. Since facility with signed numbers, fractions decimals, and percents is fundamental to success in ensuing high school mathematics classes, students are regularly assessed on these skills as well as on the course material. Topics include properties of the real number system, solving one-variable linear equations and inequalities, solving one variable quadratic equations, applying properties of exponents, solving one-variable absolute value equations, graphing linear equations in two variables, and simplifying radical expressions.  The successful student in this course is willing to practice each concept thoroughly, and understands that the concepts in this course are the foundation of high school and college mathematics.

Enriched Algebra I (Honors)

Prerequisites:  Placement exam score; demonstrated mastery of pre-algebra through completion of summer enrichment class OR MAP Arithmetic score of 85 or higher

Description: An intensive and accelerated study of Algebra I designed for students who want to take Calculus in high school but must begin their high school math sequence with Algebra I. topics include properties of the real number system, solving linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, functions and their graphs, applying properties of exponents, simplifying rational expressions, absolute value equations, radical expressions, and an introduction to higher-level mathematical topics. This course is taught with the assumption that students will have completed the summer enrichment course, and students are accountable for this pre-algebra material from the first day of class. 

Geometry (Academic)

Prerequisites:  Algebra I, recommended C average or better both semesters

Description: This class is for students who have demonstrated mastery of Algebra I and are ready to apply those skills in a new context. The investigation of two-dimensional geometric figures (triangles, polygons circles, etc.) leads students to the study of three-dimensional objects such as cones, cylinders, and prisms. This course includes a thorough study of plane geometry, including its formation, language, and applications. Coordinate geometry and triangle trigonometry will also be covered. The logical development of the mathematical thought process will be studied and applied through reading and writing mathematical proofs. Since facility with signed numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents is fundamental to success in high school mathematics classes, students are regularly assessed on these skills as well as on the course material. 

Geometry (Honors)

Prerequisites:  "B" or better in Algebra I or teacher recommendation; incoming freshmen placement determined by placement exam score and Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score

Description:  This course is designed for the above average math student who can handle a faster-paced course as well as an in-depth study of the topics. This is a student who has mastered Algebra I and who is interested in the Calculus track in high school. The course will cover standard geometry topics in two and three dimensions. Students will also make extensive use of deductive and inductive reasoning in discovering and proving geometric theorems, as well as in problem solving. The course will also include a more thorough introduction to analytic geometry and plane trigonometry than is covered in the academic geometry course. Since facility with signed numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents is fundamental to success in high school mathematics classes, students are regularly assessed on these skills as well as on the course material.

Algebra II (Academic)

Prerequisites:  "C" or better in Algebra I (Academic) OR algebra A and Algebra B, and completion of Geometry (Academic or Honors). NOTE: A TI-83 or TI-84 graphing calculator is required.

Description:  This course geared toward juniors and seniors completes the standard college preparatory sequence of Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. Students will deepen their understanding of concepts learned in Algebra I and extend them to a wider range of topics. These include the introduction and in-depth study of functions and relations; graphing linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic functions; and solving systems of equations using matrices. Proficiency in solving word problems is also stressed. Since facility with signed numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents is fundamental to success in high school mathematics classes, students are regularly assessed on these skills as well as on the course material. 

Algebra II (Honors)

Prerequisites:  "B" or better in preceding Algebra I and Geometry courses; incoming freshmen placement determined by placement exam score, MAP Elementary Algebra score, and Geometry qualifying exam score  NOTE:  A TI-83 or TI-84 (or equivalent) graphing calculator is required. 

Description:  This is an accelerated course in Algebra designed for students who intend to take Calculus while in high school. Algebra II explores more complex algebra problems, including solving and graphing linear, quadratic, exponential, rational, and irrational functions. The Honors-level Algebra II course will cover material at an accelerated rate, which will allow students to learn about sequences, series, and probability. Emphasis will be placed on solving more challenging problems to better prepare students for higher math.


AP Precalculus

Prerequisite: Algebra II Honors and teacher recommendation. NOTE: A TI-84 (or equivalent) graphing calculator is required for this course.

Description:  AP Precalculus is equivalent to a one-semester, college-level precalculus course. Students will develop mathematical skills of procedural fluency, multiple representations, and communication and reasoning. To develop these skills, students will study polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and trigonometric and polar functions. Additional topics not tested on the AP Precalculus exam include functions involving parameters, vectors, and matrices. Students must have a willingness to work both in and out of class, a willingness to collaborate with classmates to foster mutual understanding, and a sincere desire to do well on the AP examination. 


Precalculus (Honors)

Prerequisites:  Successful completion of Algebra II with a B average for both semesters and Departmental approval. NOTE: A TI-83 or TI-84 (or equivalent) graphing calculator is required. 

Description:  This course covers the final advanced algebra topics, circular trigonometry, and the preliminary calculus topics of sequences and series, mathematical induction, probability, and limits and derivatives of basic functions. The majority of the material is presented and applied in both an algebraic and graphing/data analysis approach. This is an upper-level elective math course at Juan Diego, and the successful student in this course will be able to use the textbook examples as well as class examples to aid learning. The successful student will also be willing to use the class time effectively for both lectures/presentations and independent/group practice problems.

Intro to College Math

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra II 

Description: This seniors-only course is required for students who have completed Algebra II Academic. Intro to College Math will review various topics from Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and will include work on arithmetic proficiency as well. 

College Math Preview (ASU concurrent)

Prerequisites: "C" or better in Algebra II (Honors); NOTE: A TI-83 or TI-84 (or equivalent) graphing calculator is required.  

Description: This course is a capstone for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. While reviewing various concepts, students will study applied topics that often appear in college-level math classes. These topics include: organizing data and introductory statistics, probability, financial formulas, triangle trigonometry, and other ideas as time permits.

AP Calculus AB

Prerequisites:  "B-" or better in Precalculus OR departmental approval.  Students and parents are required to sign an expectation contract. There is a fee for the required end-of-year AP exam. College credit may be earned.

Description:  AP Calculus AB is a course in single variable calculus that includes techniques and applications of the derivative, techniques and applications of the definite integral, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. It is equivalent to at least a semester of calculus at most colleges and universities, and to perhaps a year of calculus at some. Algebraic, numerical, and graphical representations are emphasized throughout the course. It is assumed that students will have access to graphing calculators in class and for homework. Graphing calculators are required on portions of the year-end exam. Students must have a willingness to collaborate with classmates to foster mutual understanding, and a sincere desire to well on the AP examination. 

AP Calculus BC

Prerequisites:  "B" or better in Precalculus, previous enrollment in Calculus or Ao Calculus AB, or Departmental approval.  Students and parents are required to sign an expectation contract. There is a fee for the required end-of-year AP exam. College credit may be earned. NOTE: A graphing calculator is required for this course.

Description: The material covered in AP Calculus BC is equivalent to that of Calculus I and Calculus II at a university. In addition to all of the material covered in the AP Calculus AB course, this course includes differentiation of polar, parametric, and vector-valued functions, as well as some advanced integration techniques, including integration by parts and partial fractions. Beyond these add-ons to AB topics, a great deal of time is spent on sequences and series, a major component of BC Calculus. Because of the accelerated pace and rigor of this class, students who enroll in this course must be willing to spend extra time in study, participate in study groups, and/or to schedule meeting times with the instructor in order to meet the challenges this course affords.

AP Statistics

Prerequisites:  "B" or better in Algebra II.  Students and parents are required to sign an expectation contract. There is a fee for the required end-of-year AP exam. College credit may be earned.   NOTE: The course will require a graphing calculator (TI-83, TI-84, TI-84+). Other calculators may have similar features but may not include all of the statistical packages needed. The students will also make use of other available technologies in the computer lab.

 Description:  AP Statistics covers the topics of a modern introduction to statistics course. The topics are studied within the framework of four major categories: Exploring Data, Sampling and Experimentation, Anticipating Patterns, and Statistical Inference. The emphasis will be on clearly defining the questions to be investigated, gathering and organizing data, producing informative graphical and numerical summaries, modeling relationships, making decisions while accounting for uncertainty in the data, and clearly communicating the results in the context of the study. It is equivalent to that found in a first semester college course with respect to the development of basic probability concepts for modeling randomness, collection and exploration of data, application of statistical reasoning in decision making, and emphasis on effective communication. The successful student will have mathematical sophistication and disciplined work habits as well as good reasoning ability and communication skills. 

"In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them." - Johann von Neumann (1903-1957), American (Hungarian born) mathematician and computer scientist