Mathematics Advanced

Course Description

The Mathematics Advanced course is focused on enabling students to appreciate that mathematics is a unique and powerful way of viewing the world to investigate order, relation, pattern, uncertainty and generality. The course provides students with the opportunity to develop ways of thinking in which problems are explored through observation, reflection and reasoning.

The Mathematics Advanced course provides a basis for further studies in disciplines in which mathematics and the skills that constitute thinking mathematically have an important role. It is designed for those students whose future pathways may involve mathematics and its applications in a range of disciplines at the tertiary level.

Main Topics

Preliminary Course

· Working with Functions

· rigonometry & Measure of Angles

· Trigonometric Functions and Identities

· Introduction to Differentiation

· Logarithms & Exponentials

· Probability & Discrete Probability Distributions

HSC Course

· Graphing Techniques

· Trigonometric Functions & Graphs

· Differential Calculus

· Applications od Differentiation

· Integral Calculus

· Modelling Financial Situations

· Descriptive Statistics & Bivariate Data Analysis

· Random Variables

Prerequisites & Exclusions

The course is constructed on the assumption that students have achieved the 5.2 outcomes in the core of the Mathematics course for Stage 5 at a high standard, along with the recommended 5.3 outcomes.

Students may not study Mathematics Standard in conjunction with the Mathematics course.

Assessment

The objectives of the course are grouped into two equally weighted components:

· Concepts, skills and techniques to solve mathematical problems in a wide range of theoretical and practical contexts, and

· Reasoning and communication in appropriate forms to construct mathematical arguments and proofs and to interpret and use mathematical models

Some Year 11 course work can be included in assessment tasks for the HSC course in Mathematics. No more than 20% of the HSC assessment is to be based on the Preliminary course.

The external assessment will consist of a single written examination paper of three hours duration, consisting of ten objective-response questions and six extended response questions of equal value.

Click here to access sample copy of the Mathematics Advanced Assessment Schedule.

Career Opportunities

The Mathematics course is a sufficient basis for further studies in mathematics as a minor discipline at tertiary level in support of courses such as the life sciences or commerce.

Students who require substantial mathematics at a tertiary level, supporting the physical sciences, computer science or engineering, should undertake the Mathematics, Extension 1 course or both the Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2 courses.

Syllabus

To access a copy of the Mathematics Advanced Syllabus click here.