Mathematics Extension 1

Course Description

This course is a Board Developed Course which represents 1 unit for each of Preliminary and HSC years.

The content of this course and its depth of treatment indicate that it is intended for students who have demonstrated a mastery of the skills of Stage 5.3 Mathematics and who are interested in the study of further skills and ideas in mathematics.

The course is intended to give these students a thorough understanding of and competence in aspects of mathematics, including many which are applicable to the real world. It has general educational merit and is also useful for concurrent studies of science, industrial arts and commerce

Main Topics

Year 11 Course

· Further work with Functions

· Polynomials

· Inverse Trigonometric Functions

· Further Trigonometric Identities

· Rates of Change

· Working with Combinatorics

Year 12 Course

· Proof by Mathematical Induction

· Introduction to Vectors

· Trigonometric Equations

· Further Calculus Skills

· Applications of Calculus

· The Binomial Distribution

Prerequisites & Exclusions

The course is constructed on the assumption that students have achieved the 5.3 outcomes in the core of the Stage 5 Mathematics course along with the recommended options.

Students must study the Mathematics course concurrently with the Extension 1 course and may not study the Mathematics Standard course in conjunction with Mathematics Extension 1.

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 context

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

A number of tasks will be used to determine a student’s school-based assessment and any one task may contribute to measuring attainment of both components.

The external assessment will consist of a paper identical to the Mathematics course paper of 2 hours duration. The other paper, of two hours duration, is based on the Mathematics Extension 1 course.

Click here to access sample copy of the Mathematics Extension 1 Assessment Schedule.

Career Opportunities!

The course is a recommended minimum basis for further studies in mathematics as a major discipline at a tertiary level and for the study of mathematics in support of the physical and engineering sciences.

Although the course is sufficient for these purposes, students of outstanding mathematical ability should consider undertaking the Mathematics Extension 2 course.

Syllabus

To access a copy of the Mathematics Extension 1 Syllabus click here.