Mathematics

Department Philosophy

Mathematics offers students an appreciation and understanding of the world of numbers and space, and skill in working with them. To aid their work, it is necessary for all students to have a TI-89 calculator.

Placement will be determined every year by the current math teacher and the department. Students usually follow one of the sequences (listed below), but are not locked into any one sequence. Teachers assess each student’s progress continuously and will accelerate any student who may be ready to move to a higher level of math. Students may take summer school (with teacher permission) to progress to a higher level in the fall. A student who is struggling with one level may move to another course which more appropriately meets the student’s academic needs.

The recommendation to advance into any Honors or AP course is contingent upon the student receiving an ‘A’ in both semesters of the current year.

Some Mathematics classes offer a dual-credit opportunity through either Portland State University or Portland Community College. These courses are taught on Jesuit's campus by Jesuit instructors during the regular school day.

Mathematics Scope & Sequence

Algebra I

Open to: 9th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

Topics for study include: properties of the real numbers; algebraic expressions; linear equations, including absolute value equations; absolute value functions; linear inequalities, including compound inequalities and absolute value inequalities; functions; slope; linear functions; systems of equations and inequalities; exponents; polynomials; quadratic functions; solving quadratic equations; radicals; and an introduction to rational and exponential functions. This course fulfills the 9th grade requirement for Math.

Algebra I/Trigonometry

Open to: 9th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

Topics for study include: properties of the real numbers; algebraic expressions; linear equations, including absolute value equations; absolute value functions; linear inequalities, including compound inequalities and absolute value inequalities; functions; slope; linear functions; systems of equations and inequalities; exponents; polynomials; quadratic functions; solving quadratic equations; radicals; an introduction to rational and exponential functions; and right triangle trigonometry. This course fulfills the 9th grade requirement for Math.

Algebra I/Trigonometry Honors

Open to: 9th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Topics for study include: properties of the real numbers; algebraic expressions; linear equations, including absolute value equations; absolute value functions; linear inequalities, including compound inequalities and absolute value inequalities; functions; slope; linear functions; systems of equations and inequalities; exponents; polynomials; quadratic functions; solving quadratic equations; radicals; an introduction to rational and exponential functions; and right triangle trigonometry. This course fulfills the 9th grade requirement for Math.

Geometry

Open to: 10th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

Topics for study include: principles of geometric construction; coordinate geometry; properties of triangles; introduction to logic and proofs; properties of polygons and circles; postulates and theorems; congruence; similarity; area; and volume. This course fulfills the 10th grade requirement for Math.

Geometry/Trigonometry

Open to: 10th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

Topics for study include: principles of geometric construction; coordinate geometry; properties of triangles; introduction to logic and proofs; properties of polygons and circles; postulates and theorems; congruence; similarity; area; volume; and right triangle trigonometry. This course fulfills the 10th grade requirement for Math.

Geometry/Trigonometry Honors

Open to: 10th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Topics for study include: principles of geometric construction; coordinate geometry; properties of triangles; introduction to logic and proofs; properties of polygons and circles; postulates and theorems; congruence; similarity; area; volume; right triangle trigonometry; rational and negative exponents; polynomials and factoring; rational expressions; and an introduction to exponential and logarithmic functions. This course fulfills the 10th grade requirement for Math.

Algebra II

Open to: 11th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

Topics for study include: properties of the real numbers; algebraic expressions; linear equations, including absolute value equations; absolute value functions; linear inequalities, including compound inequalities and absolute value inequalities; functions; slope; linear functions; systems of equations and inequalities; exponents; polynomials; quadratic functions; solving quadratic equations; radicals; graphing of equations; rational expressions; rational and negative exponents; and an introduction to exponential and logarithmic functions. This course fulfills the 11th grade requirement for Math.

Algebra II/Trigonometry

Open to: 11th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

Topics for study include: properties of the real numbers; algebraic expressions; linear equations, including absolute value equations; absolute value functions; linear inequalities, including compound inequalities and absolute value inequalities; functions; slope; linear functions; systems of equations and inequalities; exponents; polynomials; quadratic functions; solving quadratic equations; radicals; graphing of equations; rational expressions; rational and negative exponents; exponential and logarithmic functions; and right triangle trigonometry, including the unit circle. This course fulfills the 11th grade requirement for Math.

Algebra II/Trigonometry Honors

Open to: 11th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Topics for study include: properties of the real numbers; algebraic expressions; linear equations, including absolute value equations; absolute value functions; linear inequalities, including compound inequalities and absolute value inequalities; functions; slope; linear functions; systems of equations and inequalities; exponents; polynomials; quadratic functions; solving quadratic equations; radicals; graphing of equations; rational expressions; rational and negative exponents; exponential and logarithmic functions; and right triangle trigonometry, including the unit circle. This course fulfills the 11th grade requirement for Math.

Precalculus (PCC Math 111) (DC)

Open to: 11th or 12th Grade

(Please note juniors who take this pre-calculus class are not qualified to take Calculus as seniors without additional course work)

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

*This course offers dual credit with Portland Community College, giving the opportunity to earn college credit. Topics for study include: the real number system, including irrational numbers; linear, quadratic, and higher degree functions and their graphs; polynomial and rational functions; exponential and logarithmic functions; trigonometry and the unit circle; and trigonometric identities. This course fulfills the 12th grade requirement for Math.

Precalculus Honors

Open to: 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: A- or above in Honors Geometry/Trig or B-or above Honors Algebra II/Trig and teacher recommendation.

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Topics for study include: the real number system, including irrational numbers; linear, quadratic, and higher degree functions and their graphs; polynomial and rational functions; exponential and logarithmic functions; trigonometry and the unit circle; trigonometric identities; law of sines and cosines; vector and matrix operations; arithmetic and geometric sequences; and probability. This course fulfills the 12th grade requirement for Math.

AP Calculus AB

Open to: All grades, per placement by Math Department

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Topics for study include: limits; differentiation; applications of differentiation; integration; applications of integration; and elementary differential equations. This course follows the College Board standards to prepare students for the AP Calculus AB Exam in May. This course fulfills the appropriate year's requirement for Math.


AP Calculus Prep

 

This course, intended for students concurrently enrolled in AP Calculus AB, covers the AP Calculus AB/BC curriculum and prepares students for the AP Calculus BC Exam. Students who score a 4 or 5 on this exam are eligible for Jesuit's dual credit mathematics classes, which receive college credit through Portland State University. Meeting times are outside regular school hours. In early August, after the completion of Summer Session, Jesuit will send invitation letters for AP Calculus Prep to families of students enrolled in AP Calculus AB. There is additional tuition(fee) for AP Calculus Prep. (2 semesters of calculus credit at the AP level) 


AP Calculus BC

Open to: All grades, per placement by Math Department

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Topics for study include: limits; differentiation; applications of differentiation; integration; applications of integration; elementary differential equations; parametric equations; polar coordinates; advanced integration techniques; improper integrals; series; and two-dimensional motion. This course follows the College Board standards to prepare students for the AP Calculus BC Exam in May. This course fulfills the appropriate year's requirement for Math.

Intro to Probability and Statistics I & II (PSU Stat 243/244) (DC)

Open to: 12th grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades, class participation, and academic needs.

*This course offers dual credit with Portland State University, giving the opportunity to earn college credit. A basic course in statistical analysis including presentation of data probability, probability distributions, sampling distributions, estimation, tests of significance, experimental design and analysis of variance, regression and correlation, nonparametric statistics, selected topics, applications, and use of statistical computer packages. This course fulfills the 12th grade requirement for Math.

Intro to Linear Algebra (PSU Mth 261) (DC)

Open to: All grades

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Completion of AP Calculus BC. Students who scored a ‘5’ on the AP Calculus AB Exam can concurrently enroll in AP Calculus Prep and Linear Algebra with instructor permission. 

*This course offers 4 units of dual credit with Portland State University. Linear algebra deals with the theory of systems of linear equations, matrices, vector spaces, determinants, and linear transformations. This course develops concepts and techniques that are basic to advanced mathematics and are important tools in a variety of disciplines, including engineering, physics, computer science, statistics, and economics. The year concludes with students applying linear algebra concepts in an introductory study of quantum computing. This course fulfills the appropriate year’s requirement for Math, or may be taken as an elective.

Multivariable Calculus (PSU Mth 254 & Mth 255) (DC)

Open to: Seniors and students concurrently enrolling in a second post-calculus math class.

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: A score of ‘4’ or higher on the AP Calculus BC Exam. Seniors with a score of ‘3’ can request to enroll in Multivariable Calculus but may not earn Portland State University credit. 

*This course offers up to 8 units of dual credit with Portland State University. Topics of study include: vectors and the geometry of space, vector functions, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, and vector calculus; and applications. This course fulfills the appropriate year’s requirement for Math, or may be taken as an elective.

Number Theory (PSU Mth 346) (DC)

Open to: All grades

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Completion of AP Calculus BC or demonstration of proficiency. Linear Algebra is recommended. 

This course is offered every other academic year. It will be offered in 2024-25

*This course offers 4 units of  dual credit with Portland State University. Number theory is the branch of pure mathematics concerned with the properties of integers. It is one of the oldest branches of mathematics, dating back to Euclid. One of its central objects of study is prime numbers and their properties and relations. Recently, number theory has found significant application in computer science and cryptography. This course fulfills the appropriate year’s requirement for Math, or may be taken as an elective.

Discrete Mathematics (PSU Mth 356) (DC)

Open to: All grades

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Completion of AP Calculus BC or demonstration of proficiency. Linear Algebra is recommended. 

This course is offered every other academic year. It will be offered next in 2025-26.

*This course offers 4 units of dual credit with Portland State University. Discrete mathematics is quickly becoming one of the most important areas of mathematical research, with applications to cryptography, engineering, and computer science. Topics of study include: combinatorics, probability, number theory, and graph theory. This course fulfills the appropriate year’s requirement for Math, or may be taken as an elective.

 Analysis and Topology

Open to: All grades

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Completion of AP Calculus BC and instructor permission. Linear Algebra is recommended.

This course is offered when there are a sufficient number of eligible students. It will be offered next in 2024-2025. 


Analysis and Topology begins with set theory, logic, and proof. Students recall the real number system's algebraic and order structures and achieve formalization by introducing additional properties. Other analysis topics include sequences, limits and their properties, series and convergence, the definition of a continuous function, and fundamental theorems of differential and integral calculus. Metric spaces lead naturally to topological spaces and related concepts such as connectedness, completeness, compactness, and separation. Continuous functions and homeomorphisms are introduced and studied. The course emphasizes rigorous mathematical proof based on a careful study of a variety of examples.



Trig/Functions/Statistics 

Open to: 12th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval? Yes

Course and Grade

Prerequisites: 2 years of Algebra and 1 year Geometry. Each student will receive placement based on their current teacher’s evaluation of course grades,class participation, and academic needs. Trig/Functions/Statistics is a fourth year math course focused on the mastery of critical skills and exposure to new skills necessary for success in subsequent math courses. The first semester covers linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, radical, polynomial, and rational functions with an emphasis on application and modeling. The second semester covers trigonometric ratios and functions; inverse trigonometric functions; applications of trigonometric functions, including law of sines and cosines; arithmetic and geometric sequences and series. The course will conclude with a study of fundamental statistics including measures of central tendency, measures of variation and measures of position; graphical displays of data; and formulating inferences and conclusions from data. The mathematical content is integrated with a variety of real world, socially relevant and environmental science applications and the use of the TI-89 graphing calculator technology. Throughout the course, students develop their computational fluency, deepen conceptual understanding and extended their knowledge through problem solving and real-world application. The course is intended to prepare students for College Algebra (Pre-Calculus) or  college-level statistics courses. This course fulfills an elective requirement for Math.


Computer Science

Intro to Computer Science and Programing (Elective)

Open to: 10th, 11th and 12th grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  None

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Application required

This first course in computer science offers a gentle introduction to programming using Snap!, Python, and Java. The course has three primary goals: to understand our digital world through computation, to learn the fundamentals of Java and object-oriented programming, and to prepare students for an Advanced Placement course in computer science.  Early emphasis on list processing allows us to explore data science and to transform media by manipulating digital audio and photographs.  In the second semester students create 2D games and simulations in Java.  No previous experience is required. This course fulfills an elective graduation requirement.


AP Computer Science (Elective)

Open to: 10th, 11th and 12th grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Completion of Intro to CS, and Approval of course teacher

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. This course explores object-oriented methodology using the programming language Java.  Emphasis is placed on problem solving and algorithm development.  Equivalent to a first-semester college course in computer science, the course covers basic data structures, design, and abstraction.  Course content is a superset of the College Board course requirements and prepares students for the AP Computer Science A Exam. This course fulfills an elective graduation requirement.

Data Structures (Elective)

Open to: 11th and 12th grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: This is a post-AP course, following completion of Computer Science (AP)

As we design programs we seek solutions which are not only correct but which scale effectively to handle very large data sets. Searching social media, finding the shortest path in a graph, recognizing images or speech, designing an AI strategy for a game; these tasks require careful choice of data structure and algorithm. The Advanced Placement course introduced object-oriented programming as well as basic algorithms and the Java array/ArrayList data structures. This course examines linear structures, priority queues, tree structures, hash tables, maps, and graphs. Students will continue their study of Java as they implement and make use of advanced Java data structures in group projects throughout the year. This course fulfills an elective graduation requirement.