Grades: 9-12
Length: one semester
Credit: 0.5
Prerequisite: Algebra 1 or teacher recommendation
Survey of Math in Society serves students by preparing them for the math on which our society operates. Students will learn the vocabulary behind managing their money and how to estimate the hypothetical future values of their accounts, taking risk into account. They will learn the fundamentals of statistics and probability so they can understand how data is summarized and interpreted. Lastly, students will learn to teach computers to calculate and parse using an object-oriented language (Python recommended). This course is intended to be project/activity driven, rather than test-driven.
(Recommended Order)
Basic Finance
Statistics: Summarizing Data
Statistics: Experiments and Probability
Computer Science
M1.9-12.1: The learner will write, apply, and provide a rationale for a mathematical model representing a given situation.
M1.9-12.2: The learner will interpret and use symbols to express relationships and justify reasoning when solving problems.
M3.9-12.1: The learner will use computational strategies and algorithms and provide rationale for their use.
M3.9-12.2: The learner will reason quantitatively when analyzing, representing, and solving problems.
M3.9-12.3: The learner will compare the effectiveness or logic of two plausible arguments or models.
M4.9-12.1: The learner will provide rationale for solving measurement problems that require making conversions among various units and measurement systems, or applying the effect of a scale factor.
M5.9-12.1: The learner will apply properties of arithmetic and algebra to simplify and manipulate symbolic expressions or models.
M5.9-12.2: The learner will write and apply algebraic modes to represent and answer questions about a given situation.
M5.9-12.3: The learner will interpret, analyze, and use relations and functions applied in a variety of contexts, including real-world phenomena.
M5.9-12.4: The learner will analyze relations and functions, using multiple representations.
M5.9-12.5: The learner will identify, build, and perform operations on relations and functions and justify their reasoning.
M7.9-12.1: The learner will formulate questions to clarify the problem at hand and formulate one (or more) questions that can be answered with data.
M7.9-12.2: The learner will design and implement a plan to collect the appropriate data to answer the statistical question.
M7.9-12.3: The learner will summarize data using appropriate statistics.
M7.9-12.4: The learner will select appropriate graphical and numerical methods, and use these methods to represent the data in a way that supports interpretation.
M7.9-12.5: The learner will interpret descriptive statistics and linear models within the context of the data and the original question.
M3 – Reasoning and Strategic Thinking: The learner will use evidence to support authentic application of concepts and support mathematical arguments.
M5 – Algebraic Functions, Patterns and Relations: The learner will utilize patterns, relations, and functions to compare, interpret, and analyze situations.
M3.9-12.1
M3.9-12.2
M5.9-12.1
M5.9-12.2
M5.9-12.3
Must be Covered:
The learner will:
Perform basic calculations with tax tables and incomes.
Compare levels of withholding.
Calculate potential earnings in different account types from banks and credit unions.
Compare different types of securities and mutual funds.
Compare pre- and post-tax accounts.
Evaluate the risks associated with taking on debt and building credit.
Using technology, create an amortization table of a hypothetical home purchase and compare it to renting for the same amount of time.
State the purpose of insurance.
Compare health insurance plans using the following vocabulary: premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, copay, coinsurance.
Calculate cost of different medical situations under different plans.
Compare auto insurance plans using the following vocabulary: premium, liability, uninsured, underinsured, collision, and comprehensive.
Calculate cost of different hypothetical automotive accidents on different insurance packages.
Can be Covered:
The learner will:
Calculate hypothetical future values of pre- and post-tax accounts
Compare other investing options (such as minerals, real estate, and cryptocurrency), and assess the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Compare banks versus credit unions.
Set financial goals for themselves to plan for retirement.
Compare other forms of insurance: home, life, renters, etc.
AKSS
F-BF.1, F-LE.1,
F-LE.2, F-LE.3,
F-LE.5, A-CED.1,
A-CED.2, A-REI.3
Mathematical Practices
All mathematical practices are present in each unit.
This unit is first so students can invest hypothetical money in any way they choose and calculate the value of this at the end of the semester.
M1 – Symbolic Expression: The learner will be able to reason abstractly and utilize symbolic expressions and mathematical models.
M3 – Reasoning and Strategic Thinking: The learner will use evidence to support authentic application of concepts and support mathematical arguments.
M4 - Measurement: The learner will explain reasoning when applying and modeling geometric principles.
M7 – Data, Analysis, Probability, and Statistics: The learner will apply statistical methods to summarize, represent, analyze, and interpret data.
M1.9-12.1
M3.9-12.1
M3.9-12.2
M3.9-12.3
M4.9-12.1
M7.9-12.1
M7.9-12.3
M7.9-12.4
M7.9-12.5
Must be Covered:
The learner will:
In a data set, identify the individuals and variables (categorical vs. quantitative), and summarize the distribution with a frequency or relative frequency table.
Create bar charts from categorical data, and interpret and compare bar charts and pie charts.
Make, interpret, and compare dot plots of quantitative data.
Make, interpret, and compare histograms of quantitative data.
Find the mean and median of a distribution of quantitative data, and identify the more appropriate measure of center in a given situation.
Calculate (using technology) and interpret the following measures of spread: range, interquartile range, and standard deviation.
Use the 1.5 x interquartile range rule to identify outliers in a data set.
Make, interpret, and compare boxplots of quantitative data.
Make a scatter plot of and describe the relationship between two quantitative variables.
Make a line of best fit using technology.
Distinguish between correlation and causation.
Use regression lines to make predictions.
Interpret the slope and y-intercept of a regression line.
Can be Covered:
The learner will:
Find and interpret a percentile from a distribution of quantitative data.
Estimate and interpret the correlation between two quantitative variables displayed in a scatterplot.
Calculate and interpret sample variance.
Make predictions using non-linear models.
Calculate and interpret a z-score from an approximately normal population.
AKSS
S-ID.1, S-ID.2,
S-ID.3, S-ID.6,
S-ID.7, S-ID.8,
S-ID.9
Mathematical Practices
All mathematical practices are present in each unit.
M1 – Symbolic Expression: The learner will be able to reason abstractly and utilize symbolic expressions and mathematical models.
M3 – Reasoning and Strategic Thinking: The learner will use evidence to support authentic application of concepts and support mathematical arguments.
M7 – Data, Analysis, Probability, and Statistics: The learner will apply statistical methods to summarize, represent, analyze, and interpret data.
M1.9-12.3
M3.9-12.1
M3.9-12.2
M3.9-12.3
M7.9-12.2
M7.9-12.3
M7.9-12.4
Must be Covered:
The learner will:
Identify good statistical questions, and identify the population and sample in a statistical study.
Distinguish between an observational study and an experiment.
Define and describe convenience, voluntary response, and random sampling.
Describe how sampling method affects bias.
Explain the concepts of sampling variability and how to reduce it.
Describe how to obtain a simple random sample.
Use simulations to test a claim about a population proportion.
Explain how under-coverage, nonresponse, measurement, and other aspects of a sample survey can lead to bias.
Explain confounding and the placebo effect.
Explain the purpose of comparison and blinding in an experiment.
Describe how to randomly assign treatments and explain the purpose.
Identify other sources of variability in an experiment.
Outline an experiment that uses a completely randomized design.
Determine if it is appropriate to make an inference about cause and effect.
Evaluate if a study has been carried out ethically.
Can be Covered:
The learner will:
Find the margin of error for a sample proportion and sample mean using simulation.
AKSS
S-IC.1, S-IC.2,
S-IC.3, S-IC.4,
S-IC.5, S-IC.6
Mathematical Practices
All mathematical practices are present in each unit.
Student propose a research question, create a method for collecting data randomly, and present their findings.
M1 – Symbolic Expression: The learner will be able to reason abstractly and utilize symbolic expressions and mathematical models.
M3 – Reasoning and Strategic Thinking: The learner will use evidence to support authentic application of concepts and support mathematical arguments.
M4 - Measurement: The learner will explain reasoning when applying and modeling geometric principles.
M5 – Algebraic Functions, Patterns and Relations: The learner will utilize patterns, relations, and functions to compare, interpret, and analyze situations.
M7 – Data, Analysis, Probability, and Statistics: The learner will apply statistical methods to summarize, represent, analyze, and interpret data.
M1.9-12.1
M1.9-12.2
M3.9-12.1
M3.9-12.2
M3.9-12.3
M4.9-12.1
M5.9-12.1
M5.9-12.3
M5.9-12.4
M5.9-12.5
M7.9-12.1
M7.9-12.2
M7.9-12.3
Must be Covered:
The learner will:
Identify a general history of computers, how to recognize their components, the functions of those components, and a basic understanding of how they operate.
Differentiate between an editor and compiler.
Identify and troubleshoot different error types in computer programming: Syntax, Logic, and Semantic.
Learn basic reserved words in the selected language for the class.
Write programs using different data types: string, int, float, Booleans.
Write programs with the following math operators: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, modulus, and exponentiation.
Write programs that take user input to print a variety of responses.
Write programs with the following string operators: concatenation.
Utilize comments to annotate their programs, create drafts, and debug.
Write programs using the following logical operators: and, or.
Create functions without parameters.
Write programs that contain basic conditional statements.
Write programs and evaluate logic statements that contain the following comparison operators: = =, !=, <, >, <=, >=.
Write programs that iterate using “for” and “while” loops.
Can be Covered:
The learner will:
Create functions with parameters.
Write programs that contain chained/ nested conditional statements.
Write programs with the following math operators: Floor, Ceiling.
Logical Operators: xor and not.
Utilize dictionaries to display information to the user.
Write programs to parse a list/ array and extract specific elements of that list/ array.
AKSS
F-IF.2, F-BF.1,
F-LE.1, F-LE.2,
F-LE.5, A-CED.1,
A-CED.2, A-REI.3
Mathematical Practices
All mathematical practices are present in each unit.