Course Descriptions

ALL students have the opportunity to place into advanced math courses by completing and excelling in prerequisite courses. Recommendations from teachers and placement assessments will be used to determine readiness for these advanced classes in the Spring.

Advanced Placement Calculus (AB)

Students who study AP Calculus (BC) will learn all of the topics covered in AP Calculus (AB) as well as the analysis of planar curves given in parametric form, polar form, and vector form; geometric interpretation of differential equations via slope fields; advanced techniques for antidifferentiation; models for logistic growth; and the convergence and divergence of series including the use of Taylor polynomials. The Advanced Placement Calculus BC exam is expected of all students in this course. Students must successfully complete Pre-Calculus before they can enroll in AP Calculus BC.

Advanced Placement Calculus (BC)

Advanced Placement Computer Science

This full year course provides programming experiences, which include features of programming languages, data types and structures, algorithms, applications of computing, games, and computer systems. The programming language taught in this course is JAVA. This course prepares a student to take the AP Computer Science Exam. The Advanced Placement Computer Science exam is expected of all students in this course. Students must successfully complete Algebra 2 before they can enroll in Advanced Placement Computer Science.

Advanced Placement Statistics

The AP Statistics course is an excellent option for any student who has successfully completed Algebra 2, Probability Statistics or Trigonometry. This course is comprised of four content themes: exploring data to describe patterns and departures from patterns, sampling and experimentation to plan and conduct a study, anticipating patterns by exploring random phenomena using probability and simulation, and statistical inference through estimating population parameters and testing hypotheses. The Advanced Placement Statistics exam is expected of all students in this course. Students must successfully complete Algebra 2 before they can enroll in AP Statistics.

Algebra 1

Algebra 1 formalizes and extends the mathematics students learned in the middle grades. Six critical areas comprise Algebra 1: Relationships Between Quantities and Reasoning with Equations, Linear Functions, Exponential Functions, Quadratic Functions, Descriptive Statistics, and a survey of other Nonlinear Functions. The critical areas deepen and extend understanding of linear and exponential relationships by contrasting them with each other and by applying linear models to data that exhibit a linear trend, and students engage in methods for analyzing, solving, and using quadratic functions. The Mathematical Practice Standards apply throughout each course and, together with the content standards, prescribe that students experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that makes use of their ability to make sense of problem situations.

Algebra 2

Algebra 2 continues to work with linear, quadratic, and exponential functions. Students extend their repertoire of functions to include polynomial, rational, radical, and trigonometric functions. In this course rational functions are limited to those whose numerators are of degree at most one and denominators of degree at most 2; radical functions are limited to square roots or cube roots of at most quadratic polynomials. Students work closely with the expressions that define the functions, and continue to expand and hone their abilities to model situations and to solve equations, including solving quadratic equations over the set of complex numbers and solving exponential equations using the properties of logarithms. The Mathematical Practice Standards apply throughout each course and, together with the content standards, prescribe that students experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that makes use of their ability to make sense of problem situations. Students must successfully complete Geometry before they can enroll in Algebra 2.

Foundations for College Algebra

Foundations for College Algebra reviews topics from Algebra 1 Common Core and Algebra 2 Common Core while extending to topics from advanced algebra. Concepts include systems of equations and inequalities; linear, exponential, and quadratic functions; polynomial, rational, and radical expressions and functions; and applications of complex numbers, logarithms. Additional topics will include conics, sequences and series and the binomial theorem. This course is designed to prepare students for success in post-secondary mathematics as well as the SAT, ACT and Accuplacer assessments. Students must successfully complete Algebra 2 before they can enroll in Foundations for College Algebra.

Geometry

Geometry formalizes and extends students’ geometric experiences from the middle grades. Students explore more complex geometric situations and deepen their explanations of geometric relationships, moving towards formal mathematical arguments. Six critical areas comprise the Geometry course: Congruence, Proof and Constructions, Connecting Algebra and Geometry through Coordinates, Similarity, Proof and Trigonometry, Extending to Three Dimensions, and Circles With and Without Coordinates. The Mathematical Practice Standards apply throughout each course and, together with the content standards, prescribe that students experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that makes use of their ability to make sense of problem situations. Students must pass Algebra I to enroll in Geometry. Students must pass Geometry to enroll in Financial Algebra or Algebra 2.

Pre-Calculus

Pre-Calculus focuses on standards to prepare students for a more intense study of mathematics. The critical areas, organized in six units, delve deeper into content from previous courses. The six units are polynomial, rational, and radical functions; exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions; analytic geometry; matrix algebra; and sequences, series, and limits. Students synthesize their conceptual understanding of algebraic and transcendental function families. This improved understanding of functions is applied to solving real world problems that require students to build and/or interpret functions. Students also improve their understandings of the properties of mathematics that allow them to hone their ability to manipulate algebraic expressions, equations and inequalities. The study of circles and parabolas is extended to include other conics such as ellipses and hyperbolas. Trigonometric functions are further developed to include inverses, general triangles and identities. Matrices provide an organizational structure in which to represent and solve complex problems. Students expand the concepts of complex numbers and the coordinate plane to represent and operate upon vectors. The Mathematical Practice Standards apply throughout each course and, together with the content standards, prescribe that students experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that makes use of their ability to make sense of problem situations. Students must successfully complete Algebra 2 before they can enroll in Precalculus.

Probability/Statistics

In this semester course, students will study descriptive and inferential statistics. Students will explore topics including descriptive statistics, probability, normal distribution, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and regression . Students will use graphing calculators in activities that are appropriate to the topics being studied. This course may be paired with Maryland College and Career Ready Mathematics or Trigonometry. Students must successfully complete Algebra 2 before they can enroll in Probability and Statistics.

Quantitative Modeling

Quantitative Modeling algebra is a college and career preparatory course that integrates algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics to solve financial problems that occur in everyday life. An emphasis is placed on the integration of concepts from Algebra 1 and Geometry as well as introductory concepts from Algebra 2. Real-world problems in investing, banking, consumer credit, employment, income tax, automobile ownership, and independent living are solved through applying the relevant mathematics. This course will prepare students for Algebra 2 as well as either the Accuplacer, SAT or ACT assessments. Each student enrolled in Quantitative Modeling will participate in a culminating hands-on budgeting simulation that is implemented at a JA Finance Park facility in Prince George’s County. Students must successfully complete Algebra 1 and Geometry before they can enroll in Quantitative Modeling.

Trigonometry

In this semester course, students will study descriptive and inferential statistics. Students will explore topics including descriptive statistics, probability, normal distribution, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and regression. Students will use graphing calculators in activities that are appropriate to the topics being studied. This course may be paired with Maryland College and Career Ready Mathematics or Probability and Statistics (semester). Students must successfully complete Algebra 2 before they can enroll in Trigonometry.