In undertaking General Maths Unit 3&4, students are expected to be able to apply techniques, routines and processes involving rational and real arithmetic, sets, lists, tables and matrices, diagrams and geometric constructions, algorithms, algebraic manipulation, recurrence relations, equations and graphs, with and without the use of technology. They should have facility with relevant mental and by-hand approaches to estimation and computation. The use of numerical, graphical, geometric, symbolic, financial and statistical functionality of technology for teaching and learning mathematics, for working mathematically, and in related assessment, is to be incorporated throughout each unit as applicable.
General Mathematics Units 3 and 4 focus on real-life application of mathematics and consist of the areas of study 'Data analysis, probability and statistics' and 'Discrete mathematics'.
Unit 3 comprises Data analysis and Recursion and financial modelling, and Unit 4 comprises Matrices and Networks and decision mathematics.
Year 11s may enrol in this subject
1. Apply computational thinking and use numerical, graphical, symbolic and statistical functionalities of technology to develop mathematical ideas, produce results and carry out analysis in situations requiring investigative, modelling or problem-solving techniques or approaches.
2. Model and analyse different types of data using graphs and statistics.
3. Apply various techniques to calculate and analyse different financial scenarios for depreciation, loan or investment.
4. Define and represent a range of situations using different types of matrices.
4. Represent and model different problems using directed or undirected networks.
Unit 3 AoS 1: Students cover data types, representation and distribution of data, location, spread, association, correlation and causation, response and explanatory variables, linear regression, data transformation and goodness of fit, times series, seasonality, smoothing and prediction.
Unit 3 AoS 2: Students cover the use of first-order linear recurrence relations and the time value of money (TVM) to model and analyse a range of financial situations, and using technology to solve related problems involving interest, appreciation and depreciation, loans, annuities and perpetuities.
Unit 4 AoS 1: Students cover the definition of matrices, different types of matrices, matrix operations, transition matrices and the use of first-order linear matrix recurrence relations to model a range of situations and solve related problems.
Unit 4 AoS 2: Students cover the definition and representation of different kinds of undirected and directed graphs, Eulerian trails, Eulerian circuits, bridges, Hamiltonian paths and cycles, and the use of networks to model and solve problems involving travel, connection, flow, matching, allocation and scheduling.
In-class application and analysis tasks.
General Mathematics can be a pre-requisite subject for some courses to fulfil the mathematics requirement. It also provides a lifelong skill such as finance management.