VCE General Mathematics:

General Mathematics Units 1–4 provide for the study of non-calculus and discrete mathematics topics. They are designed to be widely accessible and provide preparation for general employment, business or further study, in particular where data analysis, recursion and financial modelling, networks and matrices are important. 

Who should select General Mathematics

General Mathematics is aimed at students who wish to continue studying mathematics to ensure they have a range of employment and study options available in the future. Students who have an interest in financial mathematics and data analysis should consider this subject. It is expected students have successfully completed Year 10 Core mathematics with an average assessment score above 60%.

Potential Future Careers:

• Science

• Education/Teaching

• Nursing

• Health and Physical Education

• Information Technology

• Accounting and Finance

Unit 1 and 2 cater for a range of student interests, provide preparation for the study of VCE General Mathematics at the Units 3 and 4 level and contain assumed knowledge and skills for these units. Areas of study are: 

1. Algebra, number and structure 

   • Arithmetic and geometric sequences, first-order linear recurrence relations and financial mathematics

2. Data analysis, probability and statistics 

   • Investigating and comparing data distributions

   • Investigating relationships between two numerical variables

3. Discrete mathematics 

   • Matrices

   • Graphs and Networks

4. Functions, relations and graphs 

   • Linear functions, graphs, equations and models

   • Variation

5. Space and Measurement

   • Space, measurement and applications of trigonometry

Unit 3 and 4 focus on real-life application of mathematics and consist of the following areas of study:

1. Data analysis, probability and statistics 

   • Investigating data distributions

   • Investigating association between two variables

   • Investigating and modelling linear associations, transformations and time series data

2. Discrete mathematics 

   • Recursion and financial modelling

   • Depreciation of assets

   • Compound interest investments and loans

   • Annuities and perpetuities

   • Matrices and their applications

   • Transition matrices

   • Networks and decision mathematics

   • Matching problems

   • Scheduling problems and critical path analysis

Duration: 5 lessons per week - Year long subject

Maths and Numeracy Learning Area Leader - Lizzy Barker