The mathematics curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students who have varying backgrounds, knowledge and abilities, as well as diverse interests and career goals. The three main goals of the mathematics program are to develop mathematical skills, to encourage an attitude toward mathematics that encourages subsequent learning and application of mathematical concepts and skills, and to foster an understanding of the role of mathematics in society.

Typical Mathematics Course Sequences

It is recommended that students take mathematics during all four years of high school, and the math department offers several programs to meet the needs of students. College bound students who plan to enter fields which do not necessarily require an extensive mathematics background can take a sequence of courses that may include Algebra II; Functions, Statistics and Trig; and AP Statistics. Students who plan to enter fields requiring a strong foundation in higher mathematics (engineering, pure sciences) can take a sequence of courses that could include Algebra II/Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus I-AB, and AP Calculus II-BC. All students must earn two mathematics credits in high school, one of which must be at the level of geometry or higher. The following chart shows the typical sequence of courses:

To qualify for enrollment in a mathematics course, students are expected to pass the prerequisite courses that are listed in this booklet and to obtain the recommendation of their current teacher. Students who transfer to SAS from schools which do not offer these courses or who come from an integrated math program will be interviewed and/or tested by a mathematics department member to determine the appropriate class placement.

Algebra I A

Number: 43000       Grade: 9              Length: Year               Credit: Math

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This course is the first of a two-year Algebra course sequence and is designed for those students not yet ready for rigor of a traditional Algebra I course. This two-year combination of courses gives students more flexibility in their pace of learning. Concepts will be developed over more time, with an emphasis on conceptual understanding as well as symbolic. The course will review the skills of working with negative numbers, decimals, fractions, and percent necessary to succeed in Algebra. The course continues with the use of variables, words into symbols, real numbers and their properties, solving equations and inequalities, polynomials, linear equations and inequalities, graphs of linear equations, and problem solving. Following Algebra I A, students will move on to Algebra I B.

Algebra I B

Number: 43001       Grade: 10            Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: Algebra I A

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This class is the second of a two-year Algebra I curriculum designed to help students complete the requirements of a traditional first year Algebra course with more flexibility in their pace of learning. Concepts will be developed over more time, with an emphasis on conceptual understanding as well as symbolic. The course will include: solving systems of linear equations and inequalities, exponents and exponential functions, quadratic equations and functions, polynomials and factoring, rational functions and coordinate geometry. Following the successful completion of Algebra I B, students will be prepared for Geometry.

Algebra I

Number 43003        Grade: 9-11         Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: Pre-Algebra, Foundations of Math, or equivalent

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This is the standard high school Algebra I course designed for students who have mastered the basic mathematics skills and concepts of Pre-Algebra. Algebra I covers the properties of algebraic expressions, equation solving, inequalities and systems, graphing of first and second degree functions, and dealing with exponential expressions, polynomials, and rational expressions. The approach used will emphasize problem solving, oral and written communication, and reasoning skills. Mathematical connections will be made throughout the course, including patterning, geometry, and probability and statistics, with a strong emphasis on technology.

Geometry

Number: 43011       Grade: 9-12         Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: Algebra I or the Algebra I A/B sequence

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Algebra 1. The course integrates a traditional Euclidean deductive approach with an inductive approach in which investigative, hands-on activities help students to more fully understand the concepts studied. The first semester includes writing flow chart, two-column and paragraph proofs, and throughout the course there is a strong emphasis on the application of algebra to solving geometric problems. The course covers logic, triangles, congruency, quadrilaterals, polygons, similarity, circles, and area and volume of two- and three-dimensional shapes. This course satisfies the prerequisites for Algebra II and Algebra II/Trigonometry.

Algebra II

Number: 43004       Grade: 9-12         Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: Geometry

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This is the standard high school Algebra II course designed for students who have mastered the basic mathematical skills and concepts of Algebra I.  This course enables students to broaden their understanding of relationships and extend their problem-solving and algebraic skills through investigation, effective use of technology, and abstract reasoning. Students will solve and apply linear systems; explore radical, rational, quadratic, and higher degree polynomial relations and their applications; and investigate the relationship between logarithmic and exponential functions. Students will reason mathematically and communicate their thinking as they solve multi-step problems.  This course is a prerequisite for Functions, Statistics and Trigonometry (FST).

Algebra II/Trigonometry

Number: 43012       Grade: 9-12         Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: Geometry and teacher recommendation

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This course is required for students who plan to go directly into Pre-Calculus. All students who plan to study math-related and technical fields are encouraged to enroll in this course. This course is an accelerated second year algebra program including an introduction to trigonometry. Algebra topics are expanded to include complex numbers, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Applications are integrated into all major topics. Algebra II/Trigonometry is considered a core course for any student who plans to pursue mathematics or math-related fields in college. On students’ transcripts this course is designated as being equivalent to an honors course.

Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry (FST)

Number: 43006       Grade: 10-12       Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: Algebra II or Algebra II/Trigonometry

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This course serves as a link from Algebra II to Pre-Calculus, AP Statistics or to most standard first-year college algebra courses. It reviews concepts learned in Algebra II and introduces most of the main concepts taught in Pre-Calculus. Functions, Statistics and Trigonometry (FST) is less rigorous than Pre-Calculus. Throughout the year students will be expected to explore data, graphs and functions. This course covers modeling, statistics, trigonometry, polynomials, logarithms and exponentials, as well as sequences and series.

Pre-Calculus

Number: 43020       Grade: 10-12       Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: Algebra II/Trigonometry or FST with teacher recommendation

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This course is the study of functions and function theory. Elementary functions as well as logarithmic, exponential, and trigonometric functions are studied in depth. Arithmetic and geometric sequences and series will also be studied. The course is a prerequisite for Calculus. For students who take this course during the senior year, Pre-Calculus provides an excellent foundation for pursuing math studies at the university level. On students’ transcripts this course is designated as being equivalent to an honors course.

Discrete Mathematics

Number: 43017       Grade: 11-12       Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: FST recommended

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This course provides an introduction to a variety of contemporary topics that are useful in various fields such as business and social sciences, as well as the physical and computer sciences. The topics may include probability and statistics, logic, graph theory, linear programming, game theory, recursion and difference equations, modular arithmetic and information theory. The course is geared for the student who wants to continue on in math and learn many real life applications, but might not intend to pursue AP level math classes.

AP Statistics

Number: 43028       Grade: 11-12       Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: Functions, Statistics and Trigonometry or Algebra II/Trig

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. The four major themes are exploring data, planning a study, anticipating patterns, and statistical inference.

AP Calculus I AB

Number: 43026       Grade: 11-12       Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: Pre-Calculus

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator

This course covers topics typically found in a first year calculus course at US universities. The course covers limits, continuity, differentiation, and integration, and their applications. This course requires a solid pre-calculus background.

AP Calculus BC with Multivariable Calculus

Number: 43027       Grade: 11-12       Length: Year               Credit: Math

Prerequisites: AP Calculus I - AB

Special Requirements: TI-84 (preferred) or TI-83 (acceptable) graphing calculator