Mathematics Methods - Stage 2

Mandatory: No

Duration: Full year

Description

The Mathematical Methods course consists of exploration and investigation of problems in two areas of calculus and statistics. Students develop an increasingly complex and sophisticated understanding of the two areas through learning about various functions, and the derivatives and integrals of the functions. Students build capacity to use the language of mathematics to describe relationships in nature and society, such as pandemics, and learn to make decisions about situations in the physical world by using statistical data to describe and analyse situations and make predictions based on calculations of rate of change of functions.

Mathematical Methods provides a solid foundation for further study into mathematics, economics, computer science and the sciences. It prepares students for courses and careers involving statistics such as health or social sciences.

When studied together with Specialist Mathematics this subject becomes a pathway to engineering, physical science and laser physics courses.

Topics studied include:

• Further differentiation and applications
• Discrete random variables
• Integral Calculus
• Logarithmic functions
• Continuous random variables
• Sampling and confidence intervals

Assessment for this course consists of six skills and assessment tasks, 50%, a mathematical investigation, 20%, and the final examination weighing 30%.