MATHEMATICS

The Mathematics course has been created to offer all senior secondary students the opportunity to advance their mathematical skills, to build and use mathematical models, to solve problems, to learn how to conjecture and to reason logically, and to gain an appreciation of the elegance, beauty and creative nature of mathematics. Students use numbers and symbols to represent many situations in the world around them. They examine how mathematical methods associated with number, algebra and calculus allow for precise, strong conclusions to be reached, providing a form of argument not available to other disciplines.

MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST (ATAR)

NOTE 1: Specialist attracts a tertiary entrance aggregate bonus. 10% of the scaled score for Mathematics Specialist will be added to the student’s tertiary entrance aggregate before their final ATAR is calculated.
NOTE 2: Cannot be taken in combination with Mathematics Applications.
This course provides opportunities, beyond those presented in the Mathematics Methods ATAR course, to develop rigorous mathematical arguments and proofs, and to use mathematical models more extensively. Mathematics Specialist contains topics in functions and calculus that build on and deepen the ideas presented in the Mathematics Methods course, as well as demonstrate their application in many areas. The Mathematics Specialist course also extends understanding and knowledge of statistics and introduces the topics of vectors, complex numbers and matrices. Mathematics Specialist is the only ATAR mathematics course that should not be taken as a stand- alone course and it is recommended to be studied in conjunction with the Mathematics Methods ATAR course as preparation for entry to specialised university courses such as engineering, physical sciences and mathematics.

Pre-Requisites and resources required:

  • An ‘A’ Grade in Year 10 Mathematics with teacher recommendation.
  • Achieved Category 3 for OLNA Numeracy
  • Student will have to purchase a Casio Classpad calculator FX-CP400
  • Students will have to purchase the text – Mathematics Specialist units 1&2 by A.J. Sadler

MATHEMATICS METHODS (ATAR)

NOTE 1: Methods attracts a tertiary entrance aggregate bonus. 10% of the scaled score for Mathematics Methods will be added to the student’s tertiary entrance aggregate before their final ATAR is calculated.
NOTE 2: Cannot be taken in combination with Mathematics Applications. This course focuses on the use of calculus and statistical analysis. The study of calculus provides a basis for understanding rates of change in the physical world, and includes the use of functions, their derivatives and integrals, in modelling physical processes. The study of statistics develops students’ ability to describe and analyse phenomena that involve
uncertainty and variation. Mathematics Methods provides a foundation for further studies in disciplines in which mathematics and statistics have important roles. It is also advantageous for further studies in the health and social sciences. In summary, this course is designed for students whose future pathways may involve mathematics and statistics and their applications in a range of disciplines at the tertiary level.

Pre-Requisites and resources required:

  • An ‘A’ Grade or strong ‘B’ grade in Year 10 Mathematics with the teacher recommendation
  • Achieved Category 3 for OLNA Numeracy
  • Student will have to purchase a Casio Classpad calculator FX-CP400
  • Students will have to purchase the texts – Mathematics Methods unit 1 &
  • Mathematics Methods unit 2 by A.J. Sadler

MATHEMATICS APPLICATIONS (ATAR)

NOTE: Cannot be taken in combination with Mathematics Methods or Mathematics Specialist.

This course focuses on the use of mathematics to solve problems in contexts that involve financial modeling, geometric and trigonometric analysis, graphical and network analysis, and growth and decay in sequences. It also provides opportunities for students to develop systematic strategies based on the statistical investigation process for answering statistical questions that involve analyzing univariate and bivariate data, including time series data.
The Mathematics Applications ATAR course is designed for students who want to extend their mathematical skills beyond Year 10 level, but whose future studies or employment pathways do not require knowledge of calculus. The course is designed for students who have a wide range of educational and employment aspirations, including continuing their studies at university or TAFE.

Pre-Requisites and resources required:

  • Strong ‘C’ grade or better in Year 10 Mathematics with teacher recommendations.
  • Achieved Category 3 for OLNA Numeracy
  • Student will have to obtain a Casio Classpad calculator CP-FX 400
  • Students will have to purchase the texts – Mathematics Applications unit 1 & Mathematics Applications unit 2 by A.J. Sadler
    Optional Resources: Mathematics Applications Yr 11 Course Revision series by O.T. Lee

MATHEMATICS ESSENTIAL (General)

The Mathematics Essential General course focuses on using mathematics effectively, efficiently and critically to make informed decisions. It provides students with the mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding to solve problems in real contexts for a range of workplace, personal, further learning and community settings. This course provides the opportunity for students to prepare for post-school options of employment and further training.

Pre-Requisites and resources required:

  • Complete a Year 10 Mathematics course
  • Achieved Category 2 or 3 for OLNA Numeracy
  • Students will need to purchase a Scientific Calculator
  • Students will have to purchase the text – Essential Mathematics units 1 & 2 by The Mathematical Association of Western Australia (MAWA)

ENROLLING AT YANCHEP SECONDARY COLLEGE

Yanchep Secondary College provides young people in the Yanchep area with a high quality, comprehensive education.