|
Academics at Saint Mary High School
Mathematics Department
Faculty:
Mrs. Carol Sgroi, chair
csgroi@stmaryhs.com
Mr. Daniel Maak
dmaak@stmaryhs.com
Mrs. Anna Hitchcock
ahitchcock@stmaryhs.com
The Mathematics Department strives to use math as a tool to help students succeed both in school, in advanced educational institutions, and in their careers. The department feels that all students will have developed skills, critical thinking, and problem solving that will enable them to pursue further related fields and provide the competence and confidence to succeed.
The Math Department reflects the mission of the school in that the curriculum challenges each student to reach his/her highest potential by providing two levels of instruction. These are provided to accommodate the different levels of cognitive development in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.
Calculator skills are used in certain areas of the geometry curriculum. Scientific and graphing calculators are used in advanced mathematics and calculus courses.
301 – Algebra I
This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of Algebra. Some of the topics covered are: variables, polynomials, algebraic fractions, polynomial division, an introduction to functions, and systems of linear equations. An overriding objective of this course is the increased mastery of problem solving techniques.
312 – Advanced Algebra I
This course is an extension of the topics covered in Algebra I, taught at an advanced level to those students qualifying for an honors course. In addition to: polynomials, algebraic fractions, polynomial division, an introduction to functions, and systems of linear equations, students will also cover inequalities, and rational/irrational numbers.
304 – Geometry
The goals of this course are to develop student proficiency with geometric skills and to expand their understanding of geometric concepts. The course will cover, in logical sequence the following: points, lines and planes, angles, perpendicular lines, parallel lines, congruent triangles, polygons, similar triangles, right triangles and circles. Throughout the course, the concepts the students learn will assist them in organization of their ideas. They will gradually be led to the concepts of geometric proofs.
314 – Advanced Geometry
Prerequisite: B+ in Algebra I, teacher recommendation and approval
This course is an extension of the topics covered in Geometry, taught at an advanced level to those students qualifying for an honors course. In addition to: points, lines and planes, angles, perpendicular lines, parallel lines, congruent triangles, polygons, similar triangles, right triangles and circles, the course will also cover area and volume and plane figures.
362 – Algebra II
Topics covered are basic concepts of Algebra, equations and inequalities, absolute value, linear equations and functions, linear systems, polynomials, factoring with application, rational expressions, irrational and complex numbers, and quadratic equations. Word problems are incorporated within each topic.
363 – Advanced Algebra II
Prerequisite B+ in Algebra I or teacher recommendation and approval
This course is an extension of the topics covered in Algebra II taught at an advanced level to those students qualifying for an honors course. In addition to: equations and inequalities, absolute value, linear equations and functions, linear systems, polynomials, factoring with application, rational expressions, irrational and complex numbers and quadratic equations, the course will include: quadratic equations, quadratic functions, graphing quadratic equations, analytic geometry, circles, parabolas, ellipses and hyperbolas. Word problems are incorporated within each topic.
318 – Advanced Math
Prerequisite: B in Advanced Algebra II, teacher recommendation
The goals of this course are to extend upon the concepts and topics of Algebra and Geometry – leading into Calculus. The topics covered are linear functions, quadratic equations, polynomial functions, trigonometric functions with applications, sequences and series, probability and exponential and logarithmic functions.
309 – Calculus
The goals of this course are to acquaint the students with the basic concepts in an intuitive yet intellectual way and to illustrate the many applications of Calculus to the biological, social, economical and management sciences. This covers the derivative with applications, techniques of differentiation, exponential and natural logarithm functions with applications, the definite integral, and techniques of integration.
310 – Trigonometry and Functions
This course will cover an in-depth analysis of functions and relations beginning with linear functions. In addition, the course will also cover radicals, quadratic, trigonometric, circular, and logarithmic functions. This course is intended for students who wish to continue their study of mathematics, but do not wish to take Calculus.
364 - AP Calculus AB
Prerequisite: A in Advanced Math, teacher recommendation
This course is intended for students who are capable of excelling in mathematics, able to comprehend mathematics and complete coursework of the college level, and are interested in the potential of receiving college credit for this class. The course covers the following topics: functions represented in a variety of ways: graphical, numerical, analytical, or verbal, the derivative in terms of a rate of change and local linear approximation and the ability to use derivatives to solve a variety of problems, and the ability to use the definite integral both as a limit of Riemann sums and as the net accumulation of change; the relationship between derivative and the definite integral as expressed in both parts of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
|
