Math
Mission
The Mathematics Department encourages students to develop an understanding and appreciation of the science and language of mathematics.
Overview
The mathematics courses offered by York House School are in compliance with the BC Ministry of Education designated Mathematics Curriculum Guide at all grade levels. The curriculum is, however, accelerated and enriched wherever possible according to the readiness of a particular group. In each grade, emphasis is placed on learning the language of mathematics and on developing reasoning and problem solving skills. As well, each curriculum includes the use of suitable manipulatives and technology wherever possible.
Placement
Students will be placed in a mathematics course only if they have documented credit for the prerequisite. Further information is available from the Director of University Admissions. Students in Grades 9-12 are placed in ability groupings based on their demonstrated mathematical readiness and overall suitability to the demands of the honours and accelerated programs. Students interested in the honours or accelerated programs for Grade 8 will be tested in order to determine which program is most suitable. Student placement is determined by the Math Department in June for the following school year. Incoming students to Grades 8-12 will be assessed individually. This may include writing a test for placement. Student placement is not fixed and may change if the teacher believes the pace is not meeting the student’s individual needs.
Homework
Students are expected to do regular practice in mathematics through daily homework assignments. There is an expectation that the student will attempt and complete each assignment to the best of her ability prior to the next class. Participation in class is a necessary component of every course.
Evaluation and Testing Procedures
Evaluation takes place regularly throughout the year, and the major portion of a student’s grade is based on her results from tests and quizzes. The test dates will be given well in advance, and the Department adheres to a no retest policy. There is a cumulative test (in January or February) and a final examination, both of which include the entire curriculum taught up to that point. Students in Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 will write a compulsory Provincial Examination at the end of the school year which counts for 20% of their final grade. Students are encouraged to write at least one external mathematics contest during the year. The results of the contests are not factored into the student’s grade.
Internet as a Student Resource
The Mathematics Department policy, course outlines, and links to relevant Ministry of Education documents are available through the York House School website. Students should make use of the Internet to obtain copies of past mathematics contests, and Provincial and Advanced Placement (AP) exams for review and practice.
Calculators
Students in Grades 8 and 9 require a scientific calculator, and those in Grades 10 to 12 need a graphing calculator (recommended TI-83 plus or TI-84 plus). Students use the calculator as a tool to aid in problem solving, but are expected to do reasonable calculations mentally. Most tests consist of non-calculator and calculator sections.
Mathematics Program for students entering Grade 8
With the introduction of the new curriculum in the 2011-12 school year, the YHS Math Department has restructured the Enriched Program in order to provide students with opportunities to experience both an enriched and/or accelerated program. Students also have the option of following the core Math 8 program. Students in all three streams will have the opportunity to complete a Calculus course by the end of their Grade 12 year.
Mathematics 8
Prerequisite: Mathematics 7
The curriculum encourages the use of hands-on manipulatives. Students will be expected to solve and explain problems using concrete aids, in addition to using more abstract procedures. The philosophy of the curriculum will be followed, and students will be encouraged to process their mathematics from the following perspectives: communication, mental mathematics and estimation, problem solving, technology, connections, reasoning and visualization.
The topics to be covered in Mathematics 8 include: integer and fraction operations, the Pythagorean relationship, square roots, ratios and rates, percent, solving equations, surface area and volume of 3-D objects, representing data, probability, and tessellations. Problem solving is incorporated into all units.
For a complete description of the Math 8 curriculum, see the Ministry document at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/welcome.php
Textbook: Mathlinks 8
Mathematics 8/9/10 Accelerated
Prerequisite: Students must be recommended for this course by their previous York House School mathematics teacher. The basis for recommendation is a student’s achievement and mathematical strength.
This is a two-year program which covers the core course content at an accelerated pace. The Mathematics 8 curriculum and part of the Mathematics 9 curriculum will be completed in the Grade 8 academic year. Students will complete the Mathematics 9 curriculum and the course content of the Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 curriculum in their Grade 9 year. At the end of Grade 9, students in this stream will take the Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 provincial examination
Textbooks
(Grade 8): Mathlinks 8 and Math Makes Sense 9
(Grade 9): Math Makes Sense 9 and Foundations and Pre-Calculus 10
Mathematics 8/9/10 Honours
Prerequisite: Students must be recommended for this course by their previous York House School mathematics teacher. The basis for recommendation is a student’s achievement and mathematical strength.
Students who wish to move at an accelerated pace and follow an enriched curriculum may request placement in the Honours class. This class covers the same course content as the accelerated class. The work will be enriched, as it will be studied in greater depth. Students placed in this stream will receive both an Honours and a core mark on their report cards.
Students in the Accelerated and the Honours streams will obtain the necessary preparation to enable them to take Pre-Calculus 11 in their Grade 10 year. Students in the honours stream will be able to take AP Calculus in Grade 12, and those in the Accelerated stream may take Calculus 12 in their Grade 12 year.
Textbook: Mathlinks 8
Mathematics 9
Prerequisite: Mathematics 8
The curriculum encourages the use of hands-on manipulatives. Students will be expected to solve and explain problems using concrete aids, in addition to using more abstract procedures. The philosophy of the curriculum will be followed, and students will be encouraged to process their mathematics from the following perspectives: communication, mental mathematics and estimation, problem solving, technology, connections, reasoning and visualization.
The topics to be covered in Mathematics 9 include: powers and square roots; rational numbers; linear relations, equations, and inequalities; polynomials; transformations; circle geometry; probability and statistics. Problem solving is incorporated into all units.
For a complete description of the Math 9 curriculum, see the Ministry document at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/welcome.php
Textbook: Math Makes Sense 9
Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10*
Prerequisite: Mathematics 9
The topics to be covered in Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 include: measurement, trigonometry, factors and products, roots and powers, relations and functions, linear functions, and systems of linear equations. Problem solving is incorporated into all units.
For a complete description of the Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 curriculum, see the Ministry document at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/welcome.php
Textbook: Foundations and Pre-Calculus Mathematics 10
*All students will write the Provincial Examination in June, which will count for 20% of their final grade.
Pre-Calculus 11
Prerequisite: Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10
The topics covered in Pre-Calculus 11 include: sequences and series; trigonometry; quadratic functions, equations, and inequalities; radical expressions and equations; rational expressions and equations; absolute value and reciprocal functions; systems of equations and inequalities. Applications and problem solving are an integral components of all sections of the course.
For a complete description of the Pre-Calculus 11 curriculum, see the Ministry document at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/welcome.php
Textbook: Pre-Calculus 11
Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 Honours / Pre-Calculus 11 Honours
Prerequisite: Students must be recommended for this course by their previous York House School mathematics teacher. The basis for recommendation is a student’s achievement and mathematical strength.
Each grade level will follow the course content for the accelerated class. The work will be enriched, as it will be studied in greater depth. Students who successfully complete one of these courses will receive an Honours grade on her first and second term report; at the end of the year, the student will receive an Honours grade, as well as a core grade on her report card. It is expected that students in these courses will eventually enroll in the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB course in their Grade 12 year.
Textbooks: As indicated in the regular courses
Pre-Calculus 12
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus 11
A minimum of a ‘C’ in the final exam and a ‘C+’ for the year in Pre-Calculus 11 is highly recommended for entrance to Pre-Calculus 12.
The topics covered in Pre-Calculus 12 include: transformations,exponents and logarithms, trigonometric functions and equations, combinatorics, and polynomial, radical, and rational functions. Applications and problem solving are an integral part of the curriculum.
For a complete description of the Pre-Calculus 12 curriculum, see the Ministry document at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/welcome.php
Textbook: Pre-Calculus 12
Pre-Calculus 12 Accelerated*
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus 11 Honours
Corequisite: AP Calculus AB
The course will follow the content for the Pre-Calculus 12 class; however, the topics will be covered at a much faster pace in order to allow students to write the final examination in January.
Textbook: Pre-Calculus 12
Calculus 12*
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus 11
Corequisite: Pre-Calculus 12
Recommended a minimum ‘C+’ for final exam and a ‘B’ for the Pre-Calculus 11 course.
The topics covered include: (A) Differential Calculus: limits, derivatives, rates of change, explicit and implicit differentiation, higher order derivatives, velocity and acceleration, related rates, optimization problems, curve sketching (asymptotes, concavity and points of inflection), and derivatives of trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions; (B) Integration: meaning and some methodology may be introduced, time permitting.
Textbook: Calculus – A First Course (Stewart)
AP Calculus AB*
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus 11 Honours
Corequisite: : Pre-Calculus 12 Accelerated
The topics to be covered in this course include (A) functions, graphs and limits: analysis of graphs, asymptotic and unbounded behaviour, continuity as a property of functions; (B) derivatives: concept of the derivative (includes the study of limits), derivative at a point, derivative as a function, higher order derivatives, applications of derivatives, computation of derivatives; and (C) Integrals: Riemann sums, interpretations and properties of definite integrals, applications of integrals, fundamental theorem of calculus, techniques of antidifferentiation, applications of antiderivatives, and numerical approximations to definite integrals.
Textbooks: Calculus (Demona Waits), Calculus – Early Transcendentals (Anton) plus supplemental material when needed
*Students will write the AP Calculus AB exam in May. A minimum score of 3 or higher may grant the student a college credit at some institutions. Students must write the AP Calculus examination in order to receive AP credit for their course work. Students who choose not to write the AP Calculus examination in May, will write the School’s Calculus examination in June, and will be given a Calculus 12 credit at the end of the year (and on their transcript).