MATHEMATICS

Mathematics in New South Wales is compulsory in Years 7 to 10, with its study being optional in Years 11 and 12. Different levels of study are available depending on a boy's ability, interest and future use of the subject.

The aim of Mathematics at The King's School is to promote student's appreciation of the subject and develop their mathematical thinking, understanding, confidence and competence in solving mathematical problems.

This aim is to be achieved through developing students' capacities to :

- acquire a mathematical knowledge, operational facility, concepts, logical reasoning, symbolic representation and terminology appropriate to their stage of mathematical development and in preparation for further study of Mathematics

- interpret, organise and analyse mathematical information and data

- apply mathematical knowledge and skills to creatively and effectively solve problems in familiar and unfamiliar situations

- communicate mathematical information and data

- justify mathematical results and give proofs where appropriate, making connections between important mathematical ideas and concepts

- value mathematics as an important component of their lives.

Years 7 to 10

In achieving these aims students develop:

- appreciation of mathematics as an essential and relevant part of life

- knowledge, understanding and skills in working mathematically

- knowledge, understanding and skills in Algebra

- knowledge, understanding and skills in Data

- knowledge, understanding and skills in Geometry

- knowledge, understanding and skills in Measurement

- knowledge, understanding and skills in Number

Whilst students study the same course in years 7 and 8, the levels of study in years 9 and 10 are Advanced, Intermediate and Standard.

Years 11 and 12

The four courses offered by the Board of Studies in these years are General Mathematics (replacing Mathematics in Society and Mathematics in Practice), Mathematics (2 unit), Mathematics Extension 1 (3 unit) and Mathematics Extension 2 (4 unit).

General Mathematics

The aim of the General Mathematics course is to promote the development of skills, knowledge and understanding in areas of mathematics that have direct application to the broad range of human activity.

In achieving this aim students develop:

- appreciation of the relevance of mathematics

- the ability to apply mathematical skills and techniques to interpret practical situations

- the ability to communicate mathematics in written and/or verbal form

- skills, knowledge and understanding in financial mathematics

- skills, knowledge and understanding in data analysis

- skills, knowledge and understanding in measurement

- skills, knowledge and understanding in probability

- skills, knowledge and understanding in algebraic modelling

While other Mathematics courses in years 11 and 12 take an abstract approach the General course uses an applications based approach.

Mathematics Course (2 unit) and the Extension 1 Course (3 unit)

The aims of the Mathematics Course (2 unit) and the Mathematics Extension 1 Course (3 unit) are:

- to give an understanding of mathematical ideas such as variable, function, limit etc, and to introduce students to mathematical techniques which are relevant to the real world.

- to understand the need to prove results, to appreciate the role of deductive reasoning in establishing such proofs, and to develop the ability to construct such proofs.

- to enhance those mathematical skills required for further studies in mathematics, the physical sciences and the technological sciences.

These students will develop an understanding of algebra and number, geometry, functions, trigonometry and differential and integral calculus.

Mathematics Extension 2 Course(4 unit)

The aims of the Mathematics Extension 2 Course(4 unit) are:

- to offer a program which will be of interest and value to students with the highest levels of mathematical ability and which will present some challenge to such students

- to study useful and important mathematical ideas and techniques appropriate to these levels of ability

- to develop both an understanding of these ideas and techniques and an ability to apply them to the study and solution of a wide variety of problems

- to provide the mathematical background necessary for further studies in mathematics, and useful for concurrent study of subjects such as science, economics and industrial arts.

These students will develop an understanding of the complex number system, important mathematical functions, further calculus, conics, mechanics, volumes and polynomials.

Using Technology

Mathematics provides an opportunity for students to use materials and equipment in a manner that constitutes a process and that reflects the 'technology' or 'know-how' of Mathematics.

Students need to determine the purpose of a technology, to apply the technology, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the application. This ability depends not only upon the students learning when and how to use technology, but also on their learning when the use of technology is inappropriate or even counter productive.

While the use of graphics calculators and computers is optional in the syllabi, students at King's will use this technology within some of the course to enhance students' mathematical learning. Students use scientific calculators in Years 7 and 8. In Years 9 and 10 students in the lower level classes will be required to use graphics calculators as do students studying General Mathematics in Years 11 and 12.

Extension Work

Each year many boys enter external competitions. About 250 students compete annually in the Australian Mathematics Competition.

In Years 7 to 10 students are invited, based on past performance, to be part of the Scholars' Class. This class undertakes extension work outside the normal program. The extension work is designed to cater for the very able mathematicians. Students in the other higher level classes also have access to to extension work when it is appropriate.

Extra Assistance

Apart from the normal assistance available from the class teacher, some students are selected to be involved in programs using the support education staff in the school.

Boarders' Tuition runs in the Library each Wednesday evening between 7pm and 9pm. On most Fridays after school a teacher or tutor is available to assist any students who wish to attend for extra assistance.

Holiday Mathematics programs run for Year 12 students at the end of Terms 1 and 2. Students use these programs to revise and consolidate their understanding before their Trial HSC and HSC examinations.