Length: Semester or Full Year

Recommended background: Successful completion of Year 10 General Mathematics

Content:

Students extend their mathematical skills in ways that apply to practical problem-solving and mathematical modelling in everyday contexts. A problem-based approach is integral to the development of mathematical skills and the associated key ideas in this subject.

Topics studied cover a range of applications of mathematics, including personal financial management, measurement and trigonometry, the statistical investigation process, modelling using linear functions, and discrete modelling using networks and matrices. In this subject, there is an emphasis on consolidating students’ computational and algebraic skills and expanding their ability to reason and analyse mathematically.

Stage 1 General Mathematics consists of the following seven topics:

• Topic 1: Investing and borrowing
• Topic 2: Measurement
• Topic 3: Statistical investigation
• Topic 4: Applications of trigonometry
• Topic 5: Linear and exponential functions and their graphs
• Topic 6: Matrices and networks
• Topic 7: Open topic

The learning requirements describe the essential elements of Stage 1 General Mathematics. They summarise the knowledge, skills, and understandings that students are expected to develop and demonstrate through learning in the subject. In this subject, students are expected to:

1. understand mathematical concepts and relationships
2. select and apply mathematical techniques and algorithms to analyse and solve problems, including forming and testing predictions
3. investigate and analyse mathematical information in a variety of contexts
4. interpret results, draw conclusions, and consider the reasonableness of solutions in context
5. make discerning use of electronic technology
6. communicate mathematically and present mathematical information in a variety of ways

Leads to: General Mathematics extends students’ mathematical skills in ways that apply to practical problem-solving. A problem-based approach is integral to the development of mathematical models and the associated key ideas in the topics. These topics cover a diverse range of applications of mathematics, including personal financial management, measurement and trigonometry, the statistical investigation process, modelling using linear and non-linear functions, and discrete modelling using networks and matrices.

Successful completion of this subject at Stage 2 prepares students for entry to tertiary courses requiring a non-specialised background in mathematics.

Assessment:

Student performance will be determined according to the subject’s Performance Standards as described in the Subject Outline. Grades A to E will be used for reporting purposes.

• SATs (45%) – Students demonstrate mathematical knowledge and skills from the topic. The content covers key questions and key concepts within subtopics. Students apply their knowledge and skills to a range of routine and complex questions. The complex questions require students to apply the key concepts to solve problems in a variety of contexts and some require interpretation of the results. Appropriate and effective use of electronic technology is expected. Clear and logical communication of solutions and correct use of notation and terminology are required.
• Investigation Folio (35%) – Students are requires to design a mathematical model. Scope for complexity is provided by the choice of piece to model and the mathematical solids used. Students are required to consider the reasonableness of their results by examining the underlying assumptions of their mathematical model.
• Exam (20%) – all semester topics are assessed in a final end-of-semester exam.