Math

ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND ELECTIVE COURSES

OFFERED IN THE MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

BC Calculus: AP Calculus BC is a double-period course which focuses on students’ understanding of calculus concepts and provides experience with methods and applications. Through the use of big ideas of calculus (e.g., modeling change, approximation and limits, and analysis of functions), this course becomes a cohesive whole, rather than a collection of unrelated topics. AP Calculus BC requires students to use definitions and theorems to build arguments and justify conclusions. The course features a multi-representational approach to calculus, with concepts, results, and problems expressed graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. Exploring connections among these representations builds understanding of how calculus applies limits to develop important ideas, definitions, formulas, and theorems. A sustained emphasis on clear communication of methods, reasoning, justifications, and conclusions is essential. Students will regularly use technology to reinforce relationships among functions, to confirm written work, to implement experimentation, and to assist in interpreting results.

AB Calculus:  AP Calculus AB is a single-period one year course designed to be the equivalent of the first semester of college calculus. The course culminates in the AP Calculus AB Exam. Students will apply their knowledge of Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry, and synthesize those with their knowledge of limits from Precalculus to gain a deeper understanding of functions. Students will work with numerical, algebraic, graphical and verbal representations of functions related to both real-world and theoretical applications. Students will work on challenging problems with and without technology, and they will explain their thinking in words and in formal mathematical notation.

AP Statistics:  The AP course and exam in Statistics are offered to high school students who wish to complete studies equivalent to a one-semester, introductory, non-calculus-based, college course in statistics. An introductory statistics course, similar to the AP Statistics course, is typically required in college for majors such as social sciences, health sciences, and business. Science, engineering, and mathematics college majors usually take an upper-level calculus-based course in statistics, for which the AP Statistics course is effective preparation. Students who successfully complete the AP Statistics course and exam may receive credit, advanced placement, or both for a one-semester introductory college statistics course. This course is single-period for the entire school year.

AP Computer Science Principles: This course is designed to be equivalent to a first-semester introductory college computing course. In this course, students will develop computational thinking skills vital for success across all disciplines, such as using computational tools to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. The course engages students in the creative aspects of the field by allowing them to develop computational artifacts based on their interests. Students will also develop effective communication and collaboration skills by working individually and collaboratively to solve problems, and will discuss and write about the impacts these solutions could have on their community, society, and the world. The course is single-period for the entire school year.

AP Computer Science A: This course introduces students to computer science with fundamental topics that include problem solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing data (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing. During the course, students learn how to write code in the programming language: Java. We explore many concrete topics and complete multiple projects throughout the year. Examples include creating a chat bot that responds to user input, creating an interactive Tic Tac Toe game, and redefining individual pixels of a picture to manipulate the image. This course is single-period for the entire school year.

Other electives:

Advanced Topics in Mathematics

Calculus

Introduction to Coding: PYTHON

Linear Algebra

Personal Finance

SAT Preparation

Statistics