Group 5 Mathematics
| Jason Eusebi | (626) 934-4556 | Math Department Chair |
| Kenneth Kakimoto | (626) 934-4497 | Math |
| Shirley Young | (626) 934-4554 | Math/AVID |
| Yan Zheng | (626) 934-4553 | Math |
It is a requirement of the programme that students study at least one course in mathematics.
The aims of these courses are to enable students to:
- develop mathematical knowledge, concepts and principles
- develop logical, critical and creative thinking
- employ and refine their powers of abstraction and generalization.
Students are also encouraged to appreciate the international dimensions of mathematics and the multiplicity of its cultural and historical perspectives.
These courses are designed for different types of students: those who wish to study mathematics in depth, either as a subject in its own right or to pursue their interests in areas related to mathematics; those who wish to gain a degree of understanding and competence better to understand their approach to other subjects; and those who may not as yet be aware how mathematics may be relevant to their studies and in their daily lives. Each course is designed to meet the needs of a particular group of students. Therefore, great care should be taken to select the course that is most appropriate for an individual student.
In making this selection, individual students should be advised to take account of the following types of factor.
- Their own abilities in mathematics and the type of mathematics in which they can be successful
- Their own interest in mathematics, and those particular areas of the subject that may hold the most interest for them
- Their other choices of subjects within the framework of the Diploma Programme
- Their academic plans, in particular the subjects they wish to study in future
- Their choice of career
Teachers are expected to assist with the selection process and to offer advice to students about how to choose the most appropriate course from the four mathematics courses available..
Currently we are only offering Mathematics at the SL level. If a student is interested in pursing Higher Level mathematics s/he must first counsel with both the math department chair and the IB Coordinator to decide if they are able to take the Higher Level course.
(MAI) Math Applications and Interpretations SL
The course emphasises the applied nature of the subject and is designed for students who wish to understand how mathematics relates to the real world and to other subjects. This course is suitable for students who may go on to further study in subjects that utilise mathematics in this way such as social sciences, natural sciences, statistics, business, psychology or design.
The five topics below are covered during the SL course – each of these topics has sub-topics.
- Number and Algebra
- Functions
- Geometry and Trigonometry
- Probability and Statistics
- Calculus
In addition to this the course contains investigative and inquiry-based learning, supporting the students in their internally assessed exploration task.
There is some content that is common with Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches course but the Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations has less emphasis on calculus, numerical and algebraic approaches and more on the application of models and statistics.
Math Analysis SL
The Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches course is designed for students who wish to study mathematics as a subject in its own right or to pursue their interests in areas related to mathematics. It will appeal to students who are interested in exploring real and abstract applications of mathematical concepts. They will enjoy problem solving and generalisation. This course is suitable for students who may go on to further study in subjects that have a significant level of mathematics content, for example mathematics itself, engineering, physical sciences or economics.
The five topics below are covered during the SL course – each of these topics has sub-topics.
- Number and Algebra
- Functions
- Geometry and Trigonometry
- Probability and Statistics
- Calculus
In addition to this the course contains investigative and inquiry-based learning, supporting the students in their internally assessed exploration task.
There is some content that is common with the Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations course but the Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches has a greater emphasis on calculus, numerical and algebraic approaches