Mathematical Methods focuses on practising essential mathematical routines to
develop procedural fluency, through to investigating scenarios,
modelling the real world, solving problems and explaining reasoning.
When students achieve
procedural fluency, they carry out procedures flexibly, accurately and
efficiently.
When factual knowledge and concepts come to mind
readily, students are able to make more complex use of knowledge to
successfully formulate, represent and solve mathematical
problems. Problem-solving helps to develop an ability to transfer
mathematical skills and ideas between different contexts. This
assists students to make connections between related concepts and adapt
what they already know to new and unfamiliar situations.
With
appropriate effort and experience, through discussion, collaboration and
reflection of ideas, students should develop confidence and
experience success in their use of mathematics. The major domains of
mathematics in Mathematical Methods are Algebra, Functions, relations
and their graphs, Calculus and Statistics. Topics are developed
systematically, with increasing levels of sophistication, complexity and
connection, and build on algebra, functions and their graphs, and
probability from the P–10 Australian Curriculum.
Calculus is
essential for developing an understanding of the physical world. The
domain Statistics is used to describe and analyse phenomena involving
uncertainty and
variation. Both are the basis for developing effective models of the
world and solving complex and abstract mathematical problems.
The
ability to translate written, numerical, algebraic, symbolic and
graphical information from one representation to another is a vital part
of learning in Mathematical Methods.
Students who undertake Mathematical Methods will see the connections
between mathematics and other areas of the curriculum and apply their
mathematical skills to real-world problems, becoming critical thinkers,
innovators and problem-solvers. Through
solving problems and developing models, they will appreciate that
mathematics and statistics are dynamic tools that are critically
important in the 21st century.
It is strongly advised that students have successfully completed
Maths Extension in Year 10 before attempting Mathematical Methods.