| Academics at MUS |
| Mathematics |
| 
The mathematics program provides students with the fundamental skills and concepts needed for the intelligent interpretation and appreciation of spatial and quantitative relationships. The mathematical knowledge of students at graduation should enable them to continue their studies at the college level in whatever field they choose.
Mathematics Curriculum Pre-Algebra | Algebra Essentials | Algebra I | Accelerated Algebra I | Accelerated Geometry | Honors Algebra I | Honors Geometry | Honors Accelerated Geometry | Pre-Algebra The course reinforces skills necessary for the successful study of algebra. Fundamental operations with natural numbers, integers, decimals, percents, and fractions are covered. Applications of the basic ideas of algebra, including work with the coordinate plane, are emphasized and include informal geometry and some right triangle trigonometry. Algebra Essentials This course is designed to strengthen basic mathematics skills and introduce students to beginning algebra. Operations and applications involving integers, decimals, percents, and fractions are covered. Students also study elementary algebra concepts including the coordinate plane, graphs of points and lines, linear equations, and simplification of algebraic expressions. Algebra I This course covers the usual topics of first year algebra: properties of the real number system, linear and quadratic functions, factoring, variation, exponents and radicals, equations and inequalities, and problem solving. Accelerated Algebra I This course is the same as above with more challenging problems and applications. Accelerated Geometry This course presents a more in-depth approach to Euclidean geometry with more difficult applications than those in regular geometry courses. Greater emphasis is placed on deductive reasoning throughout the course with more challenging proofs. The course also includes a study of trigonometry as well as topics in non-Euclidean and analytical geometries. Honors Algebra I This course covers the usual topics of first year algebra: properties of the real number system, linear and quadratic functions, factoring, variation, exponents and radicals, equations and inequalities, and problem solving. Honors Geometry Full Year, Grades 9 and 10 Honors Accelerated Geometry This course presents a more in-depth approach to Euclidean geometry with more difficult applications than those in Honors Geometry. Greater emphasis is placed on deductive reasoning throughout the course with more challenging proofs. The course also includes a study of trigonometry as well as topics in non-Euclidean and analytical geometries. Honors Algebra II The emphasis of this course is on functions and graphing. In particular, it includes quadratic and higher degree polynomial functions and equations, rational functions, conic sections, and systems of equations. Also included is an introduction to probability and statistics, as well as matrices and determinants. Honors Accelerated Algebra II This course is the same as above, but with a greater emphasis on curve sketching and problem solving. Linear programming, trigonometry of oblique and right triangles, and trigonometric identities are also included. Graphing calculators are used extensively. Functions and Data Analysis This course analyzes families of functions and the transformations of their graphs. Special emphasis is given to trigonometric functions. Basic statistical methods and an introduction to limits and derivatives are also included. This course does not constitute an adequate preparation for AP Calculus. Prerequisite: Honors Algebra II Honors Precalculus This course covers algebraic and transcendental functions with both a theoretical and an applied approach. The emphasis during the first semester is on an in-depth treatment of trigonometry. Second semester includes graphical analysis and curve sketching, sequences and series, probability, limits, and an introduction to Calculus. Graphing calculators are used extensively. This course is a prerequisite for AP Calculus AB. Prerequisite: Honors Algebra II Honors Accelerated Precalculus This course presents a more in-depth approach with more challenging applications than those encountered in the Precalculus course. In addition, the course of study includes combinatorics, analytical geometry in three dimensions, and a more extensive introduction to Calculus, including derivatives and their applications. The accelerated class is a prerequisite for AP Calculus BC. Prerequisite: Honors Accelerated Algebra II Honors Introductory Calculus and Statistics This course provides a strong background for students planning to take Statistics or Calculus at the college level. During the first semester emphasis is placed on strengthening skills in the study of functions and on the concepts of differential calculus. Calculus topics include limits, methods of differentiation, and applications of the derivative and the antiderivative. The second semester includes measures of central tendency, probability theory, discrete probability distributions, normal distributions, sampling, and hypothesis testing. Prerequisite: Functions and Data Analysis or Honors Precalculus AP Statistics This course comprises exploring data, planning a study, producing models using probability and simulation, and statistical inference. Students take the AP examination in Statistics
AP Calculus AB This course prepares the student for the AP examination in AB Calculus. The course includes differentiation of algebraic and transcendental functions, applications of the derivative, integration, applications of the integral and some techniques of integration. Prerequisite: Precalculus AP Calculus BC This course prepares students for the AP examination in BC Calculus. The course covers topics usually Mathematics Faculty Chair |
