Mathematics: Specialist Mathematics Units 3 & 4

OVERVIEW

Specialist Mathematics is designed to provide access to worthwhile and challenging mathematical learning in a way which takes into account the needs and aspirations of a select group of students. It is also designed to promote students’ awareness of the importance of mathematics in everyday life in a technological society, and confidence in making effective use of mathematical ideas, techniques and processes.

Each unit deals with specific content and is designed to enable students to achieve a set of outcomes.

Enrolment in Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 assumes a current enrolment in, or previous completion of Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4.

In addition, students attempting Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 are expected to have successfully completed Specialist Mathematics Units 1 and 2.

CONTENT

AREAS OF STUDY

• Functions and graphs
• Algebra
• Calculus
• Vectors
• Mechanics
• Probability and statistics

The appropriate use of technology to support and develop the teaching and learning of mathematics is to be incorporated throughout the units. In particular, students are required to use CAS calculators and other technologies both in the learning of new material and the application of this material in a variety of different contexts.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR MATHEMATICS STUDIES

Various combinations of units are possible. Students should be guided by their Mathematics teachers and select units very carefully. In addition, the careers adviser should be consulted in order to determine pre-requisites for further courses of study. The standard sequences of mathematics which can be studied are as follows:

Please note the following:

• Please note that General Mathematics and Specialist Mathematics cannot BOTH be undertaken as separate subjects. They are both different expressions of the same subject, designed to cater for different student needs. Therefore only one can be undertaken for the purposes of VCE subject accreditation.
• Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 must be studied in conjunction with Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4, not in isolation. It will offer certain students the maximum possible depth of mathematics tuition for entry into specialised tertiary courses.
• Specialist Mathematics Units 1 and 2 must be studied in conjunction with Mathematical Methods Units 1 and 2.
• Specialist Maths
• Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4 cannot be undertaken without Mathematical Methods Units 1 and 2 having been previously completed.
• Students who only take Units 1 and 2 of General Mathematics may be eligible for some tertiary courses which require two units of mathematics (eg. Physical Education). Students who subsequently progress to Units 3 and 4 of Further Mathematics will have a broader range of tertiary course options