Mathematics

In all math courses, students are encouraged to develop their study skills and personal responsibility as well as understanding of math concepts.

Notebooks in the form of three-ring binders are mandatory and are checked twice each quarter. Posters may be used each quarter to add to test averages. They must demonstrate understanding of a topic from that quarter and meet presentation requirements outlined in a rubric. Neither posters nor notebooks are accepted after their due dates.

All math courses require the use of a TI-83 or TI-83+ graphing calculator. Students may use the classroom set, but for homework it is helpful to have a personal one. The Standards of Learning encourage the use of these tools, and techniques are taught as part of the curriculum.

• Algebra I is a traditional first year course in Algebra skills and concepts. The goal of this course is to solidify their skills and enhance their competency. The course covers areas such as operations with integers, rational and irrational numbers, solving equations and inequalities, graphing in the Cartesian Plane, solving systems, and quadratic equations. Application problems are used liberally to add relevancy. SAT skills are also explored. The curriculum emphasizes Virginia Standards of Learning competencies.

• Algebra 1AB and 1CD is a two-year course of beginning algebra. Students work with all the skills and competencies of the Algebra I course with additional hands-on activities and extra practice for reinforcement.

• Algebra II is a traditional college preparatory math course. This course revisits most of the concepts explored in the Algebra I as a review but with more depth, and moves on to conic sections, imaginary numbers, matrices, rational and real number exponents, logarithms, and series and sequences. The curriculum emphasizes Virginia Standards of Learning competencies.

• Geometry is a formal course that emphasizes the structure of math through proofs and basic concepts of plane and solid geometry in the first semester. Second semester work deals with the applications of perimeter and area of plane figures, and surface area and volume of solids as well as more exploration of the use of the Cartesian Plane including transformations. The curriculum emphasizes Virginia Standards of Learning competencies.