Information covering important topics for today's educators and parents. All student complete the first two courses in the program and then make choices among the remaining courses. Each of the six courses for the four grades includes work in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability, and data analysis. Students must have access to technology that includes a graphing utility, spread sheet, a geometry utility, a statistics program, a symbolic manipulator, and a word processor. This third level course builds on the mathematic developed in previous courses and aims to help students who are not planning careers in math or science to further expand their mathematical understanding.
Mathematical content includes linear programming, polynomial functions, and curve fitting.
Through modules in this course, students explore mathematical applications in the fields of nutrition, surveying, and quality control. In a sample activity, students use investigate permutations and combinations formulas and tree diagrams to investigate possible arrangements of samples at a soft drink taste testing and to determine a new color scheme for a new product's can label. In a related project, students are asked to design the schedule for an annual cookie baking competition with thirteen entrants baking 36 cookies and six judges each sampling two different cookies during each round of competition. Students must determine how many rounds are necessary, how many cookies each judge must sample, and how the winning entrant will be determined. The teacher's edition text contains teaching objectives, prerequisite skills, and student materials required for each module as well as an estimated time line.