IMP integrates traditional mathematics with additional topics recommended by the NCTM Curriculum and Evaluation Standards , such as statistics, probability, discrete mathematics, and matrix algebra. By combining traditional concepts and newer material in an integrated setting, and by placing these ideas in meaningful contexts, the IMP curriculum meets the needs of both college-bound students and those headed directly into the workforce.
Most units begin with a central problem that students explore over the course of six to eight weeks.
Some of these central problems are based on practical, real-world situations, such as maximizing profits for a business or studying population growth. Others are more fanciful, involving such situations as a pennant race or a circus act. As students work through smaller problems in the unit, they develop the mathematical concepts and techniques they need to solve the central problem. A particular unit may combine several branches of mathematics so that students see how important ideas are related to one another. Students examine new concepts through in-class activities, working in groups and individually.