Courses Offered

Prerequisite:  none

In this course students will build on mathematical concepts studied in prior years and focus on conceptual understanding and numeracy.  Students will explore mathematical ideas in the context of concrete ideas and experiences.  Learning activities will help students move towards an understanding of more complex, abstract concepts.  Course Content:  data analysis, probability, ratios, rates, proportions, percent, the Pythagorean Relationship, surface area and volume of prisms and cylinders, operations on fractions and integers, linear relations, equations, and tessellations.

Students who have strong work habits and ability in mathematics and wish to accelerate their study at WGSS have the option of enrolling directly in Mathematics 9 in their Grade 8 year.  Acceleration allows students to complete Grade 12 level mathematics in their Grade 11 year, and then take AP Calculus in their final year of high school.  This option is ideal for students considering a mathematics/science program. 

Requirements for acceleration:  Students are permitted to accelerate based on performance on the WGSS Mathematics 8 Challenge Exam and Grade 7 teacher recommendation. 

The exam will be held at WGSS in March.  Please see the Accelerated Math Application Information  for more information. The final determination of student placement in Mathematics 9 resides with the Administration.

Prerequisite:  Mathematics 8

Students will extend many of the topics and ideas studied in Mathematics 8.  Students will continue a contextual approach in the investigation of mathematical concepts and work towards conceptual understanding and numeracy.  Learning activities will continue to help students proceed from simple, concrete ideas to more abstract, complex concepts.  This course prepares students for both grade 10 level mathematics courses.  Course content:  scale factors and similarity, surface area, rational numbers, powers and exponents, polynomials, linear relations, equations, data analysis, and probability.

CHOICES IN MATHEMATICS STARTING IN GRADE 10:

There are several options for math courses starting at the Grade 10 level. Each pathway is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings, rigor and critical-thinking skills that have been identified for specific post-secondary programs of study and for direct entry into the work force.

The different courses are intended to allow students to focus and specialize on mathematical topics and skills that match their abilities, interests, and future education and career plans.  For more information about courses and choices, see a counsellor or math teacher, or visit the Ministry of Education website at  https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/mathematics.

Just as biology, chemistry, and physics are different courses with different content, the math courses at each grade level contain different content and concepts, rather than representing different ‘levels’ of the same content.  As such, students may choose to select more than one math course if they desire.  For example, a student might choose to take both Foundations and Precalculus starting in Grade 11 to gain a broad mathematical background.

Post-Secondary Requirements:  mathematics requirements vary for specific institutions and post-secondary programs. Students are encouraged to check specific mathematics requirements by consulting calendars and websites for specific institutions, a WGSS counsellor, or the ‘Education Planner’ website:  http://www.educationplanner.ca

Foundations of Mathematics

This pathway is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical-thinking skills identified for post-secondary studies in programs that do not require the study of theoretical calculus.

Prerequisite: Mathematics 9 with a recommended mark of Proficient/Extending

In this course students will build on ideas studied in prior years, and develop an understanding of a variety of algebraic, numerical, and graphical concepts. This course prepares students to move on to either Foundations or Pre-Calculus courses in grades 11 and 12.

Course content: operations with powers (integer and fractional exponents), prime factorization of numbers (LCM & GCF), multiplication and factoring of polynomial expressions, functions & relations (domain & range, function concept and notation), linear functions (slope, forms of equations, parallel & perpendicular lines), linear systems, right-angle triangle trigonometry, and financial literacy.

Prerequisite: Foundations & Pre-Calculus Math 10

This course gives students an opportunity to build understanding, skills, and confidence in math in a wide variety of topics. The focus of the course is on investigating and applying both concrete and abstract mathematical ideas in real-world as well as theoretical contexts. Some of the learning in this course will involve the use of technology for graphing and calculations (eg. Desmos, Excel, and TVM solver)

Course content: trigonometry, geometry, rates & scale, quadratic functions, linear inequalities, systems of equations, statistics, and financial literacy.

Prerequisite: Foundations of Math 11 or Pre-Calculus 11

This course gives students an opportunity to build understanding, skills, and confidence in math in a wide variety of topics. The focus of the course is on investigating and applying both concrete and abstract mathematical ideas in real-world as well as theoretical contexts. Some of the learning in this course will involve the use of technology for graphing and calculations (eg. Desmos, Excel, and TVM solver)

Course content: financial planning (investing, borrowing, and budgeting), set theory and logic, combinatorics, probability, investigating functions (polynomial, exponential, and/or sinusoidal).

Workplace Mathematics

This pathway is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical-thinking skills identified for entry into the majority of trades and for direct entry into the work force.

Prerequisite:  Mathematics 9

This course gives students an opportunity to build understanding, skills, and confidence in math in a wide variety of topics. The focus of the course is on investigating and applying mathematical ideas in concrete and real-world contexts as much as possible.

Course content: creating, interpreting, & critiquing graphs, proportional reasoning, metric & imperial unit conversions, trigonometry, surface area & volume, central tendency (mean, median, mode, range, and outliers), experimental probability, and financial literacy (types of income, income tax, and other deductions).

Prerequisite: Workplace Math 10 or permission from Math department

This course gives students an opportunity to build understanding, skills, and confidence in math in a wide variety of topics. The focus of the course is on investigating and applying mathematical ideas in concrete and real-world contexts as much as possible.

Course content: rates of change, interpreting and critiquing graphs, probability and statistics, angles, views, & scale diagrams of 3-dimensional objects, and financial literacy (investments, loans, and budgeting).

Pre-Calculus

This pathway is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical-thinking skills identified for entry into post-secondary programs that require the study of theoretical Calculus.  The study of Calculus is part of post-secondary programs in fields such as science, engineering, mathematics, and business.  Note that the precalculus math courses involve highly theoretical, abstract concepts.  A high grade in Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 is strongly recommended to enroll in Precalculus 11.

NOTE: Students going into grade 11 who are intending the take AP Calculus 12 in your grade 12 year but have NOT already been accelerated and completed Pre-Calculus 11… it is best if you take BOTH Pre-Calculus 11 AND Pre-Calculus 12 in your Grade 11 year. These will be scheduled such that Pre-Calculus 11 is in semester 1 and Pre-Calculus 12 in semester 2.

Prerequisite: Foundations and Pre-Calculus Math 10 with a recommended minimum mark of 73%

This is a challenging course that prepares students for the study of Calculus at the AP or university level. In this course students will build on the more theoretical ideas studied in prior years. Much of the course involves abstract algebraic concepts, but also includes some graphical and numerical aspects as well.

Course content: quadratic & absolute value expressions, equations, graphs, and functions; radical and radical expressions & equations, linear and quadratic systems, one- and two-variable linear and quadratic inequalities; and trigonometry of non-right triangles (sine & cosine laws) and standard position (trig ratios for angles from 0° to 360°).

Prerequisite:  Pre-Calculus 11 with a recommended minimum mark of 73%

This is a challenging course that continues to prepare students for the study of Calculus at the AP or university level. In this course students will build on theoretical ideas studied in Pre-Calculus 11 and prior years. There is a more significant focus on graphical concepts than in Pre-Calculus 11, but the course also includes algebraic and numerical aspects as well.

Course content: expressions, equations, functions, graphs, and applications for a variety of functions, including trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic, polynomial, radical, and rational. Also included are trigonometric identities, as well as transformations and operations of functions and relations in general.

This course is an academically approved Grade 12 course for post-secondary admission.

Advanced Placement Courses

Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus 11 with a recommended minimum mark of 73%

In today’s ‘age of information’ we are bombarded with data and statistics all the time. Most people will encounter and use statistics in their lives far more often than they will use algebra, calculus, and other branches of mathematics. Experts in the fields of science, business, social science, medicine, and many others regularly conduct research and use statistics to make effective ‘data-driven’ decisions. The AP Statistics course is equivalent to a university-level, one-semester introductory, non-calculus-based course in statistics. Students are introduced to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students are exposed to four broad conceptual themes: exploring data, sampling and experimentation, anticipating patterns, and statistical inference. Students will use technology, investigations, problem solving, and writing as they build conceptual understanding of these four broad themes. Students will have the option to write the AP Statistics exam in May (approximate fee is $150). If a student scores a 4 or 5 on the exam, they have the option to receive credit for a first-year university course. All AP courses are academically approved Grade 12 courses for post-secondary admissions

Prerequisite:  Pre-Calculus 12 with a recommended minimum mark of 73%

The AP Calculus (AB) course is intended for students who are planning to enter a university or college program requiring a Calculus course and would like to do some preliminary study of the subject – the content of this course is equivalent to approximately 70% of that of a first-year university-level Calculus course. In this course students will use a combination of graphical, numerical, and algebraic approaches to investigate, analyze, and apply the broad topics of functions, limits, derivatives, and integrals. There will be a strong focus on conceptual understanding, applications, and problem solving.

Students who successfully complete this course will find themselves very well prepared for any first year, university level Calculus course. Calculus 12 is a requirement for entry into some university programs, AP Calculus 12 AB will meet this requirement.

Students will have the option to write the AP Calculus exam in May (approximate fee is $150). If a student scores a 4 or 5 on the exam, they have the option to receive credit for a first-year university course. All AP courses are academically approved Grade 12 courses for post-secondary admissions

Other Math Options

Prerequisite: Grade 11/12 or permission of instructor

Computer Science 12 is the perfect course for students interested in a career in computer science. It is also an excellent complement for anyone planning to enter sciences or math at a post-secondary institution. Knowing how to code is becoming key skill for data manipulation in all sciences.

Computer Science 12 teaches students how to use code to solve real-world problems. Using Python, students learn the fundamentals of data types and structures, conditional statements, multidimensional arrays, and modularizing code using functions. Students are also introduced to a variety of algorithms to sort and search data and solve problems recursively, such as the Fibonacci sequence or factorials. In addition, students apply their programming knowledge to search for data on websites, collect and display data using APIs and GUIs, and to code games such as Tic-Tac-Toe and develop simulations such as Conway’s Game of Life.

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Accelerated Math Application
Accelerated Math Teacher Reference Form