Mathematics

Our mission is to provide a high quality, comprehensive, and meaningful curriculum which will equip all
students with the necessary mathematics skills.

Beyond the Norm
Our mathematical standards exceed the state and national norms. In addition, we offer
Advanced Placement courses which afford students the opportunity to earn college credit at
the high school level. Saint Joe’s is one of the few school which offers both Advanced
Placement Calculus BC as well as Discrete Mathematics for our top achieving students. Our
2021 Advanced Placement Scores reflect the strength of our program. Saint Joe’s average AP
scores are consistently above both the state and the national average.

Factoring the Future
Class assignments prepare students by developing critical thinking and quantitative analysis
skills which enhances their ability to solve complex problems. These solid mathematical skills
learned at Saint Joseph prepare students for college level math courses in all areas of study:
business, technology field, medical field, environmental science, engineering, and humanities.

Technology Unit
Mathematics plays an integral part of the ever changing realm of technology. Mathematical
skills need to go beyond pencil and paper problem solving and translate to real world
application. Smartboards are used in all math classes. Cooperative learning inspires critical
thinking and team approach to problem solving. Elective courses prepare students for banking
and taxes.

Financial Literacy
Our Financial Literacy Lab contains a streaming stock market ticker and colorful LCD screens,
enhancing instruction in our Economics course, Personal Finance course, and Formation
workshop curriculum.

Top Percentile
Our award winning Math League is ranked as a top team in the country. We consistently out
rank schools in our local area, state teams, and national teams.

Algebra I - 0510
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 9
Prerequisite: none
Students completing this course will gain a foundation for further study of mathematics. Students will study the basic axioms of mathematics – operations with directed numbers, solving quadratic and linear open sentences, simplifying all types of algebraic expressions, factoring polynomials, graphing on number lines and Cartesian planes, solving systems of linear functions, solving word problems, and simplifying radicals.

Algebra I Honors - 0506
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 9
Prerequisite: 80th percentile or better on the Saint Joseph High School Entrance Test math section; departmental approval.
This course covers many first-year Algebra topics such as solving equations, analyzing linear and quadratic functions, graphing on the Cartesian plane, factoring polynomials, and simplifying radicals.  Students will work both individually and in groups to utilize mathematical problem solving techniques.  An online program, Acellus, will allow students to supplement the course material through auxiliary practice and mastery. 
Receives greater weighting in student’s G.P.A.

Algebra II - 0534   
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 11 
Prerequisite: Algebra I and Geometry
This course will strengthen and extend the student’s algebraic skills and will introduce the student to trigonometric functions.

Algebra II Honors - 0514   
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 10, 11
Prerequisites: “B+” average in Honors Geometry; departmental approval
Students will continue to study mathematical functions and learn how to analyze functions numerically, algebraically, and graphically.  Students will extend this analysis to linear, quadratic, absolute value, polynomial, radical, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions.  In addition, students will explore linear systems and inequalities, direct and inverse variation, the complex number system, the binomial theorem, and probability.
Receives greater weighting in student’s G.P.A.

Calculus Advanced Placement AB - 0544   
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 11, 12  
Prerequisites: “A” average in Precalculus Honors; departmental approval
This course is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Calculus AB examination. Students will study limits, the derivative, applications of 
the derivative, optimization problems, related rates problems, the integral, and applications of integration.  Additionally, students will learn to solve differential equations and to graph slope fields. The curriculum also exposes students to previous AP exams that the students will master through practice in class and as homework assignments. Students are required to take the Advanced Placement Calculus AB exam.
Receives greater weighting in student’s G.P.A.

Calculus Advanced Placement BC - 0545   
5 credits, year
Grade Level :12
Prerequisites: “A” average in Calculus AB; departmental approval      
This course is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Calculus BC examination. Students will study all the topics covered in the AB curriculum in addition to studying convergence of sequence and series, and approximating polynomial functions using Taylor and Maclaurin series with associated error calculations and tests. Students will also examine parametric and polar functions, focusing on the area bounded by polar functions. In order to provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of the uses of integration, the course also covers integration by parts and the length of a plane curve. Because the course material is designed to improve students’ problem solving skills, students must have strong algebra and critical thinking skills in order to undertake the proofs and problems presented in the course material. Students are required to take the Advanced Placement Calculus BC exam.
Receives greater weighting in student’s G.P.A.  

Calculus Honors - 0540   
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisites: “B” average in Precalculus Honors; department approval
Students will learn to examine mathematics with a balance of intuition and rigor by exploring the topics of limits, the derivative and its applications, and the integral and its applications.  Students will also study algebraic, trigonometric, inverse trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions as they relate to the above-mentioned topics. Students are required to take a Final Exam.
Receives greater weighting in student’s G.P.A.

Discrete Mathematics - 0546   
5 credits, year
Grade Level:  12 
Co-requisite: Calculus AB or Calculus BC; departmental approval
This course introduces students to a wide range of topics that have been directly affected by the computer revolution. Students will study combinatorics, logic, graph theory, number theory, Boolean algebra, the Euclidean algorithm, and modular arithmetic. Students may elect to enroll in this course in conjunction with Advanced Placement Calculus AB or BC. Receives greater weighting in student’s G.P.A.

Geometry - 0522   
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 10   
Prerequisite: Algebra 1
This course extends the concepts of Algebra I to the physical world and demonstrates how to build a system of mathematics from its foundation. Students will learn how to apply deductive reasoning and logic to points, lines, and planes in order to evolve relationships and determine applications of other geometric figures. They will develop the skills to carry out mathematical proofs, to analyze transformational concepts, and to understand the importance of definitions, postulates, and theorems in the context of mathematics. 

Geometry Honors - 0515
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 9, 10
Prerequisites: 80th percentile or better on the Saint Joseph High School Entrance Test math section; a passing grade on the Algebra I placement test; an “A” average in Algebra I Honors; departmental approval. This course includes principles of plane, solid, and coordinate geometry, which include reasoning and proof, parallel 
and perpendicular lines, congruence, quadrilaterals, triangles, area, similarity, right triangle trigonometry, volume, circles, and transformations. Students will explore several of these topics through in-depth investigations. Receives greater weighting in student’s G.P.A.

Mathematical Strategies & Logic / SAT Prep. - 0560   
2.5 credits, semester
Grade Level: 11
Prerequisites: department approval
Students will improve their problem-solving skills by studying the strategies and tactics of chess, as well as by studying S.A.T.-type math problems. Scores on homework assignments, tests, and a final paper will determine students’ quarter grades.
This course may count as a Fine Arts requirement.

Personal Finance - 0157 
2.5 credits, semester
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: None 
This one semester course will provide information regarding budgeting, credit, investing, risk management, and estate planning. Students will learn how to manage money, explore investment opportunities as well as understand the terms and conditions associated with credit cards and other types of loans. The Personal Finance course will empower students with financial responsibility by engaging them in a variety of critical thinking skills. Students will learn money management by creating a personal budget and will also engage in a variety of banking activities such as: writing checks, CD rate comparisons, using ATM cards, and electronic banking. The course also offers an understanding and application of purchasing appropriate types of insurance, tax preparation skills, buying a home, and preparing financial stability for their families.
This course may count as a Fine Arts requirement.

Precalculus - 0548   
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisites:  Algebra II; departmental approval
This course is a reinforcement of the basic mathematics of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.  Students will encounter topics such as solving and analyzing linear equations and inequalities, quadratic equations, trigonometric equations, logarithmic equations, and all forms of graph translations. Students will understand problems algebraically, graphically, and numerically.

Precalculus Honors - 0536   
5.0 credits, year
Grade Level: 11
Prerequisites: “B+” average in Algebra II Honors; departmental approval
This course is an analysis of mathematics that will prepare students for Calculus. Students will begin by examining polynomial, power, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions.  Additionally, students will study matrices and conic sections. The Calculus curriculum, which will commence in March, will expose students to limits and various methods of differentiation, including implicit differentiation.

Statistics and Probability - 0565   
2.5 credits, semester
Grade Level: 12 
Prerequisite:  Algebra II; departmental approval
Students will be introduced to elementary probability and statistics. Topics will include sampling techniques, methods of displaying qualitative and quantitative data, numerical calculations for analyzing data, the normal distribution, and the rules of probability. Through a project based curriculum, students will apply topics learned in class to the physical world. They can be focused toward their own interests. Students are expected to present their own data sets and to draw conclusions based on statistical inference.   

Statistics Advanced Placement - 0566
5 credits, full year 
Grade Level: 11, 12 
Prerequisite: “A” average or better in Algebra II Honors; departmental approval
AP Statistics is an introductory college-level statistics course that introduces students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students cultivate their understanding of statistics using technology, investigations, problem solving, and writing as they explore concepts like variation and distribution; patterns and uncertainty; and data-based predictions, decisions, and conclusions.