IB Mathematical Studies SL
Syllabus 2014-2015
http://hillsboroibdp.wordpress.com/
http://hhshumphrey.wordpress.com
Sharon.humphrey@mnps.org
Course Description
This course is designed to build confidence and encourage an appreciation of mathematics in students who do
not anticipate a need for mathematics in their future careers. We will become familiar with higher levels of
study in several useful and important topics in mathematics: algebra, probability, statistics, calculus, financial
math, logic, functions, trig and geometry. Our aim is to become students that:
• enjoy the course and develop an appreciation of the elegance, power and usefulness of math
• develop logical, critical and creative thinking
• develop patience and persistence in problem solving
• communicate clearly and confidently in a variety of contexts
Course Guidelines
1. You must register for the IB test, which costs approx. $300. (senior year only) If you are on Free &
Reduced Lunch, you may apply for a fee waiver. ANYONE may work out a payment plan with Mrs.
Knight, the IB Coordinator (Rm. 201).
2. If you miss a test or quiz, with an excused absence, you have exactly 3 days to make it up. No
exceptions, no excuses. You may also have 3 days to make up homework, when absent.
3. SRAs (field trips, etc.) are NOT considered absences and work must be turned in on time (or early) if it
is due the day of an SRA.
4. Bring your materials, including your graphing calculator, to class every day.
Cell Phone Etiquette:


Students will follow cell phone etiquette in the classroom: Please do not have cell phone out and if
asked to put it away- PUT IT AWAY!
Having a phone visible during any assessment is grounds for a 50 on the assessment and no opportunity
for a “retake”.
Materials
The following materials must be brought to class daily:
Graphing Display Calculator (GDC) required: TI-83/+,TI -84/Silver, TI-86 or Inspire- Not CAS or TI-89.
Notebook/Notebook paper and graph paper
Pencils, Blue or black Pens, Hi-lighter
Math Studies Information Booklet- (Will be provided, but must be brought to class)
Ruler (required only when a unit involves graphing)
Graphing Calulator- A graphing calculator is MANDATORY for this class. It is required for both in class and out-of-class work. Teachers will
not have a classroom set available on a daily basis. We highly recommend you invest in one for yourself. If absolutely not possible for you to
purchase your own, you may rent a calculator for $25 per school year. Rentals must be secured in the first two weeks of school, as we will offer
the remaining calculators to other students. Whether you choose to rent or buy, you should treat it like you would your cell phone (keep track of
it, don’t leave it sitting out, etc.). If your calculator is lost/damaged/stolen, it is your responsibility. If this happens to your rental, you must pay
the full replacement cost ($100), just like a textbook or any other fee.
External Assessment – Paper 1 and Paper 2
Each paper is worth 40% of the final grade, to make the External Assessment worth a total of 80% of the
IB final grade.
Our course will culminate, in May of your 2nd year, in a final exam, also known as the IB External Assessment.
Paper 1 consists of 15 compulsory short-response questions. Paper 2 consists of 6 compulsory extendedresponse questions. All topics will be covered. Calculators may be used on both. Both are 90 minute exams.
Internal Assessment– Project (Seniors- Final project due January 14/15)
The Internal Assessment counts as 20% of the total IB final grade.
This course concentrates on mathematics that can be applied to contexts related as far as possible to other
subjects being studied or other topics of interest to the student. To this end, the course includes project work: a
piece of written work based on personal research, guided and supervised by the teacher. The project provides
an opportunity for students to carry out a mathematical investigation, to ask their own questions about
mathematics and to take responsibility for a part of their own course of studies in mathematics.
* Academic Authenticity
The project will be viewed at each stage of its development as a way of ensuring that it is the intellectual
property of the student. It will also be turned in through TurnItIn.com. This acts as a safeguard against
plagiarism and ensures that the project is the authentic, personal work of the student. Plagiarism may result in
failing the class and forfeiture of the IB Diploma.
Grading Policy
Classroom grades are calculated on a point system with the following approximate guidelines:
Homework
Noted. All homework assignments must be completed to be eligible for an assessment “retake”.
Quizzes (Every Friday)
20 points
Projects
50 – 100 points
Tests
100 points
All pieces of Internal Assessment will count toward classroom grades. Two “Retakes” are possible for any
assessment. (Providing all homework is completed)
Conversion Chart: IB Grades – Traditional Grades
7
6
5
4
96-100
A+
Highest
Distinction
92-95
A/B+
High Honors
85-91
B
Honors
77-84
C
Score of 4
and above=
Fee
reimbursed
by MNPS
3
2
1
74-76
C/D+
Score of 3
and above=
IB Certificate
Awarded
70-73
D
50-69
F
Overtime
Overtime is a program designed to help students achieve success in our classes. You may be assigned Overtime
for failure to complete homework assignments or as extra academic support. It will occur after school Tuesday Thursday 2:20 - 3:20 in the library. Tutors will be available each day. Students will be required to attend for the
entire time and be on task and not disruptive. This is not for the occasional not turning in homework. If a
student is late or leaves early, the commitment is not fulfilled. Non-compliance or absences will receive a
referral and/or Saturday School.
Mathematical studies SL—course details
This course is available at standard level (SL) only. It caters for students with varied backgrounds and
abilities. More specifically, it is designed to build confidence and encourage an appreciation of
mathematics in students who do not anticipate a need for mathematics in their future studies. Students
taking this course need to be already equipped with fundamental skills and a rudimentary knowledge
of basic processes. The course concentrates on mathematics that can be applied to contexts related as far as
possible to other subjects being studied, to common real-world occurrences and to topics that relate to home, work
and leisure situations. The course includes project work, a feature unique within this group of courses:
students must produce a project, a piece of written work based on personal research, guided and
supervised by the teacher. The project provides an opportunity for students to carry out a mathematical
investigation in the context of another course being studied, a hobby or interest of their choice using
skills learned before and during the course. This process allows students to ask their own questions
about mathematics and to take responsibility for a part of their own course of studies in mathematics.
The students most likely to select this course are those whose main interests lie outside the field of
mathematics, and for many students this course will be their final experience of being taught formal
mathematics. All parts of the syllabus have therefore been carefully selected to ensure that an
approach starting with first principles can be used. As a consequence, students can use their own
inherent, logical thinking skills and do not need to rely on standard algorithms and remembered
formulae. Students likely to need mathematics for the achievement of further qualifications should be
advised to consider an alternative mathematics course. Because of the nature of mathematical studies, teachers
may find that traditional methods of teaching are inappropriate and that less formal, shared learning techniques
can be more stimulating and rewarding for students. Lessons that use an inquiry-based approach, starting with
practical investigations where possible, followed by analysis of results, leading to the understanding of a
mathematical principle and its formulation into mathematical language, are often most successful in engaging the
interest of students. Furthermore, this type of approach is likely to assist students in understanding mathematics
by providing meaningful context and leading them to understand more fully how to structure their for the project.
Mathematical Studies SL
Total 150 hrs
The course consists of the study of eight topics.
Requirements
All topics are compulsory. Students must study all the sub-topics in each of the topics in the syllabus
as listed in this guide. Students are also required to be familiar with the topics listed as presumed
knowledge (PK).
Syllabus content
125 hrs
Topic 1—Number and algebra
Topic 2—Descriptive Statistics
Topic 3—Logic, Sets and Probability
Topic 4—Statistical Applications
Topic 5— Geometry and trigonometry
Topic 6— Mathematical Models
Topic 7— Introductory differential calculus
20 hrs
12 hrs
20 hrs
17 hrs
18 hrs
20 hrs
18 hrs
Project (Internal Assessment)
25 hrs
The project is an individual piece of work involving the collection of information or the generation of
measurements, and the analysis and evaluation of the information or measurements.