VCE | GENERAL MATHEMATICS

VCE General Mathematics Units 1-4 provide for the study of non-calculus and discrete mathematics topics. The course is designed to be widely accessible and to provide preparation for general employment, business or further study, alongside personal financial decision making. Skills are developed in the efficient use of the available technology, which is widely employed in the exploration of these topics. VCE General Mathematics will also help students develop a range of analytical and communication skills as they model real life situations through mathematical constructs.

YEAR 11

GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Units 1 & 2)

This subject has a focus on providing students with the mathematical knowledge, skills, and understanding to solve problems in applied and practical contexts. It is also designed as preparation for General Mathematics Units 3 and 4 and contains assumed knowledge and skills for these units.

Areas of Study

• Statistics (identifying types of data and representing it in tables and graphs, calculating statistical measures and interpreting data to summarise and draw conclusions)

• Financial Maths (using sequences to identify patterns of change in financial contexts, exploring percentage increase and decrease, making informed choices in personal banking)

• Linear graphs (modelling rates of change, identifying patterns and solving practical problems)

• Matrices (storing and displaying information, identifying patterns of change through transition matrices)

• Data Analysis (investigating relationships between two variables, modelling and making predictions)

• Networks (solve practical problems involving connectedness, shortest path and spanning trees)

• Variation (exploring relationships between variables through direct and indirect variation)

• Measurement (units of measurement, using formulas to calculate size, trigonometry and Pythagoras’ theorem in triangle measurements)

Techniques and processes are carried out with the assistance of technology, and students will develop summary notes in a resource book which can be accessed in all assessment tasks. Modelling and problem solving tasks undertaken in this subject have practical applications for a range of workplace, personal, further learning, and community settings relevant to contemporary society.

YEAR 12

GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Units 3 & 4)

This subject has a focus on real-life applications of mathematics in the areas of statistics, financial modelling, networks and matrices.

Assumed knowledge and skills for General Mathematics Units 3 and 4 are contained in General Mathematics Units 1 and 2, however students who have only completed VCE Mathematical Methods Units 1 and 2 will have had access to assumed key knowledge and key skills for General Mathematics Units 3 and 4, but may also need to undertake some supplementary study. Assumed knowledge will be drawn on in the following areas of study.

Areas of Study

• Data Analysis (representation and distribution of data, associations between variables, correlation and regression, data transformations, time series and seasonality, identifying trends and making predictions)

• Financial Maths (using recursion to model financial situations involving investments and loans, including superannuation and perpetuities)

• Networks (directed and undirected graphs, modelling and solving problems involving travel, connection, flow, allocation of tasks and scheduling)

• Matrices (use of matrices to display information, solving problems involving communication, dominance, and changes across time)

Students build skills in using technology to assist in the solving of problems within the four areas of study, as well as strengthening their ability to estimate and calculate unassisted by technology when it is more efficient to do so. Assessment tasks are based on modelling and application of skills within a given context. Summary notes in a bound reference book are developed by students across the year, for use in all assessments.