Mathematics Extension 2 (HSC level only)

4 units in HSC

NESA Developed Course

Prerequisites: Year 11 Mathematics Extension 1

Exclusions: Mathematics Standard

What background knowledge do I need to study Mathematics Extension 2?

Your Year 11 teacher can advise to what degree your Year 11 learning outcomes were achieved. You will need to have mastered all knowledge and skills so that you have a solid foundation in Mathematics. Your communication skills need to be concise; notation and logical arguments need to be precise.

Why study Mathematics Extension 2?

This course will consolidate and extend your reasoning ability in a broad range of mathematical contexts. You will apply mathematical techniques to the solution of practical problems. You will have an opportunity to demonstrate a superior level of communication through the use of mathematical notation and logical argument. You will have an opportunity to study Mathematics at an advanced level so that problem solving is approaching a real-life situation.

Course description:

The content of this course, which includes the whole of the Mathematics (2 Unit) course and the whole of the Extension 1 course, is intended for students who have demonstrated a mastery of the skills of Stage 5 Mathematics and similarly for the Extension 1 Year 11. This course is designed for students with a special interest in mathematics, who have shown that they possess special aptitude for the subject. It involves considerable manipulative skill and a high degree of understanding of the fundamental ideas of algebra and calculus.

Main topics covered:

HSC Course

• The Nature of Proof

• Further Proof by Mathematical Induction

• Further Work with Vectors

• Introduction to Complex Numbers

• Using Complex Numbers

• Further Integration

• Applications of Calculus to Mechanics

Particular course requirements:

Throughout your studies you will be required to sit the Mathematics Advanced (2 Unit), Extension 1 and Extension 2 assessments although only the latter two will be used to calculate your HSC assessment marks.

HSC examination structure:

Three hour paper

• Section I – Multiple choice questions. (10 marks)

• Section II – Short answer (90 marks)

How is the Mathematics Extension 2 relevant to tertiary studies and career choice?

The three related Mathematics courses provide a grounding in several strands of mathematics including calculus. Science-related tertiary courses also involve the study of calculus. If you elect such a tertiary course without having studied the Stage 6 Mathematics calculus course, you will be required to undertake a bridging course.

Mathematics Extension 2 goes beyond the prerequisite calculus, and in some cases, it may cover material that appears in your early tertiary studies.