MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
The mathematics program at Mercy is designed to meet the needs of all our students and prepare them for the necessary college mathematics courses in their field of study. We encourage each student to consider her ability, goals and motivation, along with the teacher recommendation, when choosing her math course. The sequence outlines the four-year math program.
All students are required to have a graphing calculator. Mercy is currently using the TI-84 Plus.
Any student wishing to move up from College Prep level courses to Honors level courses must have a 95% average for the year thus far in the current math course and/or the recommendation of the current math teacher.
ALGEBRA 1
Course 112 CP
Grade 9 Year 1 credit
Placement based on records/recommendation
In this course, standard Algebra skills are introduced and developed. The topics include: real number system, linear equations and inequalities, compound inequalities, functions, slope and equation of lines, systems of equations and inequalities, exponents, radicals and polynomials. Some students registered for this course will be required to have math support throughout the year.
*NOTE: Only 114 Algebra 1 provides the necessary preparation for Pre-Calculus
HONORS ALGEBRA 1
Course 114
Grades 9 Year 1 credit
Placement based on records and recommendation
This course will introduce students to higher level high school work and can lead to Advanced Geometry/Algebra 2 or Honors Geometry placement in the sophomore year. The same material as in other Algebra 1 courses will be covered but in greater depth and a faster pace. Students are also introduced to some Algebra 2 concepts.
GEOMETRY
Course 122 CP 123 Honors
Grades 9, 10, 11 Year 1 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra 1 and Recommendation
This course stresses the basic structure of geometry including, line, angle, triangle and circle relationships, polygons, right triangle, trigonometry, area and volume of plane and solid figures. Algebra skills are integrated within the context of the geometric concepts.
ADVANCED GEOMETRY/ALGEBRA 2
Course 124 Advanced (2 weight)
Grades 9, 10 Year 1 credit
Prerequisite: Honors Algebra 1 and Recommendation
This course stresses the basic structure of geometry including, line , angle, triangle and circle relationships, polygons, right triangle trigonometry, unit circle trigonometry, area and volume of plane and solid figures. Algebra 1 skills are integrated within the context of the geometric concepts. Additional topics in Algebra 2 will be covered including the complex number system, polynomial functions, radical functions and rational exponents.
ALGEBRA 2
Course 132 CP 133 Honors
Grades 10,11,12 Year 1 credit
Prerequisite: Geometry and Recommendation
The goals of these course are to prepare students to work with more advanced mathematics and to give them the basic tools to apply Algebra in other courses of study. There is a major emphasis on identifying, graphing and solving quadratic equations. It is an expansion of the topics mastered in Algebra 1 along with applications.
*NOTE: Only 133 Algebra 2 includes trigonometry and provides the necessary preparation for Pre-Calculus as well as Physics.
FOUNDATIONS OF COLLEGE ALGEBRA
Course 140 CP
Grade 12 First Semester 1/2 credit
Prerequisite: An average of 80% in Algebra 2 and recommendation
This one semester college prep course includes the topics of complex numbers, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, and unit circle geometry
FOUNDATIONS OF PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
Course 141 CP
Grade 12 Second Semester 1/2 credit
Prerequisite: Recommendation
This one semester college prep course is an introductory course to probability and statistics. It includes the topics of permutations and combinations and involves practical applications to statistical information.
HONORS PRE-CALCULUS
Course 143 Honors
Grade 12 Year 1 credit
Prerequisites: An average of 85% in Honors Algebra 2 and recommendation of teacher.
This course is designed primarily for the senior Honors math student who wishes to advance her studies in math in preparation for college. It will continue to build on and integrate all prior Algebra topics as well as introduce the following topics: polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, rational functions; sequence and series; and trigonometry.
ADVANCED PRE-CALCULUS
Course 144 Advanced (2 weight)
Grades 10, 11 Year 1 credit
Prerequisites: 85% average in Advanced Geometry/Alg 2 or 94% average in Honors Algebra 2 and recommendation of teacher.
This course is for sophomores and juniors intending to take AP Calculus. It is a rigorous study and expansion of topics mastered in Algebra 2 including properties and graphs of functions; polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, logarithmic and sequential functions; trigonometric functions and identities; and vectors. Applications for the previous topics will be a major component of this class.
STATISTICS 1
Course 152 Advanced (2 weight)
Grades 11, 12 Elective First Semester 1/2 credit
Prerequisite: Honors Algebra 2 or Advanced Geometry/Algebra 2
The focus of this course is learning the different data collection techniques and the many ways to organize, interpret, and present statistical information. The uses and misuses of statistics will be discussed. There will be an introduction to probability. Counting rules and discrete probability distributions will be applied. This course may be taken concurrently with another math course.
STATISTICS 2
Course 153 Advanced (2 weight)
Grades 11, 12 Elective Second Semester 1/2 credit
Prerequisite: Statistics 1
This course is an extension of Statistics 1. Topics include understanding the normal distribution, confidence intervals and sample sizes, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression, and other analysis and testing procedures.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS (AB)
Course 155 AP (4 weight)
Grade 11, 12 Elective Year 1 Credit
Prerequisites: An average of 85 in Advanced Pre-calculus and Recommendation
This is an intensive course in Differential and Integral Calculus. It is the culmination and integration of all previous math courses. Applications to real problems are used throughout the year. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement (AB) Test or register for dual credit.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS (BC)
Course 156 AP (4 weight)
Grade 12 Elective Second Semester 1/2 credit
Prerequisites: Successful completion of AP Calculus AB
This course is a one semester extension of AP Calculus (AB). Topics from the AB course will be briefly reviewed as new topics are introduced and learned. Applications to real problems are used throughout the semester. Students are expected to take the AP Calculus (BC) Test or register for dual credit. Students will meet with the instructor during a common free time arranged during the day.
MATH SUPPORT
Course 160
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Elective Time to be arranged
Prerequisites: Recommendation and/or testing
