Course Information

HSC Mathematics. The smart way to prepare for your HSC.

This course is the first in a series of four Mathematics Advanced courses and provides consolidation of the key content and skills from specific topics in the Mathematics Advanced HSC course. The program covers graphing techniques, trigonometric functions and graphs, differential calculus, and descriptive statistics and bivariate data analysis. Prerequisite skills from the Mathematics Advanced Preliminary course will be reviewed. Study skills and examination techniques will also be emphasised.

Other courses in this series include HSC Mathematics Preparation – Advanced (Part 2) (April) and HSC Mathematics Preparation – Advanced (Part 3) (July). You do not need to attend all three parts in order to benefit.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• apply transformations to sketch polynomial, reciprocal, absolute value, trigonometric, exponential or logarithmic functions
• use graphical methods and supporting algebraic techniques to solve a variety of practical problems, including those involving periodic phenomena
• solve trigonometric equations
• differentiate trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions
• apply the product, quotient and chain rules to differentiate functions
• organise, interpret and display grouped and ungrouped data
• calculate and interpret summary statistics and identify outliers
• construct bivariate scatterplots and use them to describe patterns, features and associations of bivariate data sets
• analyse bivariate data sets using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and lines of best fit
• answer a range of questions based on the topics covered
• critically evaluate your own and others' solutions to improve the quality of responses in assessment tasks
• interpret mathematical language of examination questions to better understand the steps required in a quality solution.

Content

The following topics from the Mathematics Advanced HSC syllabus will be covered:

• MA-F2 Graphing Techniques
• MA-F3 Trigonometric Functions and Graphs
• MA-C2 Differential Calculus
• MA-S2 Descriptive Statistics and Bivariate Data Analysis

Intended audience

Year 12 students or accelerated Year 11 students who have already completed the previous topics.

Delivery style

Delivered as a two-day activity-based workshop where we will explore and apply mathematical knowledge and skills in a combination of lectures, tutorials and problem-solving sessions. Practice exercises are carefully graded and you will receive immediate feedback.

Materials

You will receive electronic copies using Dropbox of the following:

• a course booklet including theory and worked examples, covering all syllabus dot points from the relevant topics
• solutions to all questions in the course booklet
• relevant past examination questions from the previous mathematics course, as well as from other educational jurisdictions, with sample answers provided.

Bring your own device

You are required to bring your own device (Windows or Mac) and a power cord. Please ensure your device is fully charged as access to power is limited.

Please note that University does not carry any responsibility for your lost, stolen, or damaged devices whilst on the University premises.

Course evaluation

This course will be evaluated via an email on-line student questionnaire delivered in class.

Getting Through Your HSC: A Practical Guide

While you progress through this journey and also the conclusion of your schooling life, we know you’ll have a lot on your mind – exams, future study, careers – but remember, while keeping focused on these bigger goals and aspirations, it’s also important not to forget your own health and well-being.

For tips on staying motivated and keeping focused, dealing with anxiety, keeping healthy, relaxation, pre-study exercise and more, read our article Getting Through Your HSC: A Practical Guide.