MATHEMATICS COURSES

ALGEBRA 1
Algebra 1 is Oxbridge’s introductory math course. It serves as the foundation course for the rest of the school’s math offerings. The focus will be on establishing a strong suite of skill sets (problem solving, reasoning, proofs, measurement and data analysis) to allow the greatest flexibility in the student’s future math direction. Specific Algebra content used to accomplish the goals above includes dealing with linear equations, quadratic equations, and polynomials in general. Students will also learning about exponential functions, radicals, and rational functions. Throughout the year, the emphasis will always be on students developing deeper analytical and critical thinking skills.

GEOMETRY
The most ancient of math fields still being taught, Geometry is the study of 2-D and 3-D shapes, their size, and their positions in space. So why do we still study it? Because Geometry is found everywhere—in art, architecture, engineering, robotics, land surveys, astronomy, sculptures, space, nature, sports, machines, cars and much more. More over, it still provides the one of the best vehicles for developing spatial reasoning and problem solving skills. Specific content to be mastered include angles, segments, parallel and perpendicular lines, triangle relationships, congruency, quadrilaterals, similarity, surface area, volume, and circles. The focus is on the students’ continuous development of analytical and critical thinking, this time under the guise of logical and spatial reasoning.

GEOMETRY HONORS
Geometry Honors is an extension of the Geometry course in both breath and depth. This proof-based course will cover reasoning, direct and indirect proofs, parallel lines and planes, congruence, similarity, quadrilaterals, measurement, polygons, right triangles, circles, coordinate geometry, reflections, transformations, symmetry, and trigonometry.

ALGEBRA II
Algebra 2 is a continuation of Algebra 1. The theme in Algebra 2 is organized around families of functions, including linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, radical, and rational functions. As students study each family of functions, students will learn to represent them in multiple ways—as verbal descriptions, equations, tables, and graphs. Students will also learn to model real-world situations using functions in order to solve problems arising from those situations. Mastery of algebra 2 concepts will assure that the student will be able to transition to any higher math level they wish to pursue including Pre-Calculus, Calculus and Statistics.

ALGEBRA II HONORS
Algebra 2 is an extension of Algebra 1 in both breadth and depth. Topics to be mastered include a review of advanced algebra concepts, functions and graphing, exponential and logarithmic functions, non-linear equations and inequalities, conic sections, systems of equations, matrices and determinants, induction, and sequences and series. This, in conjunction with Geometry Honors, provides an excellent foundation for further studies in Calculus or Calculus based sciences. It also provides solid preparation for SAT II Math subject exam.

PRE-CALCULUS
Pre-Calculus is a college-prep-level course based on the study of the family of functions from an algebraic, graphical, numerical, and verbal perspective to provide a comprehensive understanding of the building blocks required in Calculus. In effect, Pre-Calculus serves as the bridge between Calculus and Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and because of this, it serves as an excellent precursor to Calculus. It is also good preparation for AP Statistics as well. In fact, upon completion of this course the student is advised to take the SAT II Math IIC Achievement Test. The successful student of this course will be well prepared for the rigors of Calculus that awaits them. This course is a study of the theory of polynomials, rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric identities, trigonometric equations, inverse trigonometric functions, polar coordinates, and arithmetic and geometric sequences and series. Graphical calculators and computer software are an integral part of the course.

PRE-CALCULUS HONORS
Pre-Calculus Honors is a math course specifically designed to prepare students for further math studies in college following the traditional Calculus sequence. The Honors course in particular is designed for the more ambitious student who is seriously considering math, physics, engineering or any other physical science as a possible career choice. It will take the same concepts taught in the regular Pre-Calculus course but treat them with more depth. The successful student of this course will be very well prepared for the rigors of Calculus that awaits them.

CALCULUS (REGULAR AND HONORS)
Students who take this course will explore calculus in physical phenomena, learning fundamental calculus techniques as they apply them to the physics contexts of kinematics, dynamics, and energy. The interdependent nature of math and science will be revealed through this approach, elucidating the elegance that calculus offers to scientific inquiry. Topics will include applications in kinematics, work and energy, momentum, and oscillations. From analyzing physical situations, students will postulate how to mathematically model the variables in those situations such as acceleration, velocity and time. Assessments for the course will be largely project­ based.

AP CALCULUS AB
Calculus is the typical culminating math experience in high school. It is a gate opener for further endeavors in engineering, physics, chemistry and other sciences and economics including finance and statistical analysis. It is also a good indicator of someone who possesses a strong ability in quantitative and qualitative reasoning abilities; the exact skill sets the select colleges are looking for in their students. The course is essentially the calculus of one variable. Topics include limits; differentiation; maxima and minima, the chain rule for polynomials, rational functions, trigonometric functions, and exponential functions and the introduction of integration with applications to area and volumes of revolution amongst other topics. The students will take the AP Calculus AB exam in May.

AP CALCULUS BC
This is a review and extension of Calculus AB. Completion of this course is equivalent to completing the first year of Calculus in college. Though primarily a class for future science majors, many other students take it as well including social studies and humanity type students. Topics covered include further development of integration techniques and their applications, inverse trigonometric and logarithmic functions, infinite series, power series, Taylor's formula, polar coordinates, parametric equations, introduction to differential equations, and numerical methods. Students completing this course will take the AP Calculus BC exam in May.

MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS HONORS
This is the third class in the Calculus sequence: the calculus of the 3-d world. Typically taken by anyone who is interested in the physical sciences or engineering—though anyone who is intellectually adventuresome and has met the prerequisite is more than welcome. Topics covered include differential and integral calculus of functions of two or three variables, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, Green’s, Stokes’ and Divergence Theorems, calculus of vectors and paths in two and three dimensions. The course will conclude with an introduction to first and second order differential equations.

COMPUTER SCIENCE 1
Computer Science 1 is an introduction to computing science field in general with a particular emphasis on object-oriented programing. The focus will be on developing the innate deductive reasoning skills and algorithmic thinking that is inherent for all computer science students. Python will be used to develop their competency in software development, simple data structures, function development, control statements, strings, lists and simple classes. There will also be an ethical component to reinforce to the students the importance of maintaining their moral responsibilities to the CS community and general population.

DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS
The audience for this is anyone interested in computer science and science especially those interested in data related research, continuing with topics introduced in the previous class including object-oriented principles and design, data structures and algorithms but now extend them to include a more sophisticated treatment of those topics (sort and search techniques, linked lists, big-Oh efficiency notation, etc.). New topics such as I/O, exception handling, generic programing, collections, stacks, queues and trees will also be included. The language of choice is Java.