Mathematics

Mathematics at Wasatch Academy serves students with a wide range of interests and skills, from basic math to advanced calculus. The math department provides a unique, flipped classroom model within its required graduation courses, including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. This structure, which is supported by teacher-created instructional content, allows students to self-pace, according to their math proficiency.

During class periods, teachers provide individualized guided student instruction. The math department designs curricula to provide and build upon strong, foundational knowledge that focuses on developing confident math students.

Courses

  • Pre-algebra equips students for success in Algebra 1. It solidifies concepts like operations with integers, fractions, decimals, and percents. Being solid in the ability to manipulate numbers, properly use order of operations, and simplifying expressions are key for solving equations like the ones in Algebra 1.

  • The essential focus of Algebra 1 is the ability to solve and graph linear equations. Students will build on Pre-algebra skills as they learn to perform operations with exponents. In Geometry, students will need to use their Algebra 1 skills to solve equations that arise in geometric contexts, such as in triangles or parallel lines cut by a transversal.

  • Students are introduced to reasoning and proofs. These principles are then applied to parallel and perpendicular lines, congruence, similarity, right triangles, trigonometry, expressing geometric properties with expressions, geometric measurement and dimensions, and circles. The reasoning tools provided in Geometry, alongside the basic algebraic skills learned in Algebra 1 come together in Algebra 2 where more algebraic concepts are introduced and then connected to geometric concepts in graphical representations.

  • The essential focus of Algebra 2 is the ability to solve and graph more complicated equations (beyond linear). Students solve systems of linear equations, rational equations, and quadratic equations. Students use their Algebra 2 skills in Precalculus to make sense of graphical representations of functions. For example, they will use polynomial expressions to find x-intercepts or solve a quadratic trig equation. Algebraic skills are important in calculating summary statistics for real data. Graphing skills help students build statistical models. Students need the tools of Algebra 2 to be math fluent adults. College Algebra helps them see how their skills can be applied in real contexts.

  • The objective of Precalculus is to prepare students for calculus. Students develop a solid understanding or functions including exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric.

  • The AP version of this course expands on Precalculus and includes vectors, matrices, parametric equations, polar equations, and conic sections. It is meant to put students on track for the AP Calculus courses. Calculus is the culmination of all previous learning in the math department. It is where algebra and geometry come together as students use algebra to understand the behavior of functions and graphs. Course description provided by the College Board.

  • Students cultivate their understanding of differential and integral calculus through engaging with real-world problems represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally and using definitions and theorems to build arguments and justify conclusions as they explore concepts like change, limits, and the analysis of functions. Course description provided by the College Board.

  • This course extends and expands upon the learning in AP Calculus AB.

  • Students explore how to interpret the wealth of information that surrounds them. Topics covered include, but are not limited to: data collection and experimental design, visualizing data, linear regression, normal distributions, and inference methods.