Description of Course

The Higher Applications of Mathematics Course focuses on developing the mathematical and analytical skills required in society and for the future workforce. The Course develops candidates’ mathematical literacy, problem solving skills and reasoning skills as they apply mathematics in real-life contexts. The skills, knowledge and understanding in the Course supports learning and further study and builds confidence in a wide range of curricular areas, such as humanities, social sciences, healthcare, and business.

The course enhances candidates’ critical and logical thinking so that they can interpret, analyse, and critically appraise statistical and mathematical information; simplify and solve problems; assess risk; and make informed decisions.

Course Content

Mathematical modelling

• Understanding and applying the process of mathematical modelling to evaluate, analyse and interpret mathematical models

• Using software effectively in calculations

Statistics and probability

Applying statistical skills to:

• Basic probability

• Correlation and linear regression

• Data analysis, interpretation and communication

• Applying statistical literacy skills to data

Finance

• Calculating present and future values of monetary payments

• Solving problems related to personal financial products and transactions and analyzing the results

• Applying personal financial planning skills

Planning and decision making

• Understanding and applying project planning and decision making

Assessment

Candidates to complete a project giving them the opportunity to demonstrate the following statistical skills, knowledge and understanding:

• applying statistical skills to data

• analysing data, interpreting and communicating findings using statistical skills

The project has 30 marks out of a total of 110 marks for the course assessment (27% of final grade).