620-081 Preliminary Mathematics A

Mathematics as a final year subject at school.

This subject forms the first part of a two-semester sequence of subjects suitable for students who have taken standard mathematics in the final year of international secondary school. On successful completion of 620-081, students will have acquired mathematical skills at least equivalent to those gained by the completion of VCE Mathematical Methods 3/4.

Algebra topics include polynomials, linear factors, factor theorem, remainder theorem, quadratic and cubic equations, surds, binomial theorem, general transposition of formulae, and partial fractions. Functions topics include trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions; graphs, domains, asymptotic behaviour, elementary coordinate geometry; composite functions, inverse functions; solution of equations involving transcendental functions. Calculus topics include derivatives, rules for differentiation including product, quotient and chain rules, use of derivatives in graph sketching; and integration of simple functions, areas under curves. Probability and statistics topics include permutations and combinations, elementary probability; random variables: mean, variance; and binomial, hypergeometric and normal distributions.

Up to 24 pages of written assignments (10%), a 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (75%) and class tests totalling not more than 1.5 hours (15%).