Applications and Interpretation

Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation focuses on the use of mathematics for describing our world, modelling and solving practical problems using the power of technology. This course is intended to provide a good preparation for using mathematics in the undergraduate-level study of social sciences, biology, chemistry or medicine, as well as engineering or computer science if taken at Higher Level (HL). Students who take Mathematics: Applications and interpretation will be those who enjoy mathematics best when seen in a practical context. Compared to Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, this course places slightly greater emphasis on statistics, probability and modelling.

What will I study?

Both Standard (SL) and Higher Level students will study:

• Dealing with approximations and errors
• Sequences and series, including applications in finance and population modelling
• Modelling with linear, polynomial, exponential, reciprocal and sinusoidal functions, including refining models and fitting parameters
• Properties of lines, planes and solids in three dimensions using trigonometry
• Use of Voronoi diagrams for nearest-neighbour interpolation and optimising positions and paths
• Data presentation and analysis, including statistics for central tendency, spread and correlation
• Probability distributions including the binomial and normaldistributions
• Hypothesis testing, using statistical tests for independence, goodness-of-fit and difference of means
• Using differentiation in optimisation problems, and integration to find areas

Higher Level students will also cover:

• Applications of logarithms and complex numbers
• Use of matrices for solving systems of equations, for describing transformations and for Markov chains
• Further mathematical modelling including logistic and piecewise models and the use of log-log graphs
• Vectors and their use in kinematics
• Graph-theoretic problems including tree and cycle algorithms and applications of adjacency matrices
• The Poisson distribution, confidence intervals and further statistical tests
• Use of calculus for kinematics, volumes of revolution and problems involving rates of change
• Numerical and analytic methods for solving first-and second-order differential equations

If Mathematics is not one of my favourite subjects, should I avoid taking the IB Diploma?

Definitely not! While the HL components of both Mathematics courses are designed to appeal to students who enjoy being challenged in Maths lessons, the SL component of Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation is designed to be accessible to anyone who has studied GCSE Mathematics or equivalent, and your teacher will be able to provide you with plenty of support in order to make sure that you can succeed.

Entry Requirements

Standard Level - GCSE Mathematics at Grade 4 and above

Higher Level - GCSE Mathematics at Grade 7 and above

For further information

Please contact Adam Biltcliffe: adam.biltcliffe@parksidecc.org.uk

“I have found A&I Maths to be highly interactive and engaging at Parkside. Hands-on teaching and my teachers have helped understand challenging concepts and boosted my confidence.”

Amy

“Our Maths teacher always makes the lessons interactive and interesting. My favourite area we have covered is logarithms because it’s a completely new aspect of Maths for me, and yet is so useful in so many other topics.”

Marc