Mathematics Department

The Mathematics Program at ACS provides a rigorous standards-based 4-year curriculum offering three diploma tracks. The High School Diploma program is consistent with the AERO and the U.S. Common Core Standards, while the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program follows the International Baccalaureate syllabus. The Lebanese Baccalaureate (LB) Diploma program is in alignment with the Official Lebanese Mathematics Curriculum.

The department emphasizes conceptual understanding, procedural and problem-solving skills, and the appropriate use of technology to augment and enhance the learning process while employing a variety of instructional strategies that encourage critical thinking and active student participation.

Mathematics Courses

Course Descriptions

Geometry 9: Prerequisite: Completion of Middle School

This course is a year-long study of Euclidean Geometry. The student will develop an understanding of geometric concepts and relationships in the context of deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, and geometric modeling. Topics will include parallel and perpendicular lines, congruent and similar triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, coordinate geometry, and measurement of two and three-dimensional figures. Making and evaluating conjectures, and developing and critiquing proofs will be central activities. A comprehensive algebra unit will also be covered in this course. This unit includes: linear equations and inequalities, systems of linear equations and inequalities, exponents, radicals, and polynomials.

Algebra II: Prerequisite: Geometry

This course offers a wide range of advanced algebraic concepts and emphasizes the study of functions. These include: linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic and rational functions. The course also prepares students for more advanced mathematics and introduces them to the study of trigonometry and its various applications.

IB Courses

IB Math Studies I: Prerequisite: Algebra II

This course is a two-year program offered for IB Diploma and Certificate students. The IB sets the syllabus and the external exam. The course is designed to build confidence and encourage an appreciation of mathematics in students who do not anticipate a need for mathematics in their future studies. The course concentrates on mathematics that can be applied to contexts related as far as possible to other subjects being studied, to common real-world occurrences and to topics that relate to home, work and leisure situations. The program covers algebra; sets, logic and probability; functions; geometry and trigonometry; statistics; an introduction to differential calculus; and financial mathematics.

IB Mathematics Standard Level I: Prerequisite: Algebra II

A two-year program offered for students enrolled in the IB Diploma Program. The IB sets the syllabus and the external exam. The course aims to develop a sound grounding in mathematical skills and understanding to facilitate further study of mathematics and subjects that depend upon mathematical analysis, such as biology, medicine, psychology, and business. Topics covered include algebra, sequences and series, logarithms and exponents, binomial theorem, functions and graphs, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, simple differentiation and integration with applications, vectors, probability and statistics.

IB Mathematics Higher Level I: Prerequisite: Algebra II

This course is a two-year program offered for IB Diploma and Certificate students. The IB sets the syllabus and the external exam. The course is designed for students with strong mathematical curiosity and/or those who expect mathematics to be a significant part of their university studies (i.e. physics, engineering, economics, architecture, technology, or mathematics itself). The course includes algebra, sequences and series, logarithms and exponents, binomial theorem, mathematical induction, complex numbers, functions and graphs, trigonometry, calculus: differentiation and integration with applications, vectors, statistics, discrete and continuous probability distributions, plus the optional topic of abstract algebra.

IB Math Studies Standard Level: Prerequisite: Algebra II

This course is a two-year program offered for IB Diploma and Certificate students. The IB sets the syllabus and the external exam. The course is designed to build confidence and encourage an appreciation of mathematics in students who do not anticipate a need for mathematics in their future studies. The course concentrates on mathematics that can be applied to contexts related as far as possible to other subjects being studied, to common real-world occurrences and to topics that relate to home, work and leisure situations. The program covers algebra; sets, logic and probability; functions; geometry and trigonometry; statistics; an introduction to differential calculus; and financial mathematics.

IB Mathematics Standard Level: Prerequisite: Algebra II

A two-year program offered for students enrolled in the IB diploma program. The IB sets the syllabus and the external exam. The course aims to develop a sound grounding in mathematical skills and understanding to facilitate further study of mathematics and subjects that depend upon mathematical analysis, such as biology, medicine, psychology, and business. Topics covered include algebra, sequences and series, logarithms and exponents, binomial theorem, functions and graphs, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, simple differentiation and integration with applications, vectors, probability and statistics.

IB Mathematics Higher Level Prerequisite: Algebra II

This course is a two-year program offered for IB Diploma and Certificate students. The IB sets the syllabus and the external exam. The course is designed for students with strong mathematical curiosity and/or those who expect mathematics to be a significant part of their university studies (i.e. physics, engineering, economics, architecture, technology, or mathematics itself). The course includes algebra, sequences and series, logarithms and exponents, binomial theorem, mathematical induction, complex numbers, functions and graphs, trigonometry, Calculus: differentiation and integration with applications, vectors, statistics, discrete and continuous probability distributions, plus the optional topic of abstract algebra.

LB Courses

LB Math 9 (Brevet Math): Prerequisite: LB Math Grade 8

This course follows the program set by the Ministry of Education and prepares students for the official Brevet exam. The course includes number systems, operations on polynomials, linear equations, proportions, systems of equations, vectors and translation, right triangle trigonometry, coordinate and analytic geometry, geometric proofs, geometry of the circle, similar triangles and statistics.

LB Math 10: Prerequisites: LB Math 9 (Brevet Math)

This course follows the program set by the Ministry of Education and prepares students for the governmental Baccalaureate exam. The course covers essentially the following topics: set theory, real numbers, equations and inequalities, polynomials, vectors and lines, functions, and trigonometry.

LB Math 11: Prerequisite: LB Math 10

This course follows the program set by the Ministry of Education and prepares students for the governmental Baccalaureate exam. It includes the study of: limits and functions, derivatives and anti-derivatives, circles in coordinate geometry, polynomials, trigonometry, sequences, 3-D geometry, vectors, elementary probability, and complex numbers.

LB Math 12 (Bacc. II - Life Sciences-Math): Prerequisite: LB Math 11

This course follows the program set by the Ministry of Education and prepares students for the external Baccalaureate exam. The course builds on concepts introduced in the Pre-Bacc. 11. Topics covered are calculus and functional analysis, complex numbers, statistics and probability, trigonometry, and 3-D analytic geometry. The language of functions is used to deal with instantaneous change and infinite summation. The theory and application of derivatives and integrals is widely developed in this course.