Course Descriptions & Schedules
Students choose from two kinds of ATDP Mathematics courses
- Accelerated courses covering a full year of material in six weeks—Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, and AP Statistics. Students must be prepared to learn at a rigorous and intensive pace and to do many hours of demanding homework daily. Classes meet three days per week.
- Enrichment courses focusing on specific topics and areas—Foundations of Algebra and Introduction to Geometric Thinking. The class pace is challenging but not rushed. These courses, which carry a recommendation of one semester of credit, help students gain a deeper understanding of math, become more well-rounded, and be better prepared for math classes at school. Classes meet two days per week.
Application Prerequisites
If you are applying for Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trig, Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, or AP Statistics*:
- You must have a grade of A in your current mathematics class.
- You cannot repeat a math course you have already taken.
- Your Teacher Recommendation Form must be completed by your current mathematics teacher.
- You may enroll in only one course.
- You must take the diagnostic examination given on Orientation Day, Saturday, June 13, 2009.
* AP Statistics does not have a diagnostic exam.
Placement Requirements
For Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, Precalculus or AP Calculus AB: Final course placement is contingent upon your diagnostic examination score. If you are unable to take the test on Saturday, June 13, the acceptance letter will provide instructions on scheduling a make-up test.
Notes
- We do not allow students to repeat math classes at ATDP that they have already taken at their school.
- We recommend that students do not take a course at ATDP if they are planning to repeat the same course for credit next year at their school. It usually is not in a student's best interest to repeat the same material twice; based on our past experience, a student's time and effort are better spent in taking a course at ATDP for which he or she wants to receive credit.
- Instead of repeating math courses either at ATDP or at their school, we suggest that students consider taking ATDP math electives for which they have already completed the prerequisites.
| Course # | Course Name | Days | Time | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2940.1 | Foundations of Algebra (AM) | Tu | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | |||
| 2940.2 | Foundations of Algebra (PM) | Tu | F | 1:00 - 4:30 | |||
| 2941 | Algebra I | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2942.1 | Introduction to Geometric Thinking (AM) | Tu | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | |||
| 2942.2 | Introduction to Geometric Thinking (PM) | Tu | F | 1:00 - 4:30 | |||
| 2943.1 | Geometry (AM) | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2943.2 | Geometry (PM) | M | W | F | 1:00 - 4:30 | ||
| 2943.3 | Geometry (AM) | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2945.1 | Algebra II/Trig (AM) | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2945.2 | Algebra II/Trig (PM) | M | W | F | 1:00 - 4:30 | ||
| 2945.3 | Algebra II/Trig (AM) | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2946.1 | Precalculus (AM) | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2946.2 | Precalculus (PM) | M | W | F | 1:00 - 4:30 | ||
| 2947 | AP Calculus AB | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2949 | AP Statistics | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
Foundations of Algebra
| 2940.1 | Claudia Benedetti | 5 units | $510 | Tu | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | |||
| 2940.2 | Mary Sue Kennedy | 5 units | $510 | Tu | F | 1:00 - 4:30 |
For students who have completed grade 7 or 8. This class is for students who have NOT taken Algebra I.
This course is designed to strengthen and develop skills that are essential for students who will be entering an Algebra I course in the fall. We will study strategies for problem solving, patterns and functions, probability, graphing, equations, properties, exponents and geometric thinking. During the six-week course, we will identify individual student curricular needs then design instruction to challenge all students in the class. Students will approach problem solving using a scientific approach defining the problem, making predictions and hypotheses, testing assertions, using algebra to generalize from specifics, making conclusions and supporting them with logical argument and proof.
Note: This class will have a diagnostic test on Orientation Day, Saturday, June 13, 2009, but it will not affect course placement.
Homework per class meeting: 3-4 hours.
Algebra I
| 2941 | John Kawamura & Raul Gonzalez | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 |
Prerequisites: Completion of Pre-Algebra in addition to the prerequisites listed above.
This six-week course covers a full year of Algebra I and is aligned with state and NCTM standards for high school algebra classes. Topics to be covered include data organization; patterns and graphs; writing and solving equations; numeric, geometric, and algebraic ratios; slopes and rates of change; linear functions; factoring quadratics; graphing and systems of linear and nonlinear equations, area and sub problems; radicals and inequalities; exponents and quadratics; rational and irrational numbers; quadratic functions. Applicants should be strong math students who are self-motivated, willing to work very hard for six weeks, and eager for a significant challenge. Students should be prepared to spend at least eight hours outside of class preparing for each class session. The atmosphere of the class is cooperative; the emphasis is on working together.
Homework per class meeting: 6-10 hours.
Introduction to Geometric Thinking
| 2942.1 | Danae Towne | 5 units | $510 | Tu | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | |||
| 2942.2 | Danae Towne | 5 units | $510 | Tu | F | 1:00 - 4:30 |
Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra I.
This course is designed for students who want to preview selected topics from high school Geometry. The approach is informal, with hands-on activities that will allow students to explore geometric concepts. Through a variety of techniques such as cooperative learning, the discovery method, and model making, students will learn about the major concepts of Euclidean geometry. Students will work on a number of special projects such as tessellations. This course will give students the confidence and background to perform well in the regular or honors Geometry courses at their school in the fall.
Homework per class meeting: 5-7 hours.
Geometry
| 2943.1 | Nakia Baird | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2943.2 | Nakia Baird | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 1:00 - 4:30 | ||
| 2943.3 | Yoonok (Kathy) Lee | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 |
Prerequisites: Completion of Algebra I in addition to the prerequisites listed above.
This fast-paced course completes all topics of first-year Geometry: points, lines, planes, and angles; deductive reasoning; parallel lines and planes; congruent triangles; quadrilaterals; inequalities in geometry; similar polygons; right triangles; circles; constructions and loci; areas of plane figures; areas and volumes of solids; coordinate geometry; transformations; and an introduction to trigonometry. There will be a computer laboratory component to the class. Because the course covers a full year of Geometry, students will spend at least eight hours outside of class preparing for each class session.
Homework per class meeting: 8-10 hours.
Algebra II/Trigonometry
| 2945.1 | Toby Jaw | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2945.2 | Toby Jaw | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 1:00 - 4:30 | ||
| 2945.3 | Dave Reiter | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 |
Prerequisites: Completion of Algebra I and Geometry in addition to the prerequisites listed above.
This extremely fast-paced course completes all topics of second-year Algebra with trigonometry: linear functions and relations; systems of linear equations and inequalities; quadratic functions and complex numbers; exponential and logarithmic functions; rational and irrational algebraic functions; quadratic relations and systems; higher degree functions and polynomials; sequences and series; graphing techniques; circular and trigonometric functions; use of mathematical models for applications and problem solving. Because the course covers a full year of material, students will spend a great deal of time outside class preparing for each class session.
Homework per class meeting: 8-10 hours.
Precalculus
| 2946.1 | Katharine Morton | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 | ||
| 2946.2 | Philippe Henri | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 1:00 - 4:30 |
Prerequisites: Completion of Geometry and Algebra II/ Trigonometry in addition to the prerequisites listed above.
This fast-paced course will complete all topics necessary for success in Calculus: coordinate geometry including rational functions and their graphs; conic sections including rotation of axes; elementary functions including inverses and transformation theory; exponential and logarithmic functions; all topics from the trigonometry framework including polar coordinates, polar graphing, polar form of complex numbers, DeMoivre's Theorem, Trigonometric identities, triangle trigonometry for right triangles and non-right triangles, graphs of the trigonometric functions and their inverses; sequences, series, sigma notation; proof by mathematical induction; introduction to limits; and introduction to differentiation.
Homework per class meeting: 6-10 hours.
AP Calculus AB
| 2947 | Philippe Henri | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 |
Prerequisites: Completion of Precalculus in addition to the prerequisites listed above.
This extremely fast-paced, one-year AP Calculus course will cover all of the material for the Calculus AB AP examination in May 2010: introduction to differential and integral calculus of functions of one variable, with applications and an introduction to transcendental functions; techniques of integration; applications of integration; infinite sequences and series; first-order ordinary differential equations; second-order ordinary differential equations; oscillation and damping; series solutions of ordinary differential equations. For an additional fee, students in this class will have the option of taking Saturday review classes in the spring of 2010 to prepare for the AP examination in May of 2010.
Homework per class meeting: 6-10 hours.
AP Statistics
| 2949 | Shasta Ihorn | 10 units | $730 | M | W | F | 8:30 - 12:00 |
Prerequisites: Completion of Algebra II with a final grade of A, and a very strong math teacher recommendation. Completion of at least freshman year of high school or permission of the Director. Completion of at least sophomore year is recommended.
Statistics is perhaps the most widely applicable branch of mathematics, and coursework will be based almost entirely upon real- world data. This course provides an opportunity to prepare for the May 2010 AP examination in Statistics. The course is guided by the AP syllabus and covers the following areas: organizing data, normal distributions, linear and nonlinear regression, relations in categorical data, designing samples and experiments, simulating experiments, probability, random variables, binomial and geometric distributions, sample distributions, statistical inference, confidence intervals, tests for significance, and chi-square tests. The course expectation is that all students will become fluent with the language and formulas of statistics and with some of the technology that is available for statistical analysis. Both the textbook and the AP exam are designed for the TI-83 graphing calculator, which has extensive statistical capabilities. For an additional fee, students in this class will have the option of taking Saturday review classes in the spring of 2010 to prepare for the AP examination in May of 2010.
Homework per class meeting: 5-7 hours.