Maths Department
YEAR 12
At Ellesmere College we have two courses in Year 12, these are assessed at Level Seven of the New Zealand Curriculum through NCEA Level Two standards. Students can participate in one or both of these courses.
Mathematics - this covers Algebra, Calculus, Non-right angled Trigonometry, Systems of Equations and Graphical Methods. Successful completion of the course is essential for students wishing to study Calculus at Level Three, which is required for further study in Engineering, Aviation etc. Level Two Mathematics leads to both Level Three Statistics and Level Three Calculus.
Recently students have been working with Ms Sidorenko to investigate graphical functions and their features using the online program DESMOS.
Work by Archie Moroney
Statistics - this covers Probability Simulations, Statistical Reports, Statistical Inference and Probability Theory. This course gives a deeper understanding of the data world around us and is helpful as subject in it’s own right, however data is drawn from many different learning areas showing that Statistics is a truely cross-curricular subject. Level Two Statisitics leads to Level Three Statistics. This is one of the most popular courses in Year Twelve with students seeing the application across many subjects.
Level Two Statistics students have spent time this year developing probability simulations using the many features of google sheets and using samples to make inferences about populations, this time using NZGrapher online program to complete the data analysis.
Recently they investigated the difference in median prices of New Zealand produced iceblocks/icecreams vs those produced outside of New Zealand, or the difference between median prices of iceblocks/icecreams that contained chocolate (or not), or the difference in sodium in dairy-free vs non-dairy free iceblocks/icecreams, or thedifference in median prices of dairy-free vs non dairy free iceblocks/icecreams. Using prices collected in early 2023 students were able to make a choice in what they investigated.
Work by Sherina Gamayon, Kate Inwood, Lucy McMillian and Angus Chappell
Currently they are evaluating statistical reports, this is a really important skill in this world of information and mis-information. The ability to evaluate if statistical reports online are accurate and valid is critical if we are to be led by information available online.
YEAR 13
We also run a Level Three Statistics course. Statistics is a very popular course, students are able to use this as one of their three University Entrance courses. Students work on data analysis, using NZGrapher (online statistical analysis), to investigate time series data, bivariate data and using bootstrapping to make inferences on the population. Students also prepare for external achievement standards, Probability Concepts and Probability Distributions.
Our internal assessments are very interesting, as students get choice in their data set of investigation and the variables they investigate. Students combine their data analysis with research in their field of interest, using this to explain the data features they have found during the data analysis.
Students have had access to data sets to investigate
The production, consumption and/or price of power in New Zealand.
Mean sea level and mean air temperature in five Pacific Island nations from December 2013 to November 2022.
Sales and registration of vehicles in the United Kingdom
The retail price of breakfast foods in New Zealand up to and including the last survey month of November 2021.
A comparison of a range of different measures of cricket players’ results in an ODI..
A comparison of life history characteristics for different orders of mammals.
A comparison of different aspects of eucalyptus trees grown in hill country locations in Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
Game statistics of an NBA player and/or their body characteristics.
Data around early childhood centres throughout New Zealand.
Data from studies on students, their backgrounds, on study techniques and on educational success at a university in Northern Cyprus.
Diabetes within the Pima Indian population in the United States of America (USA), as they have one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world at about half of 40+ year olds with this disease. The Pima people are a group of Native Americans that live around Arizona in the USA and Mexico.
In 2023 students that have taken Level Three Calculus are enrolled in NetNZ, and work with a teacher from another school in New Zealand. Students attend webinars and complete their work in study time allocated to Level Three Calculus.
Karla Morton
HELA Mathematics