Narrabundah College

COURSE: SPECIALIST MATHEMATICS

UNIT: UNIT 8a: SPECIALIST MATHEMATICS
(SMO4: Discrete Mathematics)

SESSION: 1 YEAR: 2021 0.5 STANDARD UNIT

TEACHERS/CLASSES: Neil (Line 4), Ellie (Line 5)

SPECIFIC UNIT GOALS

By the end of this unit, students:
• understand the concepts and techniques in discrete mathematics
• apply reasoning skills and solve problems in discrete mathematics
• communicate their arguments and strategies when solving problems
• construct proofs of results
• interpret mathematical information and ascertain the reasonableness of their solutions to problems.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Students will be assessed on the degree to which they demonstrate and understanding of:
• concepts and techniques
• reasoning and communication

ACHIEVEMENT STANDARDS
Grade descriptors are displayed on the noticeboard outside the Mathematics Staffroom

IB ATTRIBUTES
IB Learner Profile Attributes addressed in this unit: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators,
Principled, Open-Minded, Caring, Risk-Takers, Balanced and Reflective.

ASSESSMENT ITEMS
Item Weighting Due
Individual In-class Assignment 25 % Week 4 Thursday 25 Feb at lunchtime
End-of-unit Test 75 % Week 7-8 as per Exam timetable

TOTAL 100 %

ASSESSMENT POLICY
There are a number of ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) requirements that students must meet to
be assessed in a unit and be awarded scores and/or grades. These requirements also ensure consistent procedures
across the college and the system. Notably these include minimum attendance and completion of assessment task
requirements. There are also detailed penalties for late or plagiarised work. All students are required to submit
their assessment (where appropriate) through Turnitin – the college online plagiarism checking site. Students
should save copies of their Turnitin reports to forward to teachers if requested. Assessments are subjected to
rigorous moderation procedures within the college to ensure comparability of marking and, at the end of Year 12,
college marks are scaled to allow comparability across the ACT system. Grades are allocated on the basis of
student performance against set criteria that are available in course framework documents. Students are
encouraged to consider carefully the marks and feedback given on assessments and, if there are issues with
marking, the college has open and transparent appeals procedures.
Further details of these assessment policies and procedures are located on the college’s website under the Students
tab http://www.narrabundahc.act.edu.au.

Nicole Burg
Mathematics Executive Teacher
Specialist Mathematics Options 4 2020
Text: Mathematics Higher Level: Discrete Mathematics, Oxford

Week 1 MONDAY YEAR 11S AND NEW YEAR 12S

1 – 5 Feb Number Theory: Integers in different bases Ex 1A
The Well-Ordering Principle; greatest common divisor Ex 1B
BEING@BUNDAH DAY THURSDAY 4 FEBRUARY
Linear Diophantine equations Ex 1C
Week 2 Prime numbers Ex 1D
8 – 12 Feb Strong mathematical induction Ex 1E
Fundamental theorem of arithmetic; least common multiples Ex 1F

Week 3 Modular arithmetic Ex 2A

15 – 19 Feb Modular inverses and congruence Ex 2B
The Pigeonhole Principle Ex 2C
Systems of Linear Congruence Ex 2D
Week 4 Fermat’s Little Theorem Ex 2E
22 Feb – 26 Feb
ASSIGNMENT THURSDAY 25 FEBRUARY - LUNCHTIME
Graph Theory: Terminology, Classification Ex 4A
Week 5 Classification Ex 4B
1 Mar – 5 Mar MODERATION DAY TUESDAY 2 MARCH
Isomorphic graphs, Planar graphs Ex 4C, 4D
Euler’s and Kuratowski’s theorems Ex 4E
Week 6 CANBERRA DAY MONDAY 8 MARCH
8 – 12 Mar Ex 4F, 4G
Hamiltonian cycles, Eulerian circuits and trails
Kruskal’s and Dijkstra’s algorithms Ex 5A, 5B
Chinese postman problem Ex 5C
Week 7 Travelling Salesman problem Ex 5D
15 – 19 Mar Revision and Review Exercises

CROSSLINE TESTS COMMENCE FRIDAY 19 MARCH

Week 8
22 – 26 Mar
CROSSLINE TESTS FINISH THURSDAY 25 MARCH

Week 9
ASSESSMENT WEEK – STUDENT FREE (FRI 26 MARCH – THUR 1
29 Mar – 1 Apr
APR)

HOLIDAYS START FRIDAY 2 APRIL

GENERAL SKILLS ARISING FROM STUDYING THIS UNIT INCLUDE:

Transferable skills arising from a study of this unit include enhanced:
• team work – work confidently within a group, as well as build leadership skills by motivating and directing
others
• attention to detail – thoroughness and accuracy when completing tasks
• perseverance – continuing diligence in the face of adversity
• initiative and enterprise – identifying opportunities not immediately obvious as well as being prepared to be
adventurous in a professional setting
• technology – use current and emerging technologies in a variety of ways