Mathematics (Calc/Stats/Others)

Mathematics is the study of patterns in everything that we see. Many people think they are not very good at maths and therefore do not like the subject. In actual fact, most have just had a bad experience with maths that has caused them to have this belief. And the best way to reverse this feeling is to give people good experiences and show them that they can be successful, which is exactly what we try to do in LAC's Mathematics Department.

Mathematics is more than just equations and numbers; it is a logical set of rules that the universe follows. As Galileo once said, "mathematics is the language God used to create the universe”. One of the most important parts of mathematics is learning how these rules work, and then how to solve problems. Problem solving is an extremely important skill to have, and everyone uses it every day, often without realising it. In maths we learn how to define problems, solve problems, and finally evaluate our solution; a process which makes it easier to solve some of the problems in our lives each day.

In all of LAC's mathematics classes, we try to relate the learning to an experience that the students have had or will have. Rather than ‘solving to find x’ we will endeavour to give the problem a context which helps the students realise how the mathematics may be used, and how powerful and important the concept is. We try to take contexts that the students may be using, such as in economics or physics, or even photography and art. This helps students realise that mathematics is not just needed to pass NCEA, but in fact other subjects utilise the skills that are being taught.

The most important thing in each mathematics class at LAC is student success. In each lesson, students are taught ‘where they are at’. Those who need to be extended are, and those who require extra help are provided with the support they need. Our goal is always to equip and prepare each student for a lifetime in which they do not have to fear when a little mathematics is needed, but rather they are rearing to go and ‘get their maths on’.

"Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” - Albert Einstein