Mathematics / Year 10 / Algebra

Curriculum content descriptions

use mathematical modelling to solve applied problems involving growth and decay, including financial contexts; formulate problems, choosing to apply linear, quadratic or exponential models; interpret solutions in terms of the situation; evaluate and modify models as necessary and report assumptions, methods and findings (AC9M10A04)

Elaborations
  • modelling situations and choosing between linear, quadratic and exponential models by representing relationships in a table of values and recognising that linear functions have constant first differences, quadratic functions have constant second differences and exponential functions have a constant ratio between consecutive values of the dependent variable
  • modelling situations involving exponential growth and decay, and contrasting this with linear growth or decay; for example, situations involving constant percentage change and constant ratio; determining doubling time and half-life and approximate intervals for which the values of the model lie within a given range
  • modelling situations that involve working with authentic information, data and interest rates to calculate compound interest and solve related problems
  • modelling and investigating how exponential equations are used in carbon dating to estimate the age of First Nations Australians’ artefacts or material culture
  • modelling and formulating situations involving population growths of native animals on Country/Place with varying reproductive behaviour, using exponential equations and critiquing their applicability to real-world situations
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Numeracy Numeracy
ScOT terms

Finance,  Modelling (Mathematical),  Critical thinking,  Functions and relations

Video

My Five Cents: What is compound interest?

Compound interest will be one of the most important things you ever learn. Don't believe it? Gen Fricker will explain why. Learn how compound interest works, and why saving now can help you later. Game changer! Then test yourself with ASIC MoneySmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.

Video

How do interest rates work?

What are interest rates? What determines the interest rates in Australia? And how do interest rates affect the economy? Listen as Dr Ashton de Silva explains.

Video

BTN: Bank loans

When we need to buy a house we usually have to take out a loan from the bank. We have to pay back that loan with interest. A $350,000 loan can mean paying back $869,000! Listen to Nathan Bazley explain why a small change in interest rates can mean a big difference to the total amount you repay. This clip provides a context ...

Interactive

Desmos Graphing Calculator - Google Play app

Plot functions, create tables, add sliders and animate your graphs. Touch points of interest on the graph to show maximums, minimums and points of intersection. Type in an equation and watch the calculator solve the problem. Free when reviewed on 12/5/2015.

Online

TIMES Module 36: Number and Algebra: formulas - teacher guide

This is a 13-page guide for teachers. It introduces the use of formulas, and includes substitution and the solution of the resulting equations.

Online

TIMES Module 22: Number and Algebra: consumer arithmetic - teacher guide

This is a 23-page guide for teachers, providing an introduction to the financial mathematics component of the number and algebra strands for years 9 and 10. A brief history of the concept of money concludes the module.

Interactive

Sites2See – applied mathematics

This collection of resources for Applied Mathematics has helpful links for the six Focus Studies - Communication, Driving, Design, Household Finance, Human Body and Personal Resource Usage. A laptop-friendly resource.

Online

TIMES Module 34: Number and Algebra: quadratic equations - teacher guide

This is a 19-page guide for teachers. It introduces quadratic equations and methods for solving them.

Online

Secondary mathematics: different representations

These seven learning activities, which focus on 'representations' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers use different representations ...

Video

MathXplosion, Ep 15: How many times can a sheet of paper be folded?

Why can a regular sheet of paper be folded only about six times? By folding a sheet of paper in half, over and over, the number of layers and the thickness of the paper doesn’t just double, they increase exponentially. Find out how many times a sheet of paper can actually be folded!

Online

TIMES Module 35: Number and Algebra: the quadratic function - teacher guide

This is a 29-page guide for teachers. It introduces graphing of quadratic functions.

Interactive

Algebra four

This is an interactive game for two students in which they solve algebraic equations, similar to 'Connect four'. The players can choose from problems that are one- or two-step, quadratic, have distributive properties or have variables on both sides, and more than one problem type can be chosen. The length of time each player ...

Interactive

Laptop wrap: Investing wisely

In this laptop-friendly resource, students investigate unit pricing and explore the formulae and concepts of simple and compound interest.

Online

MoneySmart: Reaching goals: What's involved?

This unit of work students learn about financial planning through the characters Cathy and Dinuka who are Year 10 students planning to go on a holiday together at the end of Year 12. Students learn about goal setting, saving, borrowing, investing, working with compound interest, good and bad credit, depreciation and inflation.

Online

Mathematical modelling (Algebra): Year 10 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 10 is for the topic of Mathematical modelling. Students apply linear, quadratic and exponential functions to modelling contexts and outline reasons for selecting a particular model. They use tables of values to look for patterns in data, recognising that linear functions have constant first ...

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The Mathematics of Projectiles - Calculate

This activity provides a practical introduction to the motion of projectiles with a focus on angles. It is designed as a lead in to parabolic and quadratic functions.

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Solving Linear Equations - Calculate

This unit of work focuses on solving linear equations. It includes an AMSI Interactive online module, a range of other AMSI Schools and external links and video tutorials and some extension or enrichment ideas. A short quiz at the end of the AMSI Interactive will help students to test their understanding at the completion ...

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Mrs Sim's Dollars and Sense - Calculate

This alternate assessment task focuses on calculating gross and net wages before and after tax; operating and solving problems using simple and compound interest; and making valid comparisons between total accumulated costs and the initial (principal) amounts of money borrowed or invested.

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Linear Relationships (and how Maths can help you choose a great car) - Calculate

The activity has students collecting their own information from a well-known Australia car buying website and using this to find an estimated relationship between the ‘asking price’ for a used car and the distance it has traveled in kilometres.

Downloadable

What’s the cost?

This lesson explores gambling losses by comparing losses to other average household purchases. Students then explore how this money could be more profitably invested in a compound interest scheme over time. Finally, students are asked to critically reflect on the true social and financial cost of gambling and to consider ...