Sequoia High School

• 1201 Brewster Ave., Redwood City, CA 94062
• 650.367.9780

The Sequoia Math Department teaches a comprehensive series of courses aligned to state standards designed to increase students' understanding and competency in increasingly complex mathematics. Our goals are to improve the success rate of all of our students and support all students in completing a high level of mathematics. We encourage students to go beyond the minimum two year requirement and strive to get the majority of the students to complete required a-g courses. Our Algebra, Geometry, and Algbebra II courses prepare students for the state CAASPP assessment as well as for taking higher level IB courses. 

The teachers in the Mathematics Department work collaboratively in curricular teams to provide consistency and support. All teams meet on a regular basis to discuss pacing, strategies, data, best practices and assessments.

Our curriculum currently includes:

• Geometry
• Accelerated Geo/AlgII
• Algebra II, Algebra II/trigonometry
• AP Statistics
• IB Applications Standard Level
• IB Analysis Standard Level
• IB Applications Higher Level
• IB Analysis Higher Level
• Canada College courses taught in a rotation

If you have any questions about our curriculum or department, please contact the department chair, Beth Peng, at epeng@seq.org.

Algebra I

This course uses the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum, focusing on linear, quadratic, and exponential relationships along with one and two variable statistics. 

Geometry

A rigorous college-prep course required by all 4-year colleges. Geometrical concepts are discovered by and taught to students through guided lessons. Topics covered include inductive and deductive reasoning, angles, polygons, congruent triangles, constructions, circles, right triangles, similarity, solids, logic, and introductory trigonometry.

Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra I or department recommendation. Open to 9th-graders who have earned a B or better in a formal full-year algebra course in the 8th grade.

Accelerated Geometry/Algebra II Trigonometry

This course is designed to accelerate advanced students to enable them to take calculus and higher level math (after calculus) in their junior and/or senior years. The material is covered at an honors level, and is accelerated so that two courses are taught in one year. The course is excellent preparation for the analysis and synthesis required in advanced math courses. The course covers geometry from a deductive perspective. Topics transformations, similarity, congruency, triangle trigonometry, circles, and probability. The algebra 2 portion of the course covers functions, graphing, polynomials, rational expressions and equations, radical expressions and equations, trigonometry, complex numbers, series, and some statistics. Students successfully completing this accelerated course may directly enroll in precalculus the following year.

Prerequisites: Algebra 1 with an A or better, teacher recommendation highly encouraged, and a strong desire to learn mathematics.

Algebra II

A math elective, Algebra 2 is a college-prep class. Algebra 1 concepts are reviewed and are taken to a more sophisticated level. The topics include the applications of linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic equations, systems of equations, rational expressions, and statistics. 

Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra 1 and Geometry with C- or better

Algebra II with Trigonometry

A math elective, Algebra II/Trigonometry is a college-prep class. Algebra I concepts are reviewed and taken to a more sophisticated level. New topics include the applications of linear, quadratic, exponential and logarithmic equations, systems of equations, exponential and logarithmic functions, series, and statistics. The course also includes trigonometry including sine, cosine, and tangent functions. Special emphasis is placed on mathematical modeling, graphical representations, and investigations.

Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra I and Geometry with a C or better.

AP Statistics

This course introduces students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students are exposed to four broad conceptual themes: 1) exploring data: describing patterns and departures from patterns, 2) sampling and experimentation: planning and conducting a study, 3) anticipating patterns: exploring random phenomena using probability and simulation, 4) statistical inference: estimating population parameters and testing hypotheses.

Prerequisite: Succesful completion of Algebra II/trig, Pre-Calculus, or IB SL

IB Math Standard Level (SL), AP Calculus, IB Math Higher Level (HL) Year 1

This course covers the Calculus curriculum as set forth by the College Board Advanced Placement program and the International Baccaluareate Programme. The course includes topics such as limits, definition of the derivative, applications of the derivative, the Mean Value Theorum, and integral calculus concepts. In addition, the course reviews vectors, matrices, trigonometry, and other IB topics. Students who successfully complete this course will be prepared to take the APAB Calculus exam and IB Standard Level Math exam. This course is also the first year of the two year higher level IB/AP math

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Pre-Calculus with a C- or better. (B highly recommended)

IB Higher Level (HL) Year 2B Higher Level Year 2, AP Calculus (BC)

This course follows the IB Higher Level Year 1/AP Calculus (AB) course, and is designed for gifted math students. The course covers all of the material from BC calculus that was not covered in AP Calculus (AB), and uses the textbook from UC Berkeley's core calculus for math majors sequence. Additionally, a wide range of other advanced topics are covered including calculus based probability theory, complex analysis, functional analysis, separable and first order nonhomogeneous differential equations, advanced induction proofs, multivariable vector geometry and introductory vector calculus. This course not only provides excellent preparation for the BC calculus AP exam, but it also gives students a big advantage in their college mathematics courses. Students who successfully complete the course will be prepared to take the AP/BC exam and the IB Higher Level exam. Students will also receive transferable college credit from Canada college.

Prerequisite: Completion of IB Math HL Year 1/Advanced Placement Calculus (AB or BC) with a C or better (B is highly recommended)

Multivariable Calculus

This course follows IB Higher Level Year 2/AP Calculus (BC), and covers the traditional university level multivariable calculus curriculum. The course covers parametric equations and polar, spherical, and cylindrical coordinates (calculus based), vectors and the geometry of space, vector functions, the calculus of functions of several variables, multiple integrals, vector calculus, including Green's Theorem and Stoke's Theorem, and second order differential equations and their applications. Additionally, the material from IB Higher Level Year 2 is reviewed to make sure that students are prepared for the IB exam. Students will receive transferable collge credit for this class from Canada college.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of IB HL Y2

Ordinary Differential Equations

This is a standard, top university level introductory course in ordinary differential equations. The textbook we have adopted is the book used for the same course at Stanford University. Topics include, but are not limited to: separable ordinary differential equations (ODEs), first order homogeneous and nonhomogenous linear ODEs, second order homogeneous and nonhomogeneous linear ODE's, higher order linear ODE's, systems of linear ODE's, series solutions, a wide variety of applications to ODE's, numerical methods, computing and ODE's, and nonlinear ODE's. This course also provides a review of the HL Year 2 material for students who need to take the IB Higher Level exam, and students will be asked to take a leadership role in teaching/tutoring HL Year 2 students. Other upper division university level topics will be taught as time allows, based on student interest. Students completing this course will also receive transferable college credit from Canada College.

Linear Algebra

This is a standard, top university level introductory course in linear algebra. The textbook we have adopted is also used by Stanford University and several UC campuses. Course curriculum includes, but is not limited to: matrix computations/matrix algebra, methods of solving systems of linear equations in linear algebra, determinants, vector spaces, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, orthogonality and least squares, symmetric matrices and quadratic forms, a wide variety of applications to linear algebra, and computing in linear algebra. This course also provides a review of the HL Year 2 material for students who need to take the IB Higher Level exam, and students will be asked to take a leadership role in teaching/tutoring HL Year 2 students. Other upper division university level topics will be taught as time allows, and based on student interest. Students completing this course will also receive transferable college credit from Canada College.