Mathematics (Further)

Course summary

This course is for students who have already chosen A level Mathematics and who wish to study the subject in even greater depth. Most students studying this subject are doing so because they want a sound basis for applying to a degree in Mathematics at university, and indeed most top universities would require this. The pure maths element of this course includes proofs, complex numbers, matrices, algebra and functions, calculus, vectors, polar coordinates and hyperbolic functions and trigonometry. The statistics options includes the study of general and specific probability distributions and hypothesis testing. The mechanics option includes the study of momentum and impulse, work, energy and power, elastic potential energy, circular motion and centres of mass. The discrete maths option includes critical path analysis, minimum connectors problems, the Travelling Salesperson problems, game theory and groups. We have yet to decide which two options would be most suitable for students to study. Further Mathematics, as it suggests, builds upon the ideas covered in the A level Maths course and takes them on to the next level. Consequently, students suitable for this course would have to be very keen mathematicians, who enjoy the subject and have very strong mathematical skills, especially in algebra. It is also assumed that they would be able to succeed at A level mathematics with ease.