Math & Problem Solving

Math Level E

Polynomials, sequences, trigonometry, and the mathematics of modelling.

Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10

What Happens in Every Class

Concept Instruction

New concepts are introduced through worked examples and guided discussion. Students build confidence with polynomials, quadratic functions, sequences, and trigonometric ratios before applying them to independent problems.

Applied Problem Solving

Students model real scenarios algebraically: quadratic functions describing projectile paths, arithmetic sequences predicting patterns, trigonometry measuring distances that cannot be directly reached. The setup matters as much as the computation.

Logic and Strategy Challenges

Every class includes a problem that sits outside the day’s topic. Multi-step reasoning puzzles, constraint problems, and number theory challenges build the kind of thinking that no procedure can replace.

Homework Review and Discussion

Homework solutions are unpacked in class. Students compare how they set up a system of equations or chose a factoring approach. Errors in reasoning are discussed as a group, not just marked wrong on a page.

Curriculum Spotlight

Combining Algebra and Geometry

In lesson 11, students are given a diagram of a mosaic made of connected polygons, with angles labeled using algebraic expressions. They are asked to find a specific angle.

At first, it looks like a geometry puzzle. But nothing can be measured directly. Instead, students must recognize that all the angles around a point work together within each polygon. They begin assigning meaning to each expression, then build equations using angle relationships in a polygon, angles around a point, and how adjacent shapes connect. Step by step, they solve for the variable and use it to determine the final angle. The diagram is visual. The solution is algebraic.

Mathematics comes together here, when students realize that geometry, algebra, and logic are not separate skills, but tools that work together to solve complex problems.