New math class announced for next year

Graphic by Jex Sammael Popov

In February, students finalizing their course selections for next year saw an interesting new addition to the list of mathematics offerings: Finite Math. The newly offered course is intended to be an inclusive class designed to improve mathematics fundamentals.

Finite Mathematics aims to replace College Prep Statistics, currently taught by math teacher Seema Patel, a class that has struggled to have strong enrollment. Math  department chair Kristen Hamilton said the course will cover optimization, matrices and statistics. It is suited for anyone who has finished Algebra 2 or higher.

Hamilton added Finite Math can serve as a stepping stone between Algebra 2 and Precalculus. It will also help prepare students for Calculus or Statistics, filling in possible knowledge gaps and honing fundamental mathematical skills. For Calculus students, Hamilton said Finite Math can help them transition to applied mathematics. Finally, for statistics students, Finite Math will help refresh key algebraic mathematical concepts.

“The class can be important for people who still want to go into STEM but need to fill in gaps,” Hamilton said.

Finance specifically will be a key feature of the class. Before College Prep Precalculus was offered here, the Trigonometry Math 4 class covered finance topics in its curriculum. Finite Math hopes to bring back financial literacy topics, including education on simple and compound interest, percentages and more.

In accordance with the school’s open enrollment policy, the course is not restricted by grade level, but participants are encouraged to have completed either Algebra II, Precalculus or Calculus their previous year. Students who have completed the class may take Precalculus or Calculus afterward.

The class’s teacher is not yet confirmed, but it will likely be either math teachers Jennifer Mantle, Lisa Ginestet-Araki, Julie Scola or PJ Yim, who are all part of the committee planning the class.

“I hope students sign up and we will figure out [who’s teaching it] after Spring Break,” Hamilton said.