Thank you for working hard and making this a great year! 
Enjoy your summer!

IB Math SL review videos:

Topic 1 (Algebra):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaEsS-Ab9uw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Topic 2 (Functions):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvVrKUNCNU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Topic 3 (Trig):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-mnWguLZ40&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Topics 4 & 5 (Matrices & Vectors);:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDv9tBP3wJY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Topic 6 (Stats and Probability):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ-t0UVQ_OQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Topic 7 (Calculus):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnTNWIY1Ny8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w2Kya1D_20&feature=youtube_gdata_player

IB Math SL mock exam

Who: IB Math SL students at BHS
What: Mock exam (Papers 1 & 2)
Where: BHS classroom TBD
When: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 from 8:40 AM to 12:00 PM
Why: To review for the IB exam and gain the experience of taking an exam before May 3

Two child family

An interesting discussion related to a problem we discussed in class:

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/52186.html

Spring semester begins January 3, 2012!

I have posted the January assignment calendar: http://www.bellaire.org/mazzoni/ibmathsl/ibslcalendars/

As you will see, we will be studying probability and statistics.  The test on these topics will be on Thursday, February 9, 2012.  After that test, we will be covering a variety of calculus topics to finish the course before we review for the IB Math SL exams in early May.

Enjoy the last moments of your break.  I hope to see you at the IB Reception on Monday (2 pm in the library).  Otherwise, I'll see you during advocacy on Tuesday at 7:40 AM and during class.

Final exam information

In case anyone was afraid that I might not finish you final exam, I am happy to report that I just finished it.

If you refer to Topics 1-5 in the IB Math SL syllabus, these topics are covered on the final exam approximately as follows

• ~1/3 of the final exam on Topics 1 & 2: Algebra & Functions and Equations
• ~1/3 of the final exam on Topic 3: Circular Functions and Trigonometry
• ~1/3 of the final exam on Topics 4 & 5: Matrices & Vectors

Some other facts about the final that you might want to know:

• 120 marks for the 2 hour (120 minute) exam
• calculator allowed for the entire exam
• 13 questions worth a total of 72 marks (60% of exam) are shorter response
• broad coverage of topics from this semester
• 3 questions worth a total of 48 marks (40% of exam) are longer response
• focused on syllabus topics 1, 3, and 5 (see above)

The best advise I can give is for you to not spend too much time on any one question.  Just like the IB exam itself, this final exam is not designed for everyone to get every question.  There will be a curve to adjust for the difficulty level of the questions.  Make sure you are familiar with what is (and is not) contained in the information booklet.

Good luck!

Test #1 results

All of you made it through the first test!  I am very pleased with the results and I believe that all of you demonstrated growth over the past 5 weeks.  The scores on gradespeed include the curve which was 1/4 of the points lost (for example, a raw score of 80 would receive a curve of 20/4 = 5).

The topics we have just completed account for about 19% of the SL topics (about 26 hours of instruction out of 140 total hours).  On the 2011 SL exam, for example, there were 34 out of 120 (19%) marks related to these topics.

I want everyone to be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.  We will be studying topics that are increasingly difficult and completing internal assessments that are quite intense. Your chances of success will remain high if you all maintain the strong work ethics and positive attitudes you have already established.

After a bit of discuss about this test, you will find out more about the internal assessment requirements during class tomorrow.

Thank you!