WACE Mathematics:
Applications ATAR

Unit 1 of WACE Mathematics Applications ATAR introduces the applied mathematics content that underpins the entire course — including consumer arithmetic covering GST, percentage change, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, and currency exchange in practical financial contexts, algebra and matrices covering the algebra of matrices including matrix arithmetic and solving systems of equations, shape and measurement covering the geometry of two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional solids including Pythagoras’ theorem and basic trigonometry, and univariate data analysis covering the classification and display of data, measures of centre and spread, and interpretation of statistical graphs. Unit 1 establishes the quantitative and applied reasoning skills that are directly extended in Units 2, 3, and 4, and assessed in school-based tasks and the external ATAR examination.

Unit 2 of WACE Mathematics Applications ATAR extends the Unit 1 content to more advanced applied contexts — including applications of trigonometry covering the sine rule, cosine rule, and area formula in non-right-angled triangles, bearings, and practical survey and navigation problems, graphs and networks covering the language and properties of graphs and networks, Eulerian trails and Hamiltonian cycles, weighted graphs and the shortest path problem, and tree diagrams and spanning trees, bivariate data analysis covering scatterplots, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, the equation of the least-squares regression line, and making predictions from regression models, and time series analysis covering seasonal variation, moving averages, and trend lines. Unit 2 content is assessed in school-based tasks and the external WACE examination.

Unit 3 of WACE Mathematics Applications ATAR introduces the financial mathematics and network analysis content that is most directly assessed in the external WACE examination — including bivariate data analysis revisited and extended, time series and forecasting, loans, investments and annuities covering compound interest loans, reducing balance loans and their repayment schedules, annuities and the future value formula, and comparing investment options, and networks and decision mathematics covering the minimum spanning tree problem using Prim’s and Kruskal’s algorithms, critical path analysis including the concept of float and the identification of the critical path, and maximum-flow minimum-cut problems in network diagrams. Unit 3 is assessed in school-based tasks and contributes directly to the external WACE examination score.

Unit 4 of WACE Mathematics Applications ATAR is the culminating unit of the course, synthesising and extending the content of Units 1–3 to the full depth required for the external WACE examination — including time series analysis at a higher level of complexity, loans and investments revisited including the use of spreadsheets and financial technology to model repayment schedules and annuity growth, further networks and decision mathematics including scheduling problems and the Hungarian algorithm for assignment problems, and a consolidation of statistical and financial mathematics content in preparation for the external examination. The Unit 3 and 4 content is assessed in the WACE external examination, which requires confident command of all prior Applications ATAR content and the ability to interpret and solve extended, multi-step applied problems in context.