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The Mathematics Department strives to give students the tools necessary to succeed at the college level. Each course helps the student to develop logical thinking and problem solving skills.
The Mathematics Department endeavors to provide an environment which empowers students to become confident, competent, problem solvers. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. Our goal for students is to gain confidence in their ability to learn and apply mathematical knowledge in new situations, and be competent in using available technology as tools as they develop conceptual understanding.
Understand that pattern sense gives students a lens with which to understand trends and commonalities. Understand that structures of algebra allow complex ideas to be expressed succinctly.
Students will:
Make both relative (multiplicative) and absolute (arithmetic) comparisons between quantities.
Make claims about relationships among numbers, shapes, symbols, and data and defend those claims by relying on the properties that are the structure of mathematics
Understand that data and probability sense provides students with tools to understand information and uncertainty. Understand that mathematicians ask questions and gather and use data to answer them.Understand that probability provides the foundation for collecting, describing, and interpreting data.
Students will:
Recognize and make sense of the many ways that variability, chance, and randomness appear in a variety of contexts
Solve problems and make decisions that depend on understanding, explaining, and quantifying the variability in data
Understand that equivalence is a foundation of mathematics represented in numbers, shapes, measures, expressions, and equations
Make sound predictions and generalizations based on patterns and relationships that arise from numbers, shapes, symbols, and data
Apply transformation to numbers, shapes, functional representations, and data
Understand that geometric sense allows students to comprehend space and shape. Understand that geometry and measurements are useful in representing and solving problems in the real world as well as in mathematics.
Students will:
Communicate effective logical arguments using mathematical justification and proof.
Mathematical argumentation involves making and testing conjectures, drawing valid conclusions, and justifying thinking
Use critical thinking to recognize problematic aspects of situations, create mathematical models, and present and defend solutions
Understand that mathematical practices provide the processes and proficiencies for a prepared graduate in mathematics. They describe ways students engage with mathematics and make connections between practice and content.
Students will:
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively; construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Model real-world situations with mathematics.
Use appropriate tools strategically; attend to precision.
Look for and make use of structure; look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
Understanding quantity, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems. Understand that numbers are governed by properties and understanding these properties leads to fluency with operations.
Students will:
Understand quantity through estimation, precision, order of magnitude, and comparison. The reasonableness of answers relies on the ability to judge appropriateness, compare, estimate, and analyze error
Are fluent with basic numerical and symbolic facts and algorithms, and are able to select and use appropriate (mental math, paper and pencil, and technology) methods based on an understanding of their efficiency, precision, and transparency
Departments
Faculty
List of 8 items.
George Dinwiddie
Department Chair george.dinwiddie@mullenhigh.com BS Mathematics, Metropolitan State University MA Ed- Use of technology in education, Lesley College
George began working at Mullen in 2015 after retiring from Jefferson County Public Schools where he taught mathematics and coached baseball. He has experience teaching all ages from the 5th grade classroom through calculus for both the University of Colorado at Denver and Red Rocks Community College. George enjoys most all sports and outdoor activities, especially racquetball and fly-fishing and he is an avid fan of all Denver sports teams! He also enjoys cooking, movies, theater and attending concerts. He and his wife Linda have two kids, Annie and Jake... along with two great Danes, a miniature therapy horse and a goat!
Marjorie Ader
marjorie.ader@mullenhigh.com BS Secondary Math, Minor Biology, Louisiana Tech University MA in Art and Science of Teaching, Grand Canyon University
Marjorie’s first year at Mullen High School was 2017 after having retired from Jefferson County Schools. She has 38 years experience teaching secondary math (Algebra 1 through Calc BC) in Arkansas and Louisiana before settling in Colorado. She enjoys spending time with her 3 daughters (Lauren, Hayley and Alex) and her husband Bob. The favorite Friday night family activity when her daughters were in high school was to watch episodes of Numbers while eating pizza and popcorn.
Heidi Capek
heidi.capek@mullenhigh.com BS in Mathematics, Doane College MA in Curriculum and Instruction, Doane College
Heidi has taught at Mullen from 2010-2016 and 2017-present. Prior to Mullen, Mrs. Capek taught 3 years at Fremont High School in NE and 3 years at Sheridan High School here in Denver. She is originally from Johnson, NE and enjoys traveling back to see family at least once a year. When not at Mullen, Heidi loves to spend time with her family and enjoys the occasional concert or music festival.
Lorraine has taught at Mullen from 1994-1998 and 2005- present. She was head girls basketball coach from 94-98 and also played collegiately. She has one son Gianmarco who graduated from Mullen in 2017.
Leah Leddin began her career at Mullen in 2011. Prior to coming to Mullen Leah taught at Arvada West High School and Sheridan Middle School. She graduated from Mullen in 2000 and went to state all four years in swimming and tennis. Leah spent 2 years as the girls head swim coach and the boys assistant swim coach at Mullen, before giving birth to her first child. She and her Colorado native husband Andy have been married since 2010. When not at Mullen, Leah loves to spend time with her husband, kids, and family. She enjoys traveling, reading and participating in 5ks.
Pam Paulus
pam.paulus@mullenhigh.com Clemson University BS in Industrial Engineering DePaul University MA in Mathematics Education
Pam Paulus began her teaching career at an all boys Catholic school in Chicago. After moving around and living in Atlanta, Chicago and Annapolis, she and her family settled in Colorado. Ms. Paulus taught in Jeffco Public Schools before arriving at Mullen in 2016. She has 3 very active children: John (attending CU Boulder starting in the fall of 2017); Abby (attending Mullen-Class of 2021) and Brad (a competitive swimmer who will graduate high school in 2023). When not at Mullen, Pam loves to spend time with her family and friends, enjoys the outdoors, traveling, and watching Clemson football. Go Tigers!.
This is a full year course that combines the content from Algebra I A CP and Algebra I B CP. This course includes the following topics: simplifying variable expressions, order of operations, properties of algebra, solving linear equations, solving proportions, graphing and writing linear equations, solving linear inequalities, solving absolute value equations and inequalities, solving systems of equations and inequalities, exponential properties and functions, polynomials and factoring, solving and graphing quadratic functions, solving rational functions, and solving radical functions. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA Course)
This course includes the following topics: simplifying variable expressions, properties of algebra, solving linear equations, solving proportions, graphing and writing linear equations, solving linear functions and linear inequalities, and solving systems of equations. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA course)
This course is an in-depth review of important Algebra I concepts. It covers problem solving, linear equations and inequalities, solving absolute value equations and inequalities, graphing and writing linear equations and functions, graphing and solving systems of equations and inequalities, solving systems of equations using matrices, solving and graphing quadratic equations using several methods, complex numbers, simplifying polynomial expressions, properties of exponents, solving and graphing polynomial equations. In depth regression analysis of all functions is included. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA Course)
This course is an in-depth review of important Algebra I concepts. It covers problem solving, linear equations and inequalities, solving absolute value equations and inequalities, graphing and writing linear equations and functions, graphing and solving systems of equations and inequalities, solving systems of equations using matrices, solving and graphing quadratic equations using several methods, complex numbers, simplifying polynomial expressions, properties of exponents, solving and graphing polynomial equations. In depth regression analysis of all functions is included. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA Course)
This is a three-trimester course leading to the Advanced Placement® Examination. Students will study limits and continuity, derivatives, applications of derivatives, integration, applications of the definite integral, transcendental functions, and techniques of integration. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. All students will take the Advanced Placement® exam at the end of the year. (NCAA Course)
This is a three-trimester course leading to the Advanced Placement® BC examination. Students will do an in-depth study of limits and continuity, derivatives, applications of derivatives, integration, applications of the definite integral, transcendental functions, techniques of integration, improper integration, parametric, polar, and vector functions, convergence and divergence of series, Taylor and Maclaurin series. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. A graphing calculator is required. All students will take the Advanced Placement® examination at the end of the year. (NCAA Course)
This is the first trimester course of a two-trimester series. The second trimester is called Calculus B Honors. In this first trimester, students will study limits and continuity, derivatives, related rates and applications of derivatives. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA Course)
This course emphasizes the integration of logical reasoning and spatial visualization skills. Deductive reasoning, theorems and proofs are used to study relationships of points, lines, planes, angles, congruent triangles, and quadrilaterals. The inequality relationships that exist between these figures will also be studied. There will continued use of algebraic equations and graphing calculators with respect to geometry. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. (NCAA Course)
This is a course enhanced by emphasizing and integrating logical reasoning and spatial visualization skills. Deductive reasoning, theorems, and proofs are used to study relationships of points, lines, planes, angles, congruent triangles, and quadrilaterals. The inequality relationships that exist between these figures will also be studied. There will continued use of algebraic equations and graphing calculators with respect to geometry. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. (NCAA Course)
This is a course enhanced by emphasizing and integrating logical reasoning and spatial visualization skills, deductive reasoning, theorems, and proofs are used to study relationships of points, lines, planes, angles and congruent triangles. The inequality relationships that exist between these figures will also be studied. There will continued use of algebraic equations and graphing calculators with respect to geometry. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. (NCAA Course)
This course is designed to provide students a strong foundation of pre-calculus concepts, techniques, and applications that will prepare students for more advanced work in mathematics. The course will include study of the following types of functions: polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic. Conic sections and imaginary numbers will also be studied. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA Course)
This course is the study of functions and the nature of their graphs, matrices, solving equations, systems of equations, logarithms, and limits. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA Course)
This course is an in-depth study of functions leading to AP Calculus. Students will fine tune and expand their problem solving skills through the study of the nature of graphs of functions. Students will solve problems involving exponential and rational functions, logarithms, limits, and conic sections. Students will be introduced to the derivative and integral functions from calculus. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA Course)
The AP® Statistics course introduces students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. The four themes evident in the AP® Statistics course include exploring data, sampling and experimentation, probability and simulation, and statistical inference. Students use technology, investigation, problem solving, and writing as they build conceptual understanding.This AP® course is a two trimester course.
This course is the study of trigonometry with emphasis on applications. Students will develop the unit circle, graphs of the six trigonometric functions, applications of the law of sines and cosines, and trigonometric identities. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA Course)
This course is an in-depth study of trigonometry. Students will develop the unit circle, graphs of the six trigonometric functions, applications of the law of sines and cosines, and trigonometric identities. Students will also study parametric and polar equations. Math courses at Mullen build conceptual understanding, procedural fluency of skills, and application of concepts in real-world situations at a level appropriate for the course content. A graphing calculator is required. (NCAA Course)