Kokomo High School - Sargasso Yearbook (Kokomo, IN)

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Mathematics, the Science of Numbers, Reloted Math Class, Ron DeBusIc studies the cubic displa Students at Kokomo High School are fortunate to have a progressive and well-rounded Moth Department. Heading this essential department is Mr. Lee Dixon. This department is com- posed of eleven teachers who teach everything from General Math to Analytic Geometry. The purpose of the Moth Depart- ment is two-fold; first, to prepare students for the higher math they will encounter in college and, secondly, to provide stu- dents who go directly into the business world from high school with a fundamental understanding of the moth they will meet in their daily life. A one year course in General Math is offered at KHS. It con- sists of a review of arithmetic, including fractions, decimals, and integers. In the second semester, practical applications of math ore studied. This is the only course offered in this area of math; however, it does meet the state requirements for mathematics. In the second area of math offered at KHS, a sequence of courses is available. Algebra I and II are offered to freshmen entering KHS. In the first semester work with equations is devel- oped and signed numbers are introduced to beginning Algebra students. Factoring, working with quadratic equations, and find- ing solutions are all on the agendo for the second semester. In general, this course builds a foundation for further studies. Teaching the bos Dan Wallace. The ' slide ed Algebra cias: Jo yce Soln Sophomores continue their studies in mathematics in Geome- try I and II. Material for the first semester covers proofs and work with straight lines and circles. Second semester students continue working with proofs and enter into the area of angles, arcs, and regular polygons. The course in Geometry promotes logical thinking. In the third year math courses. Algebra III and IV are of prime importance. The first semester work deals mainly with a review and addition of supplementary information of freshman Algebra; however, graphing and functions are also studied. In their next semester work, students delve into the area of logarithms, slide rules, progressions, and permutations and combinations. The next rung in the mathematics ladder is Trigonometry, which includes finding distances and angles. It also embraces trigonometric functions and their relations with other functions in the application of math to science and engineering. Analytic Geometry must be preceded by the seven above mentioned courses. In this course, Geometry is studied by means of Algebra; this is accomplished through the use of graphs with both the rectangular and polar coordinates. Any time after Algebra III, in the normal sequences. Solid Geometry may be studied. This course deals with deductive proofs, spatial per- ception, and the mensuration of solid figures. It is primarily the application of material learned in Plane Geometry to three dimensional figures. Beverlee McCauley and John Imbler set up .

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Attracts Eager and Capable Minds of plant life; and the second is zoology, the detailed study of animal life. In botany classes the students learned such things as the details of the reproduction of plants, their specific uses, and the basic structure and chemical processes of all plants. In the zoology phase of the course the students learned about the various types of animal life and how they are classed ac- cording to physical characteristics. They also learned about the internal structure of many animals and about their life processes. Most of this was done through the observance of charts and the dissection of preserved specimens. Chemistry represents the next step on the science ladder. KHS offers both elementary and advanced courses in this field. In first year, or elementary chemistry, the student learns only the essentials of the science, such as the structure of atoms, their characteristics, and the reasons for one element reacting with another. If a student wishes to delve into this science more completely, he must take advanced, or second year chemistry. Physics is the last step in the KHS science course and is token in the senior year. It is the science of matter and motion. In the Physics classes the students learn about the different types of matter and the many forces of nature which act upon this matter. This includes mechanics, electronics, and many other phases. The KHS curriculum requires only one year of science to graduate, but there are many students who take advantage of our facilities and study a science course every year. It has been pointed out that the sciences are different, yet they ore all related; and one is not to a great degree more important than the other. They are oil a part of our everyday lives, especially here at KHS where weird noises con be heard, and odd odors can be detected almost everyday when walking down the north hall on the third or first floor. The collection of oxygen gas is the obiect of this laboratory experiment being corefully performed by Greg Perkins and Joe Jay.

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Serves an Ever-Growing Field Mr. Dixon helps Joe Piatt solve a difficult problem in Trigonometry. The nine-point circle, a familiar geometr figure, is explained by Danny Grills.