# Year 11 Mathematical Methods · Unit 1 opening fortnight

**Pathway:** Queensland Mathematical Methods, General, QCAA 2025 v1.3. It is separate from General Mathematics and Essential Mathematics. **Official focus:** Unit 1, Topic 1, *Surds and quadratic functions*. **This pack:** ten 25-minute sessions (250 minutes, 4 hours 10 minutes), eight on surds and two introductory quadratic sessions. The syllabus allocates 4 notional hours to surds and 7 to quadratic functions. Our timetable is a local example, not a claim that either sub-topic or the 55-hour unit is complete.

## Use the pack

1. Open [teacher lessons](LESSONS.md) and the matching [clean learner card](LEARNER-CARDS.md). Set out a pencil, paper and optional [A4 print aid](print/TEXT-ALTERNATIVES.md).
2. Students choose any response route for the same exact-value, reasoning and checking target. Routes change access, not the mathematics expected. Optional [daily swaps](PRACTICE-SWAPS.md) provide 20 more original cases.
3. Use fresh [public checks](STUDENT-CHECKS.md) on Days 5 and 10. Collect a first answer before the [public teacher-targeted key](teacher/KEY-AND-NEXT.md) is shared. These are feedback tasks, **not secure examinations** or school assessment instruments.
4. [Source crosswalk](SOURCE-AND-CROSSWALK.md), [rights ledger](SOURCE-AND-RIGHTS.md) and [desk run-through](RUN-THROUGH.md) make scope and provenance inspectable.

**Notation:** `sqrt(n)` in text means the principal, nonnegative square root √n; all radicands used here are nonnegative. `sqrt(8) = 2sqrt(2)` is exact, while `sqrt(8) ≈ 2.828` is an approximation. A simplified irrational radical such as `2sqrt(2)` remains a surd; `sqrt(9) = 3` is rational. Label area/length units when a model uses them. Graph coordinates `(x,y)` are mathematical values for fictional models.

**Access:** read the cards aloud, provide a screen-reader text copy, or use paper strips for the print mats. Spoken solutions need captured exact notation and a reason. A learner can change route day to day; no fixed learning-style or neurotype label is assigned. No purchase, app account or personal data is needed. The [offline surd explorer](surd-explorer.html) is optional; every task has a paper route.

All contextual numbers and situations are constructed for teaching, not measured observations or engineering advice. Check real work with real data and domain expertise before making a practical decision.