Common Core Math: High School Number & Quantity

In high school, students compute with complex numbers, a category of numbers that includes all previously taught number systems—real, rational and irrational—as well as numbers with an imaginary part, denoted by the imaginary unit i. Students explore how different types of numbers can fill in gaps in mathematical concepts with which they are already familiar, such as exponents and polynomials. Students still maintain a focus on using numbers to describe real-world quantities, which includes using appropriate units and making accurate estimates. In advanced courses, students may also learn about vectors and matrices, which can be applied to students' existing knowledge of algebra and geometry.