Mathematics>Year 9>Unit 1

Financial Mathematics

This 20-lesson unit explores how money works in the real world — from your first payslip to buying a car on terms. You will calculate wages, simple and compound interest, depreciation, and learn to make informed financial decisions.

20 Lessons 4 Checkpoints 1 Unit Quiz Stage 5 Core
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Syllabus Outcomes

MA5-FIN-C-01

Solves financial problems involving simple interest, earning money and spending money.

MA5-FIN-C-02

Solves financial problems involving compound interest and depreciation.

MA5-MAG-C-01

Solves measurement problems by using scientific notation to represent numbers and rounding to a given number of significant figures.

Block A — Earning Money
01

Getting Paid: Wages & Salaries

Hourly rates, overtime, penalty rates and the payslip

02

Non-Wage Income

Commission, piece work and royalties

03

Leave Loading & Deductions

Understanding your payslip: tax, super and leave loading

04

Tax & PAYG

Income tax brackets, PAYG withholding and tax returns

05

Budgeting & Financial Goals

Creating budgets, tracking expenses and setting savings targets

Checkpoint 1 — Earning Money

Covers Lessons 1–5

Block B — Spending Money & Simple Interest
06

GST & Best Buys

Calculating GST and comparing value for money

07

Buying on Terms

Deposits, repayments and the true cost of lay-by

08

Buy Now, Pay Later

Investigating BNPL schemes and hidden costs

09

Introduction to Simple Interest

The formula I = P × r × n

10

Simple Interest Applications

Investments, loans and rearranging the formula

Checkpoint 2 — Spending & Simple Interest

Covers Lessons 6–10

Block C — Compound Interest & Depreciation
11

Compound Interest: The Basics

Understanding compounding year by year

12

Using the Compound Interest Formula

A = P(1 + r)ⁿ for different time periods

13

Comparing Simple & Compound

Tables, graphs and long-term behaviour

14

Depreciation

Declining balance method and asset value

15

Compound Interest & Depreciation — Problem Solving

Mixed problems and evaluating loan products

Checkpoint 3 — Compound Interest & Depreciation

Covers Lessons 11–15

Block D — Financial Decision Making
16

Investing vs Saving

Comparing bank products and real returns

17

Tax & Superannuation

Taxable income, tax brackets and super guarantee

18

Financial Literacy in Australia

Economic contexts and Closing the Gap

19

Numbers of Any Magnitude

Scientific notation and significant figures

20

Unit Synthesis: The $1,000 Challenge

Integrated project and review

Checkpoint 4 — Financial Decision Making

Covers Lessons 16–20

Unit Quiz

Full unit assessment