Mathematics - Important Notes and Formulas

Numbers

Type Definition
All whole numbers except 0
Natural numbers
eg: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
Even numbers 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10...
Odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9...
whole numbers that can be positive, negative, or zero
Integers
eg: -1, -2, -3, 1, 2, 3...
a natural number which has only 2 different factors
Prime number
eg: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13...
a natural number that has more than 2 different factors
Composite number
eg: 4, 6, 8, 9...
Real number Include rational and irrational numbers, fractions, and integers
Rational number a number that can be expressed as a fraction or as a ratio
a number that cannot be expressed as a fraction or a ratio of 2 integers.
Irrational number
eg: pi and roots

Test of Divisibility

Divisible by Test
2 if the number is even
3 if the sum of the digits is divisible by 3
4 if the number formed by the last 2 digits is divisible by 4
5 if the last digit is 0 or 5
9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9
10 if the last digit is 0
if the difference between the sum of the digits in the odd places and
11 the sum of the digits in the even places is equal to 0 or is a multiple of
11

Standard form

This is a convenient way to write very large or very small numbers, using the from a x 10n, where n
is a positive or negative integer, and a s between 1 to 10 inclusive.

More examples:
123 400 written as standard form is 1.234 x 105
0.0000987 written as standard form is 9.87 x 10-5

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Multiplying numbers in standard form

Dividing numbers in standard form

Adding and Subtracting numbers in standard form

- Make the index between the 2 numbers the same so that it is easier to factorise the numbers
before adding
eg

Scales and Maps

Given that a map has a scale of 1:10 000, this means that 1cm on the map represents 10,000cm
on the actual ground.

1cm : 200m = 1cm : 0.2km = 1cm2 : 0.04km2

Proportion

A. Direct Proportion

This means that when y increases, x increases, and vice versa.

Use this equation: y = kx

B. Indirect Proportion

This means that when y increases, x decreases, and vice versa.

Use this equation: y=k/x

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Percentage Change

Percentage Profit and Loss

Simple Interest and Compound Interest

A. Simple Interest Formula

B. Compound Interest Formula

C. Compound interest compounded MONTHLY

Formula:
S = P(1 + r/k)n

S = final value
P = principal
r = interest rate (expressed as decimal eg 4% = 0.04)
k = number of compounding periods

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Note:

if compounded monthly, number of periods = 12

if compounded quarterly, number of periods = 4

Example:

If $4000 is invested at an annual rate of 6.0% compounded monthly, what will be the final
value of the investment after 10 years?

Since the interest is compounded monthly, there are 12 periods per year, so, k = 12.
Since the investment is for 10 years, or 120 months, there are 120 investment periods, so, n =
120.

S = P(1 + r/k)n

S = 4000(1 + 0.06/12)120
S = 4000(1.005)120
S = 4000(1.819396734)
S = $7277.59

Coordinate Geometry Formulas

From: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/coordinate-geometry-formulas.html

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Algebraic Manipulation

x = y+z y = x-z
x = y-z y = x+z
x = yz y = x/z ; z = x/y
x = y/z y = xz ; z = y/x
w = yz/x ; x=yz/w ; y = wx/z
wx = yz
; z = wx/y
x = y2 y = +/-sqrt.x
x = sqrt.y y = x2
x = y3 y = cuberoot.x
x = cuberoot.y y = x3

ax + bx = x(a+b)

ax + bx + kay + kby = x(a+b) + ky(a+b) = (a+b)(x+ky)

(a+b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2

(a-b)2 = a2 - 2ab + b2
-

a2 - b2 = (a + b)(a - b)

Solving algebraic fractional equations

Avoid these common mistakes!

Solution of Quadratic Equations

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Completing the Square

Step 1: Take the number or coefficient before x and square it

Step 2: Divide the square of the number by 4

Eg. y = x2 + 6x - 11

y = x2 + 2x(6/2) + (6/2)2 - 11 - (6/2)2

y = (x + 3)2 - 20

Sketching Graphs of Quadratic Equations

A. eg. y= +/-(x - h)2 + k

Steps:
1. Identify shape of curve

look at sign in front of(x - h) to determine if it is "smiley face" or "sad face".

2. Find turning point

(h, -k)

3. Find y-intercept

sub x = 0 into the equation --> (0, y)

4. Line of symmetry reflect

x = h, reflect to get (2x, y)

B. eg. y = +/-(x - a)(x - b)

Steps:
1. Identify shape of curve

look at the formula ax2 + bx + c.

if a>1, it is positive; otherwise, it is negative

2. Find turning point

(a + b)/2, sub answer into equation --> (a,b)

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3. Find y-intercept

sub x = 0 into the equation --> (0, y)

4. Line of symmetry reflect

x = a, reflect to get (2a, y)

Inequalities

Ways to solve equalities:

1. Add or subtract numbers from each side of the inequality

eg 10 - 3 < x - 3

2. Multiply or divide numbers from each side of the inequality by a constant

eg 10/3 < x/3

3. Multiply or divide by a negative number AND REVERSE THE INEQUALITY SIGNS

eg. 10 < x becomes 10/-3 > x/-3

Example

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Geometrical terms and relationships

Parallel Lines

Perpendicular Lines

Right Angle

Acute Angles: angles less than 90o

Obtuse Angles: angles between 90o and 190o

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Obtuse Angles: angles between 180o and 360o

Polygons

Polygon: a closed figure made by joining line segments, where each line segment
intersects exactly 2 others

Irregular polygon: all its sides and all its angles are not the same
Regular Polygon: all its sides and all its angles are the same

The sum of angles in a polygon with n sides, where n is 3 or more, is

Name of Polygons

Number of sides Polygon

5 Pentagon
6 Hexagon
7 Heptagon
8 Octagon
9 Nonagon
10 Decagon

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Triangles

Triangle Property
All sides of equal length
Equilateral All angles are equal
Each angle is 60o
2 sides are equal
Isoceles
2 corresponding angles are equal
Scalene All sides are of unequal length
Acute All 3 angles in the triangle are acute angles
Obtuse 1 of the 3 angles is obtuse
Right-angled 1 of the 3 angles is 90o

Quadrilaterals

Quadrilateral Property
Rectangle All sides meet at 90o
All sides meet at 90o
Square
All sides are of equal length
Parallelogram 2 pairs of parallel lines
All sides are of equal length
Rhombus
2 pairs of parallel lines
Trapezium Exactly 1 pair of parallel sides

Similar Plane Figures

Figures are similar only if

their corresponding sides are proportional

their corresponding angles are equal

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Similar Solid Figures

Solids are similar if their corresponding linear dimensions are proportional.

Congruent Figures

Congruent figures are exactly the same size and shape.

2 triangles are congruent if they satisfy any of the following:

a. SSS property: All 3 sides of one triangle are equal to the corresponding sides of the
other triangle.

b. SAS property: 2 given sides and a given angle of one triangle are equal to the
corresponding sides and angle of the other triangle.

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c. AAS property: 2 given angles and a given side of one triangle are equal to the
corresponding angles and side of the other triangle.

d. RHS property: The hypothenuse and a given side of a right-angled triangle are equal to
the hypothenuse and the corresponding side of the other right-angled triangle.

Bearings

A bearing is an angle, measured clockwise from the north direction.

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Symmetry

Number of lines of Order of rotational Centre of point

Shape
symmetry symmetry symmetry
Equilateral triangle 3 3 Yes
Isosceles triangle 1 1 None
Square 4 4 Yes
Rectangle 2 2 Yes
Kite 1 1 None
Isosceles trapezium 1 1 None
Parallelogram 0 2 Yes
Rhombus 2 2 Yes
Regular pentagon 5 5 Yes
Regular hexagon 6 6 Yes

Angle properties

No. Property Explanation Example

Angles on a straight line add up
to 180o

2 angles are complementary is

Angles on a they add up to 90o
1
straight line
2 angles are called
supplementary if they add up to
180o

Angles at a
2 Angles at a point add up to 360o
point

Vertically
3 opposite Vertically opposite angles are equal
angles

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 Angles
4 formed by Alternate interior angles are equal
parallel lines

Angles
5 formed by Alternate exterior angles are equal
parallel lines

Angles
6 formed by Corresponding angles are equal
parallel lines

Angle
The sum of angles in a triangle adds up
7 properties of
to 180o
triangles

Angle
The sum of 2 interior opposite angles is
8 properties of
equal to the exterior angle
triangles

sum of interior angles of an n-

sided polygon = (n-2) x 180o
Angle
9 properties of
each interior angle of a regular n-
polygons
sided polygon = (n-2) x 180o / n

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 sum of exterior angles of an n-
sided polygon is 360o
Angle
10 properties of each exterior angle of a regular
polygons n-sided polygon = 360o / n

Angle Properties of Circles

Mensuration

All the mensuration formulas you'll ever need can by found here...
http://oscience.info/math-formulas/mensuration-formulas/

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But here's a quick reference for the important ones...

Area of Figures

Triangle

Trapezium

Parallelogram A=b x h

Circle

Sector

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Radian Measure

Radian is another common unit to measure angles.

A radian is a measure of the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc equal in
length to the radius of the circle.
To convert radians to degrees and vice versa, use these formulas:
o rad = 180
o 1 rad = 180/
o 1 = /180 rad

Volume of Figures

Cube

V=lxbxh
Cuboid
SA = 2bl + 2hb + 2hl

Cylinder

Sphere

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Prism V = base area x height

Pyramid

Cone

Trigonometry

Pythagora's theorem

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Trigonometrical Ratio

SINE RULE

To find an angle, can write as follows:

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COSINE RULE

Area of Triangle

Statistics

Mean

Mode

The mode is the most frequent value.

Median

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The median of a group of numbers is the number in the middle, when the numbers are in order of
magnitude (in increasing order).

If you have n numbers in a group, the median in:

Types of Chart

1. Bar chart: the heights of the bars represent the frequency. The data is discrete.

2. Pie chart: the angles formed by each part adds up to 360o

3. Histogram: it is a vertical bar graph with no gaps between the bars. The area of each bar is
proportional to the frequency it represents.

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4. Stem-and-leaf diagram: a diagram that summarises while maintaining the individual data point.
The stem is a column of the unique elements of data after removing the last digit. The final digits
(leaves) of each column are then placed in a row next to the appropriate column and sorted in
numerical order.

5. Simple frequency distribution and frequency polygons: a plot of the cumulative frequency
against the upper class boundary with the points joined by line segments.

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6. Quartiles

Probability

Probability is the likelihood of an event happening

The probability that a certain event happening is 1

The probability that a certain event cannot happen is 0

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 The probability that a certain event not happening is 1 minus he probability that it will
happen

2 events are independent if the outcome of one of the events does not affect the outcome of
another
2 events are dependent if the outcome of one of the events depends on the outcome of another

If 2 events A and B are independent of each other, then the probability of both A and B
occurring is found by P(A) x P(B)
If it is impossible for both events A and B to occur, then the probability of A or B occurring is
P(A) and P(B)

Set Notation

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