Comprehensive IB Maths AA SL & HL Syllabus

Sequence- A sequence is a list of numbers that is written in a defined order, ascending or descending, following a specific rule.

Series- A series is the sum of all the terms in a sequence.

A finite sequence has a fixed number of terms.

An infinite sequence has an infinite number of terms.

A term in a sequence is named using the notation 𝑎𝑛, where 𝑛 is the position of the term in the sequence.

A term in a sequence is named using the notation 𝑎𝑛, where 𝑛 is the position of the term in the sequence.

A sequence formed when each term after the first is found by adding a fixed non-zero number is called an arithmetic sequence.

Adding up the terms of an arithmetic sequence gives us arithmetic series.

A sequence in which every term is obtained by multiplying or dividing a non-zero number with the preceding number is known as a geometric sequence.

When 𝑟 > 1, the sequence is diverging.
And when 𝑟 < 1, the sequence is converging.

A geometric series with 𝑟 < 1 and with infinite number of terms is called an infinite geometric series.

Applications of Geometric sequences and series:

• Compound interest
• Population growth
• Annual Depreciation

Exponential operations and laws

Logarithms and numerical evaluation of logarithms

Simple proofing techniques and deductive proof (LHS = RHS):

Ex: Show that

Rational Exponents and solving its equations

Laws of logarithms:

1. 
2. 
3. 
4.   (Change of Bases)

A binomial is a polynomial with two terms.

Pascal’s triangle is a triangular array constructed by summing adjacent

Permutation relates to the act of arranging all the members of a set into some sequence or order, or if the set is already ordered, rearranging its elements, a process called permuting

The combination is a way of selecting items from a collection, such that (unlike permutations) the order of selection does not matter.

Binomials with fractional and negative indices

Modulus–argument (polar) form: z = r(cosθ + isinθ) = rcisθ.

Euler form: z = reiθ

Complex conjugate roots of quadratic and polynomial equations with real coefficients.

De Moivre’s theorem and its extension to rational exponents.

Powers and roots of complex numbers.

Proof by mathematical induction

Proof by contradiction

Proof by counterexample to denote a statement sometimes isn’t always true

Various equations denoting a straight line:

1. General Form (ax + by + d = 0)
2. Gradient Intercept Form (y = mx + c)
3. Point Gradient Form( y – y₁ ) = m( x – x₁ )

Parallel lines (m₁ = m₂)

Perpendicular lines ()

Functions, domains, range and graph

Notation of a function – f(x), v(t) etc.

The inverse of a function will only exist if the function is one-to-one.

The inverse of a function 𝑓 is denoted 𝑓−1 and is a reflection about the line y = x

Formation of the equation of a graph

Construction of a graph utilising information given such as the equation

Determination of key features of a graph – maximum and minimum values, root values, intercepts, horizontal and vertical asymptotes, vertices of a given graph

Intersection of two curves

Composite functions

Identity functions and deriving inverse function 

Quadratic functions – (f(x) = ax² + bx +c)

Y-intercept, axis of symmetry and its graph(parabola)

X-intercepts – f(x) = a(x-p)(x-q) where (p,0) and (q,0) are x-intercepts

Vertex of a quadratic graph – f(x) = a(x – h)² + k, where (h, k) is the coordinates of the vertex

Solution of quadratic equations and inequalities and the quadratic formula.

The discriminant Δ = b2 − 4ac and the nature of the roots, that is, two distinct real roots, two equal real roots, no real roots.

Reciprocal function  along with their graphical representation and its self-inverse nature

Rational functions –  along with their graphical representation

Vertical and Horizontal Asymptote equations

Exponential functions and their graphs: f(x) = a^x, a > 0, f(x) = e^x

Logarithmic functions and their graphs: f(x)=log_ax, x > 0, f(x)=lnx, x > 0.

Solving equations both graphically and analytically

Use of technology to solve a variety of equations, including those where there is no appropriate analytic approach.

Applications of graphing skills and solving equations that relate to real-life situations.

Transformations of graphs:

• Translations: y = f(x) + b; y = f(x − a)
• Reflections (in both axes): y = − f(x); y = f( − x)
• Vertical stretch with scale factor p: y = p f (x).
• Horizontal stretch with scale factor 1/q : y = f (qx)

Composite transformations

Polynomial functions, their graphs and equations; zeros, roots and factors.

The factor and remainder theorems.

Sum and product of the roots of polynomial equations.

Odd and even functions

Finding the inverse function, f-1 (x), including domain restriction

Self-inverse functions

The graphs of the functions, y = | f (x)| and y = f(|x|), y = 1/f(x) , y = f(ax+b), y=[f(x)]2 

Solution of modulus equations and inequalities

The distance between two points in three- dimensional space, and their midpoint.

Volume and surface area of three-dimensional solids hemisphere and combinations of these solids.       

The size of an angle between two intersecting lines or between a line and a plane.

Use of sine, cosine and tangent ratios to find the sides and angles of right-angled triangles.

Sine rule and cosine rule

Area of a triangle =

Areas of triangle

Equations of lines and angles between two lines

Trigonometry with triangles

Angle of elevation is the angle up from the horizontal and the line from the object to the person’s eye.

Angle of depression is the angle down from the horizontal and the line from the object to the person’s eye.

A bearing is used to indicate the direction of an object from a given point.

A radian is the measure of the angle with its vertex at the centre of the circle and two radii with their end points on the circumference

Arc length: For a circle of radius 𝑟, a central angle 𝜃 subtends an arc of the circle of length 𝑠 given by 𝒔 = 𝒓𝜽, where 𝜃 is measured in radians

Area of a sector

Definition of cosθ, sinθ in terms of the unit circle

Definition of tanθ as sinθ/cosθ

Exact values of trigonometric ratios of 0, π/6, π/4, π/3, π/2 and their multiples

Ambiguous case of the sine rule

The Pythagorean identity cos²θ + sin²θ = 1 

Double angle identities for sine and cosine

The relationship between trigonometric ratios

The circular functions sinx, cosx, and tanx; amplitude, their periodic nature, and their graphs

Composite functions of the form f (x) = asin(b(x + c)) + d

Transformations

Real-life Context (Height of a tide, Ferris wheel)

Solving trigonometric equations in a finite interval, both graphically and analytically

Equations leading to quadratic equations in sinx, cosx or tanx

Definition of the reciprocal trigonometric ratios secθ, cosecθ and cotθ.

Pythagorean identities: 

• 1 + tan²θ = sec²θ
• 1 + cot²θ = cosec²θ

The inverse functions f (x) = arcsinx, f (x) = arccosx, f (x) = arctanx; their domains and ranges; their graphs.

Compound angle identities

Double angle identity for tan

Concept of a vector; position vectors; displacement vectors

Representation of vectors using directed line segments

Base vectors i, j, k

Algebraic and geometric approaches to the following:

• the sum and difference of two vectors
• the zero vector 0, the vector −v 
• multiplication by a scalar, kv, parallel vectors

The definition of the scalar product of two vectors

The angle between two vectors

Perpendicular vectors; parallel vectors

Coincident, parallel, intersecting and skew lines, distinguishing between these cases

Points of intersection

The definition of the vector product of two vectors

Properties of the vector product.

Geometric interpretation of | v × w |

Vector equations of a plane:

• r = a + λb + μc, where b and c are non-parallel vectors within the plane.
• r · n = a · n, where n is normal to the plane and a is the position vector of a point on the plane

Cartesian equation of a plane ax + by + cz = d.

Intersections of: a line with a plane; two planes; three planes.

Angle between: a line and a plane; two planes.

Statistics deals with data collection, organization, analysis, interpretation and presentation.

Sampling is the selection of a subset of individuals from within a statistical population to estimate characteristics of the whole population.

A population may refer to an entire group of people, objects, events, hospital visits, or measurements. 

A variable is any characteristics, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted. 

Numerical or quantitative data measures a numerical quantity. Types: Discrete and Continuous

Qualitative data measures a quality or characteristic of the experimental unit. 

A frequency distribution table is one way you can organize data so that it makes more sense.

Bar charts are suitable for discrete data, while a histogram is used for continuous data.

Cumulative frequency graph is a line graph. 

A measure of central tendency is a summary statistic that represents the center point or typical value of a dataset. 

The mean is the arithmetic average.

The mode is the value that occurs most frequently in a set of data.

The median is the middle data value when the data values are arranged in order of size.

Measure of dispersion of data

Quartiles of discrete data

Linear correlation of bivariate data

Pearson’s product-moment correlation and its coefficient r – only applicable in linear relationships

Scatter diagrams

Equation of regression line of y on x, using it in prediction and interpretation of its parameters, a and b, in the linear regression  y = ax + b.

Experiment: A process by which you obtain an observation. 

Trials: Repeating an experiment a number of times. 

Outcome: A possible result of an experiment.

Event: An outcome or set of outcomes.

Sample space: The set of all possible outcomes of an experiment, always denoted by U.

Venn, tree and sample space diagrams

Conditional probability

Dependent Events are where what happens depends on what happened before, such as taking cards from a deck makes less cards each time

Two events A and B are independent if the occurrence of one does not affect the chance that the other occurs. 

𝑃(𝐴|𝐵) is known as conditional probability. 

Equation of the regression line of x on y

Predictions using equations

Formal definition and use of the formulae:

P(A|B) = P(A ∩ B) / P(B)  for conditional probabilities, and P(A|B) = P(A) = P(A|B′) for independent events

Standardisation of normal variables (z– values)

Inverse normal calculations where mean and standard deviation are unknown.

Variance of a discrete random variable

Continuous random variables and their probability density functions

Mode and median of continuous random variables

Mean, variance and standard deviation of both discrete and continuous random variables

Differential calculus deals with the study of the rates at which quantities change.

Limit– A value we get closer and closer to, but never quite reach.

One-sided limits are those limits that only converge to a single value on one side of a function.

A tangent to a curve is a line that touches the curve at one point and has the same slope as the curve at that point.

A normal to a curve is a line perpendicular to a tangent to the curve.

Finding equation of tangent and normal

Introduction to integration as anti-differentiation of functions of the form f(x) = axⁿ + bx^{n − 1} + ….,

Definite integrals using technology

Area of a region enclosed by a curve y = f (x) and the x -axis, where f (x) > 0.

Derivative of xn (n ∈ Q), sinx, cosx, ex and lnx. Differentiation of a sum and a multiple of these functions

Chain rule for composite function

Product and Quotient rule (for differentiation)

Given a function 𝑓(𝑥), the derivative 𝑓′(𝑥) is known as the first derivative of 𝑓(𝑥). The gradient of the first derivative, 𝑓′′(𝑥) is called the second derivative of 𝑓(𝑥).

Graphical behaviour of functions, including the relationship between the graphs of f , f ′ and f ′′

Critical points are the points where 𝑓′ is zero or undefined.

This method of checking if the function is increasing or decreasing and about which point is called the first derivative test.

A maximum or minimum is said to be local if it is the largest or smallest value of the function, respectively, within a given range.

Point of inflection: These are critical points of a function. These are the points where 𝑓′(𝑥) or the slope of the curve is zero.

Integration by inspection (reverse chain rule) or by substitution for expressions of the form

The composites of any of these with the linear function ax+b

Indefinite integral of xⁿ (n ∈ Q), sin x, cos x, 1/x and e^x

Definite integrals, including analytical approach

Areas of a region enclosed by a curve y = f (x) and the x-axis, where f (x) can be positive or negative, without the use of technology

Areas between curves

Informal understanding of continuity and differentiability of a function at a point

Understanding the limits (convergence and divergence)

Definition of derivatives from first principles

Higher derivatives

Evaluation of limits using l’Hôpital’s rule or the Maclaurin series

Repeated use of l’Hôpital’s rule

Implicit differentiation

Related rates of change

Optimisation problems.

Derivatives of tanx, secx, cosecx, logax, arcsinx, arccosx, arctanx.

Indefinite integrals of the derivatives of any of the above functions

The composites of any of these with a linear function

Use of partial fractions to rearrange the integrand

Integration by Substitution is a method to find an integral, but only when it can be set up in a special way

Integration by parts

Repeated integration by parts

Area of the region enclosed by a curve and the y-axis in a given interval

Volumes of revolution about the x-axis or the y-axis

First order differential equations

Numerical solution of dy = f (x, y) dx using Euler’s method

Solution of y′ + P(x)y = Q(x), using the integrating factor

Maclaurin series to obtain expansions for ex, sinx, cosx, ln(1 + x), (1 + x)p, p ∈ Q

Use of simple substitution, products, integration and differentiation to obtain other series

Maclaurin series developed from differential equations