MATHEMATICS

HIGHER 2
(Syllabus 9740)

CONTENTS
Page
AIMS 1
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES (AO) 2
USE OF GRAPHIC CALCULATOR (GC) 2
LIST OF FORMULAE 2
INTEGRATION AND APPLICATION 2
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION PAPERS 3
CONTENT OUTLINE 4
ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE 12
MATHEMATICAL NOTATION 14
 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

AIMS
The syllabus prepares students adequately for university courses including mathematics, physics and
engineering, where more mathematics content is required. The syllabus aims to develop
mathematical thinking and problem solving skills in students. Topics covered include Functions and
Graphs, Sequences and Series, Vectors, Complex Numbers, Calculus, Permutations, Combinations
and Probability, Binomial, Poisson and Normal Distributions, Sampling and Hypothesis Testing, and
Correlation and Regression. Students will learn to analyse, formulate and solve different types of
problems. They will also learn to work with data and perform statistical analyses.

The general aims of the syllabus are to enable students to:

1 acquire the necessary mathematical concepts and skills for everyday life, and for continuous
learning in mathematics and related disciplines;

2 develop the necessary process skills for the acquisition and application of mathematical
concepts and skills;

3 develop the mathematical thinking and problem solving skills and apply these skills to
formulate and solve problems;

4 recognise and use connections among mathematical ideas, and between mathematics and
other disciplines;

5 develop positive attitudes towards mathematics;

6 make effective use of a variety of mathematical tools (including information and

communication technology tools) in the learning and application of mathematics;

7 produce imaginative and creative work arising from mathematical ideas;

8 develop the abilities to reason logically, to communicate mathematically, and to learn

cooperatively and independently.

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES (AO)

There are three levels of assessment objectives for the examination.

The assessment will test candidates' abilities to:

AO1 understand and apply mathematical concepts and skills in a variety of contexts, including
the manipulation of mathematical expressions and use of graphic calculators;

AO2 reason and communicate mathematically through writing mathematical explanation,

arguments and proofs, and inferences;

AO3 solve unfamiliar problems; translate common realistic contexts into mathematics; interpret
and evaluate mathematical results, and use the results to make predictions, or comment on
the context.

USE OF GRAPHIC CALCULATOR (GC)

The use of GC without computer algebra system will be expected. The examination papers will be set
with the assumption that candidates will have access to GC. As a general rule, unsupported answers
obtained from GC are allowed unless the question states otherwise. Where unsupported answers
from GC are not allowed, candidates are required to present the mathematical steps using
mathematical notations and not calculator commands. For questions where graphs are used to find a
solution, candidates should sketch these graphs as part of their answers. Incorrect answers without
working will receive no marks. However, if there is written evidence of using GC correctly, method
marks may be awarded.

Students should be aware that there are limitations inherent in GC. For example, answers obtained
by tracing along a graph to find roots of an equation may not produce the required accuracy.

LIST OF FORMULAE
Candidates will be provided in the examination with a list of formulae.

INTEGRATION AND APPLICATION

Notwithstanding the presentation of the topics in the syllabus document, it is envisaged that some
examination questions may integrate ideas from more than one topic, and that topics may be tested in
the contexts of problem solving and application of mathematics.

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION PAPERS

For the examination in H2 Mathematics, there will be two 3-hour papers, each carrying 50% of the
total mark, and each marked out of 100, as follows:

PAPER 1 (3 hours)
A paper consisting of about 10 to 12 questions of different lengths and marks based on the Pure
Mathematics section of the syllabus.

Candidates will be expected to answer all questions.

PAPER 2 (3 hours)
A paper consisting of 2 sections, Sections A and B.

Section A (Pure Mathematics – 40 marks) will consist of about 3–4 questions of different lengths and
marks based on the Pure Mathematics section of the syllabus.

Section B (Statistics – 60 marks) will consist of about 6–8 questions of different lengths and marks
based on the Statistics section of the syllabus.

Candidates will be expected to answer all questions.

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

CONTENT OUTLINE
Knowledge of the content of the O Level Mathematics syllabus and of some of the content of the
O Level Additional Mathematics syllabus are assumed in the syllabus below and will not be tested
directly, but it may be required indirectly in response to questions on other topics. The assumed
knowledge for O Level Additional Mathematics is appended after this section.

Topic/Sub-topics Content

PURE MATHEMATICS

1 Functions and graphs

1.1 Functions, inverse functions and Include:

composite functions • concepts of function, domain and range
• use of notations such as f( x ) = x 2 + 5 ,
f : x a x 2 + 5 , f −1( x ) , fg( x ) and f 2 ( x )
• finding inverse functions and composite functions
• conditions for the existence of inverse functions
and composite functions
• domain restriction to obtain an inverse function
• relationship between a function and its inverse
as reflection in the line y = x

Exclude the use of the relation (fg)−1 = g−1f −1

1.2 Graphing techniques Include:

• use of a graphic calculator to graph a given
function
• relating the following equations with their graphs
x2 y 2
± =1
a2 b2
ax + b
y=
cx + d
ax 2 + bx + c
y =
dx + e
• characteristics of graphs such as symmetry,
intersections with the axes, turning points and
asymptotes
• determining the equations of asymptotes, axes of
symmetry, and restrictions on the possible
values of x and/or y
• effect of transformations on the graph of y = f(x )
as represented by y = a f(x ) , y = f( x ) + a ,
y = f( x + a ) and y = f(ax ) , and combinations of
these transformations
• relating the graphs of y = f ( x ) , y = f ( x ) ,
1
y = and y 2 = f( x ) to the graph of y = f(x )
f( x )
• simple parametric equations and their graphs

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

Topic/Sub-topics Content

1.3 Equations and inequalities Include:

f(x)
• solving inequalities of the form > 0 where
g( x )
f(x ) and g(x ) are quadratic expressions that are
either factorisable or always positive
• solving inequalities by graphical methods
• formulating an equation or a system of linear
equations from a problem situation
• finding the numerical solution of equations
(including system of linear equations) using a
graphic calculator

2 Sequences and series

2.1 Summation of series Include:

• concepts of sequence and series
• relationship between u n (the n th term) and S n
(the sum to n terms)
• sequence given by a formula for the n th term
• sequence generated by a simple recurrence
relation of the form x n +1 = f( x n )
• use of ∑ notation
• summation of series by the method of
differences
• convergence of a series and the sum to infinity
• binomial expansion of (1 + x) n for any rational n
• condition for convergence of a binomial series
• proof by the method of mathematical induction

2.2 Arithmetic and geometric series Include:

• formula for the n th term and the sum of a finite
arithmetic series
• formula for the n th term and the sum of a finite
geometric series
• condition for convergence of an infinite geometric
series
• formula for the sum to infinity of a convergent
geometric series
• solving practical problems involving arithmetic
and geometric series

3 Vectors

3.1 Vectors in two and three dimensions Include:

• addition and subtraction of vectors, multiplication
of a vector by a scalar, and their geometrical
interpretations
x
x  
• use of notations such as   ,  y  , xi + yj ,
y  z 
 
xi + yj + zk , AB , a
• position vectors and displacement vectors
• magnitude of a vector
• unit vectors

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

Topic/Sub-topics Content

• distance between two points

• angle between a vector and the x-, y- or
z-axis
• use of the ratio theorem in geometrical
applications

3.2 The scalar and vector products of Include:

vectors • concepts of scalar product and vector product of
vectors
• calculation of the magnitude of a vector and the
angle between two directions
• calculation of the area of triangle or
parallelogram
• geometrical meanings of a.b and a × b ,
where b is a unit vector

Exclude triple products a.b × c and a × b × c

3.3 Three-dimensional geometry Include:

• vector and cartesian equations of lines and
planes
• finding the distance from a point to a line or to a
plane
• finding the angle between two lines, between a
line and a plane, or between two planes
• relationships between
(i) two lines (coplanar or skew)
(ii) a line and a plane
(iii) two planes
(iv) three planes

• finding the intersections of lines and planes

Exclude:
• finding the shortest distance between two skew
lines
• finding an equation for the common
perpendicular to two skew lines

4 Complex numbers

4.1 Complex numbers expressed in Include:

cartesian form • extension of the number system from real
numbers to complex numbers
• complex roots of quadratic equations
• four operations of complex numbers expressed
in the form ( x + iy )
• equating real parts and imaginary parts
• conjugate roots of a polynomial equation with
real coefficients

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

Topic/Sub-topics Content

4.2 Complex numbers expressed in polar Include:

form • complex numbers expressed in the form
r (cos θ + i sinθ ) or r e iθ , where r > 0 and
–π < θ Ğ π
• calculation of modulus ( r ) and argument ( θ ) of
a complex number
• multiplication and division of two complex
numbers expressed in polar form
• representation of complex numbers in the
Argand diagram
• geometrical effects of conjugating a complex
number and of adding, subtracting, multiplying,
dividing two complex numbers
• loci such as z − c Y r, z − a = z − b and
arg( z − a ) = α
• use of de Moivre’s theorem to find the powers
and n th roots of a complex number

Exclude:
• loci such as z − a = k z − b , where k ≠ 1 and
arg( z − a ) − arg( z − b ) = α
• properties and geometrical representation of the
n th roots of unity
• use of de Moivre’s theorem to derive
trigonometric identities

5 Calculus

5.1 Differentiation Include:

• graphical interpretation of
(i) f ′( x ) > 0 , f ′( x ) = 0 and f ′( x ) < 0
(ii) f ′′( x ) > 0 and f ′′( x ) < 0
• relating the graph of y = f ′( x ) to the graph of
y = f(x )
• differentiation of simple functions defined
implicitly or parametrically
• finding the numerical value of a derivative at a
given point using a graphic calculator
• finding equations of tangents and normals to
curves
• solving practical problems involving
differentiation

Exclude:
• finding non-stationary points of inflexion
• problems involving small increments and
approximation

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

Topic/Sub-topics Content

5.2 Maclaurin’s series Include:

• derivation of the first few terms of the series
expansion of (1+ x) n , e x , sin x , ln(1 + x ) , and
other simple functions
• finding the first few terms of the series
expansions of sums and products of functions,
e.g. excos2x, using standard series
• summation of infinite series in terms of standard
series
1
• sin x ≈ x , cos x ≈ 1− x 2 , tan x ≈ x
2
• concepts of ‘convergence’ and ‘approximation’

Exclude derivation of the general term of the series

5.3 Integration techniques Include:

• integration of
f ′( x )
f(x)
sin 2 x, cos 2 x, tan 2 x
1 1 1 1
2 2
, , 2 2
and
a +x a2 − x 2 a − x x − a2
2

• integration by a given substitution

• integration by parts

Exclude reduction formulae

5.4 Definite integrals Include:

• concept of definite integral as a limit of sum
• definite integral as the area under a curve
• evaluation of definite integrals
• finding the area of a region bounded by a curve
and lines parallel to the coordinate axes,
between a curve and a line, or between two
curves
• area below the x-axis
• finding the area under a curve defined
parametrically
• finding the volume of revolution about the x- or
y-axis
• finding the numerical value of a definite integral
using a graphic calculator

Exclude approximation of area under a curve using

the trapezium rule

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

Topic/Sub-topics Content

5.5 Differential equations Include:

• solving differential equations of the forms
dy
= f (x )
dx
dy
= f (y )
dx
d2 y
= f (x )
dx2

• formulating a differential equation from a problem

situation
• use of a family of solution curves to represent the
general solution of a differential equation
• use of an initial condition to find a particular
solution
• interpretation of a solution in terms of the
problem situation

STATISTICS

6 Permutations, combinations and

probability

6.1 Permutations and combinations Include:

• addition and multiplication principles for counting
• concepts of permutation ( n ! or n Pr ) and
combination ( n C r )
• arrangements of objects in a line or in a circle
• cases involving repetition and restriction

6.2 Probability Include:

• addition and multiplication of probabilities
• mutually exclusive events and independent
events
• use of tables of outcomes, Venn diagrams, and
tree diagrams to calculate probabilities
• calculation of conditional probabilities in simple
cases
• use of:
P( A′) = 1 − P( A)
P( A ∪ B ) = P( A) + P(B ) − P( A ∩ B )
P( A ∩ B )
P( A B ) =
P(B )

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

Topic/Sub-topics Content

7 Binomial, Poisson and normal

distributions

7.1 Binomial and Poisson distributions Include:

• concepts of binomial distribution B(n, p ) and
Poisson distribution Po(µ ) ; use of B( n, p ) and
Po(µ ) as probability models
• use of mean and variance of binomial and
Poisson distributions (without proof)
• solving problems involving binomial and Poisson
variables
• additive property of the Poisson distribution
• Poisson approximation to binomial

Exclude calculation of mean and variance for other

probability distributions

7.2 Normal distribution Include:

• concept of a normal distribution and its mean
and variance; use of N( µ , σ 2 ) as a probability
model
• standard normal distribution
• finding the value of P( X < x1 ) given the values
of x1 , µ , σ
• use of the symmetry of the normal distribution
• finding a relationship between x1 , µ , σ given
the value of P( X < x1 )
• solving problems involving normal variables
• solving problems involving the use of E(aX + b )
and Var(aX + b )
• solving problems involving the use of
E(aX + bY ) and Var(aX + bY ) , where X and
Y are independent
• normal approximation to binomial
• normal approximation to Poisson

Exclude:
• finding probability density functions and
distribution functions
• calculation of E( X ) and Var( X ) from other
probability density functions

8 Sampling and hypothesis testing

8.1 Sampling Include:

• concepts of population and sample
• random, stratified, systematic and quota samples
• advantages and disadvantages of the various
sampling methods
• distribution of sample means from a normal
population
• use of the Central Limit Theorem to treat sample
means as having normal distribution when the
sample size is sufficiently large

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

Topic/Sub-topics Content

• calculation of unbiased estimates of the

population mean and variance from a sample
• solving problems involving the sampling
distribution

8.2 Hypothesis testing Include:

• concepts of null and alternative hypotheses, test
statistic, level of significance and p-value
• tests for a population mean based on:
* a sample from a normal population of known
variance
* a sample from a normal population of
unknown variance
* a large sample from any population
• 1-tail and 2-tail tests
• use of t-test

Exclude testing the difference between two

population means

9 Correlation and Regression

9.1 Correlation coefficient and linear Include:

regression • concepts of scatter diagram, correlation
coefficient and linear regression
• calculation and interpretation of the product
moment correlation coefficient and of the
equation of the least squares regression line
• concepts of interpolation and extrapolation
• use of a square, reciprocal or logarithmic
transformation to achieve linearity

Exclude:
• derivation of formulae
• hypothesis tests

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE

Content from O Level Additional Mathematics

A ALGEBRA

1 Equations and inequalities

• conditions for a quadratic equation to have:
(i) two real roots
(ii) two equal roots
(iii) no real roots
• conditions for ax 2 + bx + c to be always positive (or always negative)

2 Polynomials
• multiplication and division of polynomials
• use of remainder and factor theorems

3 Indices and surds

• four operations on surds
• rationalising the denominator

4 Simultaneous equations in two unknowns

• solving simultaneous equations with at least one linear equation, by substitution
• express a pair of linear equations in matrix form and solving the equations by
inverse matrix method

5 Exponential and logarithmic functions

• functions a x , e x , log a x , ln x and their graphs
• laws of logarithms
• equivalence of y = a x and x = loga y
• change of base of logarithms
• function x and graph of f(x ) , where f(x ) is linear, quadratic or trigonometric
• solving simple equations involving exponential and logarithmic functions

6 Partial fractions
• Include cases where the denominator is of the form
• (ax + b )(cx + d )
• (ax + b )(cx + d ) 2
• (ax + b )( x 2 + c 2 )

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Content from O Level Additional Mathematics

B GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY

7 Coordinate geometry in two dimensions

• graphs of equations
* y = ax n , where n is a simple rational number
* y 2 = kx
• coordinate geometry of the circle with the equation in the form
( x − a ) 2 + ( y − b ) 2 = r 2 or x 2 + y 2 + 2fx + 2gx + h = 0

8 Trigonometry
• six trigonometric functions, and principal values of the inverses of sine, cosine and
tangent
• trigonometric equations and identities (see List of Formulae)
• expression of a cos θ + b sin θ in the forms R sin(θ ± α ) and R cos(θ ± α )

C CALCULUS

9 Differentiation and integration

• derivative of f (x ) as the gradient of the tangent to the graph of y = f (x ) at a point
• derivative as rate of change
• derivatives of x n for any rational n , sin x , cos x , tan x , e x and ln x , together
with constant multiples, sums and differences
• derivatives of composite functions
• derivatives of products and quotients of functions
• increasing and decreasing functions
• stationary points (maximum and minimum turning points and points of inflexion)
• use of second derivative test to discriminate between maxima and minima
• connected rates of change
• maxima and minima problems
• integration as the reverse of differentiation
• integration of x n for any rational n , e x , sin x , cos x , sec 2 x and their constant
multiples, sums and differences
• integration of (ax + b ) n for any rational n , sin(ax + b ) , cos(ax + b ) and eax + b

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

MATHEMATICAL NOTATION
The list which follows summarises the notation used in the Syndicate’s Mathematics examinations.
Although primarily directed towards A Level, the list also applies, where relevant, to examinations at
all other levels.

1. Set Notation

∈ is an element of
∉ is not an element of
{x 1 , x 2 , …} the set with elements x 1 , x 2 , …
{x: …} the set of all x such that
n(A) the number of elements in set A
∅ the empty set
universal set
A′ the complement of the set A
 the set of integers, {0, ±1, ±2, ±3, …}
+
 the set of positive integers, {1, 2, 3, …}
 the set of rational numbers
+
 the set of positive rational numbers, { x ∈ : x > 0}
+
 0 the set of positive rational numbers and zero, { x ∈ : x ğ 0}
 the set of real numbers
+
 the set of positive real numbers, { x ∈ : x > 0}
+
 0 the set of positive real numbers and zero, { x ∈ : x ğ 0}
n
 the real n tuples
`= the set of complex numbers
⊆ is a subset of
⊂ is a proper subset of
is not a subset of

is not a proper subset of

∪ union
∩ intersection
[a, b] the closed interval { x ∈: a Ğ x Ğ b }

[a, b) the interval { x ∈: a Ğ x < b}

(a, b] the interval { x ∈: a < x Ğ b}
(a, b) the open interval { x ∈: a < x < b}

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

2. Miscellaneous Symbols

= is equal to
≠ is not equal to
≡ is identical to or is congruent to
≈ is approximately equal to
∝ is proportional to
< is less than
Y; — is less than or equal to; is not greater than
> is greater than
[; – is greater than or equal to; is not less than
∞ infinity

3. Operations

a+b a plus b
a–b a minus b
a × b, ab, a.b a multiplied by b
a
a ÷ b, , a/b a divided by b
b

a:b the ratio of a to b

n

∑a
i =1
i a 1 + a 2 + ... + a n

√a the positive square root of the real number a

a the modulus of the real number a

n! n factorial for n ∈  + U {0}, (0! = 1)

n n!
  the binomial coefficient , for n , r ∈  + U {0}, 0 Y r Y n
r r! (n − r )!
n(n − 1)...(n − r + 1)
, for n ∈ , r ∈  + U {0}
r!

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4. Functions

f function f
f(x) the value of the function f at x
f: A →B f is a function under which each element of set A has an image in set B
f: x
y the function f maps the element x to the element y
f –1 the inverse of the function f
g o f, gf the composite function of f and g which is defined by
(g o f)(x) or gf(x) = g(f(x))

lim f(x) the limit of f(x) as x tends to a

x→ a

∆x ; δx an increment of x
dy
the derivative of y with respect to x
dx
dn y
the n th derivative of y with respect to x
dx n
f'(x), f'′(x), …, f (n) (x) the first, second, … n th derivatives of f(x) with respect to x

∫ ydx indefinite integral of y with respect to x

b
∫ ydx
a
the definite integral of y with respect to x for values of x between a and b

x& , &x& , … the first, second, …derivatives of x with respect to time

5. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

e base of natural logarithms

x
e , exp x exponential function of x
log a x logarithm to the base a of x
ln x natural logarithm of x
lg x logarithm of x to base 10

6. Circular Functions and Relations

sin, cos, tan,

cosec, sec, cot
} the circular functions
sin –1 , cos –1 , tan –1
cosec –1 , sec –1 , cot –1
} the inverse circular functions

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7. Complex Numbers

i square root of –1
z a complex number , z = x + iy
+
= r(cos θ + i sin θ ), r ∈ 0
+
= re iθ , r ∈ 0
Re z the real part of z, Re (x + iy) = x
Im z the imaginary part of z, Im (x + iy) = y
z the modulus of z, x + iy = √(x 2 + y 2 ), r (cosθ + i sinθ ) = r

arg z the argument of z, arg(r(cos θ + i sin θ )) = θ , – π < θ Ğ π

z* the complex conjugate of z, (x + iy)* = x – iy

8. Matrices

M a matrix M
–1
M the inverse of the square matrix M
T
M the transpose of the matrix M
det M the determinant of the square matrix M

9. Vectors

a the vector a

AB the vector represented in magnitude and direction by the directed line segment AB
â a unit vector in the direction of the vector a
i, j, k unit vectors in the directions of the cartesian coordinate axes
a the magnitude of a

AB the magnitude of AB

a.b the scalar product of a and b

aPb the vector product of a and b

10. Probability and Statistics

A, B, C, etc. events
A∪B union of events A and B
A∩B intersection of the events A and B
P(A) probability of the event A
A' complement of the event A , the event ‘ not A ’
P(A | B) probability of the event A given the event B
X, Y, R, etc . random variables
x, y, r, etc . value of the random variables X, Y, R, etc.

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 9740 H2 MATHEMATICS (2010)

x1 , x 2 , … observations

f1 , f 2 ,… frequencies with which the observations, x 1 , x 2 …occur

p(x) the value of the probability function P(X = x) of the discrete random variable X
p1 , p 2 … probabilities of the values x1 , x 2 , … of the discrete random variable X

f(x), g(x)… the value of the probability density function of the continuous random variable X

F(x), G(x)… the value of the (cumulative) distribution function P(X Y x) of the random
variable X
E(X) expectation of the random variable X
E[g(X)] expectation of g(X)
Var(X) variance of the random variable X
B(n, p) binominal distribution, parameters n and p
Po(µ) Poisson distribution, mean µ
2
N(µ, σ ) normal distribution, mean µ and variance σ 2
µ population mean
2
σ population variance
σ population standard deviation
x sample mean
s2 unbiased estimate of population variance from a sample ,

1
∑( x − x )
2
s2 =
n −1
φ probability density function of the standardised normal variable with distribution
N (0, 1)
Φ corresponding cumulative distribution function
ρ linear product-moment correlation coefficient for a population
r linear product-moment correlation coefficient for a sample

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