AS & A Level Math Cheatsheet
AS & A Level Math Cheatsheet
AS & A Level Math Cheatsheet
1. Never divide by something that can be zero - cause there is a scope of it being division
by 0
2. After finding a solution
a. After you find a solution, always look at adomain
b. Reinsert into equation and make sure there is no dividing by solution error
3. If (x2-7x+11)8 = 1, then x2-7x+11 = (+- 1)8
4. Always draw graph wherever possible
5. Never divide by x as x can be a solution
6. Look at highest power term for no of solutions
7. Degrees is rounded to 1 dp
8. Numerical answers to 3 sf
9. Write down each value so it’s the most exact
10. Radian’s is to 3 sf
11. Always mention formula
12. Disjointed - write ‘or’
13. Spend time thinking about question ⇒ don’t assume and jump in
14. No decimal points in denominator
15. No square roots in denominator
16. Don’t round values, just store and add and write to max decimal places
17. Show more steps!
18. To show that a point is outside the circle, show that the distance from the centre to that
point > radius
19. Diagonals of a parallelogram are not equal, but they bisect as the angle with which they
are made is different (they are the supplementary angles which make), opp angles equal
20. It is good practice to suggest that candidates read the question again after completing
their solution to ensure that they have fulfilled all the requests in the instructions, and
that their result seems sensible.
Graphs to know
Finding LCM:
Only primes
Pure Mathematics 1
When deciding whether to do a + or - sign for the root, think about what f-1(x) is giving. If it is
giving values before k and that would mean more negative values, -, otherwise, +
Graphs
That means if it is (a/b/c - x), it is wrong as x has to be positive, so rearrange to take out the
negative sign
It has to be only 1 for the coefficient of x - so take any coefficient out if you need
In this equation:
(2x - 1)(2 - x)(x + 1)
2(x - ½) * -1(x - 2) * (x + 1)
-2(x - ½)(x - 2)(x + 1)
Here, k = -2, a = ½, b = 2, c = -1
If you have k(x - a)2(x - b), then where the curve turns at x-axis is this factor. For example -
here:
B = 1 as it turns at x = -1
Meet at x = 1
If a = odd, it is like this, if not the one above
Vcylinder = πr2h
Vcone = πr2h/3
SAcylinder = 2πr(r + h)
SAcone = πr(r + l), l = slant height
CSAcylinder = 2πrh
CSAcone = πrl
Focus on prism v pyramid - note the difference - prism has straight faces to another base, while
pyramid has angled faces to a tip
𝑚
𝑛
(xn)m = xnm ≠ 𝑥
xn * xm = xn + m
𝑛
𝑥 𝑛−𝑚
𝑚 = 𝑥
𝑥
When you take root in an inequality, for negative root, switch the sign
Always divide quadratic if possible
Always write down quadratic Critical values, and then draw it to see which part of the quadratic
is above the x axis
Completing Square
(h, k) in completing the square formula is also:
2
−𝑏 −𝑏 −4𝑎𝑐 2
( 2𝑎
, 4𝑎
𝑜𝑟 𝑘 = − ℎ − 𝑐)
Sub value to find a
Asymptote
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏
y= 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑
Finding vertical asymptote:
cx + d = 0
−𝑑
x= 𝑐
- this is the equation of the vertical asymptote
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏
To find inverse of functions of the form 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑
, follow these steps
1. Collect y terms on one side and x terms on other
2. Isolate y by factorising
Look at domain of f(x) for range of f-1(x) when working with roots - to see if it’s ± or not - just do
inequality (>= as non complex) to 0 to find domain and
Self inverse → f(x) = f-1(x)
(fg)-1(x) = g-1f-1(x)
Where f(x) intersects y = x, f-1(x) also crosses
Therefore when drawing use your fingers on f(x) and rotate it 90 degrees and draw the same for
f-1(x) and check if (a, b) = (b, a)
Transformations
Make this steps 1, 2, and 3 and then write answer with labels to those steps
f(-x) reflects in y axis
-f(x) reflects in x axis
f(x) + a is a translation to the graph y = f(x) by (0 𝑎)
f(x - a) is a translation by a, 0
Horizontal translations change the x term - as there is now a new x that is there, and that x
requires a input of 2 to create a output same as for 0 for example and therefore, it will have to
be New x = (x - 2) to make it the output for 0
Then, new x = x - 2, x = 2 for the same input of 0 to original function to have the same shape but
at a different spot.
● When two vertical transformations or two horizontal transformations are combined, the
order in which they are applied may affect the outcome.
● When one horizontal and one vertical transformation are combined, the order in which
they are applied does not affect the outcome.
● Vertical transformations follow the ‘normal’ order of operations, as used in arithmetic
● Horizontal transformations follow the opposite order to the ‘normal’ order of operations,
as used in arithmetic.
Complete square for f-1 of quadratics or use quadratic formula and then look at domain to see if
it’s + or -
Inverse of quadratics
1. f(x) = y
2. complete square
3. solve for y
a. sq. root of both sides and look @ domain
To find domain of (fg)-1(x), find range of (fg)(x), and then make it domain of inverse
To find (fg)(x) range, substitute lower bound of domain of g into g and substitute g(lowerbound)
into f(x)
Always find range of f(x) for f-1(x) domain - or draw graph
In a question like this, you should do these steps. Remember since the scale factor is ½, the x
value for the same value becomes halved.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS
a) Either draw graph of f(x) with specified domain
b) Or find range of f(x)
To find domain of f-1(x) or even fg or gf
Use or for two diff values which can produce two different results and cannot exist together
If two translations, just write them in a vector form
2
∫ f(x) where f(x) is an odd function = 0
−2
In this question, sub in x into g(x) and make it <= 0 and then since x <= q, it has to be x <= -2
If square * a of a number = -ve, add, else subtract
Including the condition that a composite function gf can only be formed when the range of f is
within the domain of g
If you are given three vertices of a parallelogram and you are asked to find the fourth, remember
the rule, the midpoint of one diagonal is equal to the midpoint of the other diagonal
Diagonals are not equal in rhombus, but they meet at a common midpoint
● Always start with grid in section first - so if you run out of time, you are fine as you can
guess multiple choice, but not in grid in
● Underline what they ask first and key terms!!
● Finish no calc in 10-12 mins, ideally 15 minutes - you can do it again and in second time
- look for traps and underline and do the nocalc section again
● Finish calc section in 40 minutes
● Equation of circle
○ (x - h)2 (y - k)2 = r2 - completing the square form
■ (h, k) = center
■ r = radius
○ X2 + 2gx + y2 + 2fy + c = 0 - expanded form
■ (-g, - f) = center
2 2
■ R- 𝑔 +𝑓 − 𝑐
○ If it is 2x2 + 2x + 2y2 - 4y = 6, divide everything by 2 and then you can use the
expanded form
● Cannot be roots of non square numbers
● The question numbers are juggled, so your number 2 may not be the same for the other
person
● For graph questions sub in values always - be smart enough to just take random values
for all options
● Use options and plug in for what are al the solutions for the given equation
● You can divide if you know that it is (kx + g) where g is a positive constant as you know it
will not produce a dividing by 0 error
● Power → 1 check where the power is 1 and that is the correct exponential function
● Always check the answer with the data given in the question
● Whatever they are asking underline always
● If x is increased by y % and then decreased by z%, then you can do this
○ [x][1 + (y/100)][1 - (z/100)]
● System of linear equations
○ No. of solutions
■ Infinitely many solutions
● Graph is on top of each other
● Infinite combinations of x and y will make lines coincide
● Same slope
● Same y int
■ No solution
● Parallel lines for example
● X+y=2
● X+y=5
● Same slope
● Different intercept
■ Unique solution
● Different slope
● Given that ⇒ Conditional probability
● Median
○ If odd number of observations, median = ((n + 1)/2)th observations
○ If even number of observations, median = ((n/2)th + (n + 2/2)th)/2 observations
● Whenever there are two right angled triangles
○ Solve using similarity of trigonometry
● Whenever there are two non right angled triangles
○ Solve using similarity
● If it is per square foot, divide by foot2
● Roots of form ax2 + bx + c
○ Sum = -b/a
○ Product = c/a
● Vertex - at midpoint of two roots
○ ax2 + bx + c - general form
■ Vertex = (-b/2a, f(-b/2a))
○ a(x-b)(x-c) - x-int
■ Vertex = ((b + c)/2, f((b + c)/2))
○ a(x - h)2 + b
■ Vertex = (h, b)
● A sample’s data can only be generalised to the population it has been conducted on
○ Ex: Some history professors are selected from 3 large universities in California
■ You can only generalise to the 3 large universities in california
If two points are not endpoints of diameter, you cannot take midpoint as center and you cannot
take distance as the diameter. You can only assume only that this is a chord and thus the
perpendicular bisector of that contains the center of the circle.
In this question, you have already found perpendicular bisector of AB in part a, so just solve
simultaneously with that and 12x - 5y = 70
Here, since there are two possible circles, it intersects the circle at top and bottom. You can now
form two equations and solve:
(𝑝−3)2+(𝑞−2)2=8, (𝑝−7)2+(𝑞−2)2=8
Subtracting,
(𝑝−7)2−(𝑝−3)2=0
(𝑝−7−(𝑝−3))(𝑝−7+(𝑝−3))=0
−4(2𝑝−10)=0
𝑝=5
(5−3)2+(𝑞−2)2=8
(𝑞−2)2=8−4=4
𝑞−2=±2
𝑞=0 or 𝑞=4
For questions with tangent to circle at a point, find equation of center to point, then do
perpendicular gradient and y-y1..
Show that two points is a diameter
● Find midpoint of the two points,
● Then find radius using the midpoint
● Then find diameter and equate it to the distanc ebetween the two points to prove
If PQR is in a circle, PR is a diameter
In this question, you can’t assume that 2x + y is perpendicular to the chord between the two
points. Therefore, you must form simultaneous equations like this:
If you have three points on a circle and you ant to find the equation of the circle, you have to
construct perpendicular bisectors from both of those lines and the intersection is the centre and
then you can find the radius using pythagoras theorem
IN a question like this where you actually have the equation of hte circle, just make a dummy
equation with m as the gradient and sub into the equation of the circle and then use b2-4ac
Coordinate geometry
This is a very simple question
Parallelogram properties
1. Diagonals are not equal
2. Diagonals bisect each other
3. Gradient of opposite sides are equal
4. Length of opposite sides equal
5. Opposite angles equal
6. Adjacent angles add up to 180
7. Midpoint of diagonal is the center
Trig
Here, c is like before going into cos-1 so it is like π/2π, so it is basically cosx, so do acosx - b =
0, cosx = b/a
The time for which the passenger is above a height of 90 m - it isn’t interval for which the
passenger is above a height of 90 m; it is the duration of time for which the passenger is above
a height of 90 m
To prove first part, make sure you state that the angles add up to 360 of all 6 sectors because
they make up a full circle
N = 3 as you already found theta = 30 degrees, and then since theta is from 0 to 360, 0 < theta
< 1080
For the largest solutions, use 150 degrees. So do 150 + 360 + 360 = 870 degrees, so theta =
870/3 = 290 degrees
In this question, range = 14, so d = ±7, as it can be down and then up or up and then down like
below, c = 3
Or you can solve by saying 10 = max point = c + d, -4 = c - d, so you get 2c = 6, c = 3, so d = 7,
but it can be ± as the order does not matter
Since CAB = 60 degrees (equilateral), so the angle alpha is 30 degrees - next to tgt
An arc equal in length to the radius of the circle subtends an angle of 1 radian at the centre of
the circle
Without using angle if you want to find trigonometric ratios, you have to make a triangle
sin-1(-x) = -sin-1(x)
tan-1(-x) = - tan-1(x)
Transformations order applies in trig
This is already in quadratic form (ax2 + bx + c) → the b term is splittable as it has components of
the a and c.
sin(180 - x) = sin x
Sin (x +- 360) = sin x
cos(-x) = cos x
cos(x +- 360) = cos x
tan (x +- 180) = tan x
Can use above formulas to solve and directly do inverse of negative as well
Keep one more decimal place for all values before finding final answer
Range questions
→ Just sub in the equation from x to that equation and modify the range as you go
In proofs, if you have tan and sin or cos, almost always you can sub sin/cos for tan and you
should be fine
If you know you need to make it into x and it is x and y, make y into x
2
cos θ = − 1 − 𝑘 as you rearrange for sin2x + cos2x = 1 and since it is quadrant 2 therefore,
it is negative
𝑘
tan θ = − 2
1−𝑘
sin(θ + π) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 − θ as quad 4
When you have 0 <= x <= 360 and you have sin 2x = 1, and you want to sub u as 2x
When drawing graphs, make sure you consider the endpoints (for questions with hence solve)
and make sure you do the same domain for both
For one mark, if they ask you for the other point a line meets a trig graph at, then just state that
don’t try to solve it
If you have
2 3 3 3 −1 3 ° −1 3
𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ = 4
, 𝑐𝑜𝑠θ =± 2
, 𝑠𝑜 𝑖𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑠θ =+ 2
, θ = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 2
) = 30 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 θ = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (− 2
) = 150
You have to say the second statement if you are getting that θ for a negative cos value so you
have to say cos-1 for that -root3/2 for that as well when you say 150
Series
Say un rather than tn
Numbers a, b and c are in
a) Arithmetic progression if 2b = a + c
i) 5, 10, 15
1) 2(10) = 5 + 15, so in arithmetic progression
b) Geometric progression if b2 = ac
i) 5, 10, 20
1) 102 = 5 x 20 = 100
nC0 = 1 = nCn
nCr = nC(n - r)
0! = 1 as
5! = 5 * 4!
4! = 4 * 3!
…. n!= (n -1)! * n
1! = 1 * 0! = 1
So 0! Has to be 1
0! = 1
As
3 3! 3!
C3 = 3!(3−3)!
= 3!0!
=1
1/0! = 1
So 0! = 1/1 = 1
Number of years:
Don’t try to use the formula - just look at how the cost changes and go to the year - just go
through manually - write it all down
Differentiation
You can prove a function is increasing if it’s dy/dx minima is always > 0 (minima > 0)
To give a reason for this, say the value of gradient is approaching 2 as ꝺx approaches 0 -
gradient is the limit of the gradient of the chords as ꝺx approaches 0
This is because the gradient at E is the limit of the gradients of the chords as the x-value tends
to 3 or ꝺx tends to 0.
Since the denominator is 2 you can never have 0 as the denominator can never be 0, divide by
zero error. So this is increasing function not neither
To find equation of tangent to curve at a point, find the gradient at that point and use the points
at that point to find the equation using y - y1 = m(x-x1)
Use calculator to check
𝑑 𝑓'(𝑥) 𝑑 1 −1
𝑑𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = = 2
2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
2 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥) = (𝑥(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)) = 𝑥 (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)
If you have a straight line for which you need to find the angle with the x axis and you have the
gradient, you need to remember that Gradient =
∆𝑦 𝑂 −1
∆𝑥
= 𝐴
, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑛 θ = 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑠𝑜 θ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
3
4𝑥 −32
3 > 0, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒
𝑥
Case 1:
+/+ > 0
Case 2:
-/- > 0
To solve, just equate the numerator and denominator to + or - and then look which is the
common region for the inequalities [based on which one doesn’t include the other and is
therefore correct
After solving:
X3 > 0, x3 > 8 ⇒ x > 2, x > 0 so x > 2 is the common region
X3 < 0 [Negative - so switch direction of inequality] x3 < 2 ⇒ x < 0 as that is the common region
on a number line
𝑑𝑉 𝑑ℎ
If water leaks out, then both 𝑑𝑡
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑡
𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑡
In part iv), you have this:
-2x + 8√x = k, so when you get the quadratic, the c coefficient becomes -k, not +k
In this question, try to find a way by either knowing that there is only one point where it meets -
so b2-4ac = 0 OR solving by equating both equations and proving - be creative
TRUST
If you have to give in terms of m, just give in terms of m, not in terms of numbers - so if you have
a solution with m, use it
You cannot do tan-1m2-m1 as trigonometric functions don’t split like that. You have to find big
angle minus smaller angle Cannot do the difference as that would give the angle of a line with
gradient m2 - m1, not the angle between the two lines.
You are essentially finding b which is not the same as alpha -
Find tan-1 of one gradient, and subtract from the bigger one. This needs to be done as otherwise
you would just find gradient of a line with angle theta. This way, you are finding the angle
between two lines, which is angle of one line - the other
Integration
After subbing in for integration in limits, make sure after subtracting that you have made it - -
positive. Also, if you have k for integration take dummy value for k and do integration on
calculator
When finding area between curve for a complex equation like
2𝑥 + 3, 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡𝑜 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑘𝑒𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒
The volume here is
The black box - blue box so upper curve in this case is the line. If you rotate 90 degrees, you will
get it
9709_s22_qp_51
47/50
2 b) Forgot that Mrs. Lan was a woman, therefore, it could be 1 Mrs. Lan, 2 (other) women and
2 men also
2 c) Here, the values do not exceed the boundaries and the mean and frequency remains same
so sd remains the same
9709_w22_qp_12 70/75
Q5a) When you stretch horizontally by 0.5, it actually compresses, as it becomes f(2x) not f(x).
Think of it like this, when you are not plugging in 0.5x, you are plugging in 2x, not 0.5x .
Basically, stretches by 0.5 are compressions, while stretches by 2 are actual stretches.But their
effect on x is different, as 0.5 gives 2, while 2 gives 0.5 [2]
Q7b) If domain is in radians, give answers in radians [1]
Q9d) Read the question, it said g-1f(x), not just g-1(x) - underline in the question [2]
9709_m22_qp_52
Q2 b) The three weeks can be ordered in three different ways as it is binomial so 3C2 [2]
Q3 a) You can use a false origin starting from 0.5 rather than 0 [1]
Q6 b) They said after she has checked at least 6 chocolates which means when she has
checked 7 or more chocolates. You must have six chocolates - which are not lemon - so P(X >
6)[1]
● Continuity corrections
● Conditional probability
9709_w22_qp_13 74/75
Q5 c)
If it is (8, 6), then teh minimum point would not be at y = 0. Therefore, it has to be 8,2
Since angle BCA = 90, that means AB is diameter, so midpoint of AB = centre of circle, then you
can solve
9709_m23_qp_52
Q1 a) On the axis of the cf graph, you have to put cumulative frequency [1]
This question has binomial till trial 6. Then trial 7 is geometric
6 b) Remember to finish the question - it says 4 randomly chosen cyclists so you have to do
answer4 - check number of marks before solving [1]
9709_s20_qp_52 - Full
9709_w22_qp_11
9709_w22_qp_53 42/50
Q1 Give variance to exact value
Q2 c) Write frequency in cf calculations separately so that you do not make mistake [2]
Q4 a) Show how you get 64 (43) [1]
Q4 d) P(Y > 4) = 1 - P(Y = 1, 2, 3, 4) ≠ 1 - P(Y = 1, 2, 3) ; P(Y ≥ 4) = 1 - P(Y = 1, 2, 3) [2]
Q6 c)
There is a key difference you must understand in this question. When you are just finding
arrangement where there are duplicate letters, you do not need to multiply (if 2 Ts and selecting
1 T) by 2 as it is the same arrangement. Whereas, when you are finding the probability, you
must multiply by 2 because you are finding the probability - so it multiplies as there are 2
different Ts. Also, the total arrangements is 9C5 because you can double count in this case as
selecting double of the same letters is fine as this is not arranging, you are selecting [3]
9709_s11_qp_63 45/50
Remember that the second part doesn’t have the same final score thing - it is separate [3]
There are no half marks - so the midpoints are( 0 + 9)/2 = 4.5, (10 + 19)/2 = 14.5, etc. - the
upper bound is ub - 1 as not equal to [2]
9709_w22_qp_51 46/50
When comparing two data sets, look at central tendency to compare magnitude, and then look
at spread, and compare how ‘spread out’ the data sets are
For questions with two dice, always draw a table like this then circle
If you do P(F) + P(CH) + P(F ∩ 𝐶𝐻), you are double counting, as the P(F) has P(CH), and P(F
∩ 𝐶𝐻) has P(F) and P(CH) in it as well. So to find P(F ∪ 𝐶𝐻) = P(F) + P(CH) - P(F∩ 𝐶𝐻) as F
and CH are non mutually exclusive events, ie P(F ∩ 𝐶𝐻) ≠ 0. Or, what you can also do is just
add P(F) + P(M ∩ 𝐶𝐻) as the cases are Female (so includes curry hot and not curry hot,
second and third statement is ploy) or male and curry hot
The venn diagram is what I am talking about - as only F is the only red part so 1/20 (F and CH’),
and only CH is M and CH as left is F, so you want to find the sum of these three
Stem and Leaf diagrams Contains all the original data values, so For larger data sets it can be
● One can easily find the range, median and quartiles accurately ● Very tedious to draw
● Mean and standard deviation are exact values ● Confusing to look at
Very useful for a small data set
One can see the shape of the distribution by rotating the diagram through 90 degrees anticlockwise
One can compare 2 data sets by drawing a back to back stem and leaf diagram
Histograms Shows the shape of the distribution Before drawing a histogram, the data needs to be assembled into a grouped frequency
One can group the data into classes of any width table. As a result:
Useful for larget data sets ● Some of the information in the original data set is lost
From the scale on the horizontal axis, one can more easily see the range as compared to a ● The values for the median, quartiles, mean and standard deviation (found from
stem-and-leaf diagram (where the key needs to be used to interpret the values) the frequency table/histogram) would be estimates rather than exact values.
Cumulative frequency Usually drawn to estimate the median and quartiles of grouped data Since a cumulative frequency diagram also needs a grouped frequency table to be
diagrams Useful for estimating the number/percentage of data values that lie below/above a given value drawn, all disadvantages associated with grouped frequency table may also be thought of
as present with cumulative frequency diagram
Box and whisker plots Show the shape of the distribution in a compact way One can not find the mean and standard deviation from them
Gives the lowest and highest values, the median and the quartiles directly
Particularly useful in comparing several sets of related data
Stem and leaf diagrams, histograms, cumulative frequency diagrams and box and whisker plots
are the ways to represent data. Mean, median and mode are measures of variation. Range, IQR
and standard deviation are measures of spread
Box and whisker - LQ, Lowest, Median, UQ, Highest
If odd number of data set in stem and leaf diagrams, then remove the median in both halves
and take the middle value
If even number of data set in stem and leaf diagrams, then split into half and half (as even so
you can split)
Frequency = area
The midpoint = x
Mean = ∑xf/∑f
Standard deviation = ∑x2f - mean2
This means in histograms, f can be found by multiplying class width x frequency density. X will
be found by using the midpoint.
This means values of mean and standard deviation are estimates as midpoints of each interval
are used, not actual raw data
In the b part, you have to use the smallest bag number for the smallest coin value and biggest
for biggest coin value
If you want to make a stem and leaf diagram of this above, use the key to make it effectively.
Instead of using decimals, just do this:
Leaf has to have only digits - no more
In comparisons between data sets, always say ‘than x’ and mention data structures that support
your point
For comparisons - generally compare - median and iqr or skew. WHen comparing iqr, say data
is more/less spread out
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66
If there are two cf graphs, where they intersect is the point below which the number of values is
the same
Frequency density = Frequency/Class width => Density of frequency across the class width
If your data starts from 0.5, you can use a false origin. If it is more, use a kink
In this question, after you adjust the class boundaries for the histogram, you don’t have to adjust
it when you have to find the highest possible IQR. This is because it is a number of chocolate
bars, therefore, it cannot be a decimal, so do not make it a decimal, keep it as a whole number
Have to bridge gap for histograms by adding and subtracting as that effectively bridges as top
and bottom line up - this is present because the values are rounded
Class widths need to go till the upper limit of the class no more - cannot go above that digit - can
be below though
Always label for box and whisker, stem and leaf, cumulative frequency
Measures =
● Iqr
● Range
● Mean
● Median
● Mode
Best methods of showing data - one of central tendency and one of variation
You can also find the q1 and q3 by first finding the median then splitting the data set across the
median and then finding the median of the two split sets and that is q1 and q3
And you want to find the highest possible iqr, just look at the range in which
50, and 150 lie and then take the lowest of the range
And highest of the other
And minus
Here you can take the highest of the 40-60 but not 60, so use 59.9. And for
the other use 10.
Mean < Median < Mode ⇒ when the data are negatively skewed
In cf graphs if they give you a table like this,write the lower boundaries and
whether it starts from 1
Standard deviation
This is just coded data. So just find the coded mean and use that for coded sd
Use n = 17 + f here
2 2
∑𝑥 +∑𝑦 ∑𝑥 + ∑𝑦
Combined variance = 𝑛𝑥+𝑛𝑦
− 𝑛𝑥+𝑛𝑦
2 2
∑𝑥 +∑𝑦 ∑𝑥 + ∑𝑦
σ= 𝑛𝑥+𝑛𝑦
− 𝑛𝑥+𝑛𝑦
In one year, only once can one fault happen. Since these are independent
events - it is only and, not or. Therefore, the choice is only between mech
and no mech, not mech or electrical. As it is independent and only happens
once in a year
So tree diagram looks like this
𝑃(𝐴∩𝐵)
P(A|B) = 𝑃(𝐵)
You only need to decide arrangements for the other five dice - so there are 6 different outcomes
for one dice, and for that 6 other for second dice, and 6 other … 65 • 3. You do not need to think
about outcomes of the dice at the end as those are fixed - and already done - no need to swap
with other dice, that is done using 65 which accounts for different possibilities
Remember that the total arrangements with R at beginning and R at end is 6!/3! = 120 - not the
total arrangements as it is looking for arrangements with two conditions
Remember that for probability, you multiply by the number of different ways you can select one
O
The scenarios are
OR _ _ = 3C1 x 2C1 x 3C2 = 18
ORR _ = 3C1 x 2C2 x 3C1 = 9
OOR_ = 3C2 x 2C1 x 3C1 = 18
OORR = 3C2 x 2C2 = 3
OOOR = 3C3 x 2C1 = 1 x 2 = 2
Total = 50, total possible = 8C4; probability = 50/8C4
Do table for selection of letters questions and writing of letters with gaps
The violinists, cellists and double bass players are already selected, so you do not need to do
arrangements for that
n
Pr and nCr only for n distinc objects
Two As together and Two Ls together does not mean Two As and two Ls next to each other,
these two blocks can move
n
Pr = n! x nCr
n 𝑛! 𝑛!
Pr = (𝑛−𝑟)!
, nCr = 𝑟!(𝑛−𝑟)!
Multiplying vs adding
Multiplying = for each scenario, there are multiple scenarios - and is used
Adding = Or included
Question: Find the number of permutations in ALLIGATOR if the two As have to be separated
by six letters and the Ls must not be separated
A______A_
Or
_A_______A
Since none of the Ls can be at the edge, and they are not distinct objects, you do not need to
multiply by 2.
R + B = 11
R + Y = 10
B + Y = 09
For c)
d)
A mathematics teacher has 10 different posters to pin up in their classroom but there is enough
space for only five of them. They have three posters on algebra, two on calculus and five on
trigonometry. In how many ways can they choose the five posters to pin up if:
a) There are no restrictions
b) They decide not to pin up either of the calculus posters
c) They decide to pin up at least one poster on each of the three topics algebra, calculus
and trigonometry
i) Cannot do 3C1 x 2C1 x 5C1 x 7C2 as the 7 could include the ones selected
ii) Have to list all possible combos and add them up
iii)
Always list combos for combinations
You cannot do it when you have to select 4 from 4 milk chocolate and 8 white and 4 dark and
you want to select at least one white and dark, you cannot do 8 x 4 x 14C2 as the 14 can
include the ones you've selected. Can only do if you did 4Cr
For iv) part, since there is repeating Es, just list each of the different outcomes with different
number of Es, but don’t go for the same Es and start doing with that and selecting 2 Es from 4
and all, cause that will just make it complicated - it is no longer unique when the two Es are
switched - it makes no difference if they are the other two Es or the same two Es or the same
two Es switched all the same thing
Just list all the ways with different number of Es and add them up
Here you cannot do
EL_ _ _ = 5 x 4 x 3
As:
As you can see here, using this logic these two cases will be the same even tho the same
letters are selected. Therefore, you must do 5C3 for this case since the Es and Ls can be
switched, doesn’t matter it is the same and they are anyway selected in 1E, 1L and no
arrangements are done.
If you have to select questions with one letter and other letters
If you want one S and other letters
Here you have to go case by case where 4 attackers, 2 defenders, 1 midfielder / 3 attackers, 3
defenders, 1 midfielder / 3 attackers, 2 defenders, 2 midfielders
You cannot just multiply by 9C1 as you would be double counting (the 9 could include anybody
that was already selected
For the word Excellent,
_X_C_L_L_N_T_
There are 7 spots, and it can go in any 3. Since the Es are identical, you do 7C3 then arrange
the rest of the letters
You need to go case by case - with one E, two Es, Three Es and no Es.
Now you cannot just do 7 x 6 x 5 / 3! As this implies that this is arrangements, and you cannot
do 7C3/3! As this rule does not apply for combinations
P n C questions to practice:
For this question, there are three different cases to consider
1*****3
3*****1
2*****2
So 3 different cases x 6 for first * x 6 for second * x 6 for third * x 6 for fourth * x 6 for fifth *, so 3
x 65 = 23328
Probability distributions
Remember that the second part doesn’t have the same final score thing - it is separate
There are no half marks - so the midpoints are( 0 + 9)/2 = 4.5, (10 + 19)/2 = 14.5, etc. - the
upper bound is ub - 1 as not equal to
When you have to do a probability distribution table, do easy ones first and subtract from 1 for
the hard one
Draw big tree diagrams - and their sum so you can see each one clearly. Spend time planning
this - draw sections
In tree diagrams, keep the ordering the same
R=r 10 20 70 100
If you use logs with bases b in 0 < b < 1, it is a decreasing function like this
Geometric distributions
Here, keep in mind for the last part that the probability is the sum of all the different outcomes,
so use sum to infinity, as 0.52 < 1
In this question, in the (ii) part, you have just found the probability of box having one cracked
egg. Now, they are telling you about n boxes that a shop is selling, not n eggs. So, in 2 boxes
the probability of having one cracked egg is 0.766 x 0.766. So for n boxes, the probability of at
least one cracked egg is 0.766n. They want to find how many boxes it takes for this to be less
than 0.01
Binomial
● Fixed number of trials
● Only two outcomes
● Trials are independent
● Same constant probability
Check if a answer seems logical. Also, make sure for greater than that you do 1 -
Positively skewed:
Negatively skewed:
Symmetrical
If you are combining two distributions and one has the peak at a higher value than the other,
and that is to the right of the other, they combine to form a negatively skewed distribution
This means when you draw it in a range using the kink, you draw one wider than the other, but
this isn’t really the case. Just make one shorter and wider and one thinner and taller
If you are doing phi-1 of a number and it ends up being between two intervals then use the
values in the table below