Notes for SPM Candidates

IMPORTANT NOTES ON SPM MATHEMATICS PAPER 2

No HIGHLIGHTED NOTES FOR THE STUDENTS

1 SETS
Shade the region
Intersection =
Union =
Compliment of A = A'
2 GRAPHS OF FUNCTIONS- Inequalities
Shade the region that satisfies the inequalities
Know how to DRAW a straight line : e.g. x = 2 is a vertical line and y = 3 is a horizontal line
Understand the inequality sign : < or > is represented by a broken line ( )
3 VOLUME / SURFACE AREA OF A SOLID
Determine the two solids involved
Choose the Mathematical operation : addition or subtraction
Use the correct given formulae
Substitute with the correct values of r, d, h, l and w.
4 LINES AND PLANES IN 3D
Sketch the right-angled triangle
Identify the angle and name it
Calculate the angle using trigonometry, e.g. tan
5 MATHEMATICAL REASONING
A statement or Not a statement : Answers such as YES , NO only are not accepted
Use of AND , OR , ALL , SOME
Sentence : if and only if : write down two implications
Implication : If .., then . : e.g. : If x is greater than zero, then x is a positive number.
Converse implication : e.g. If x is a positive number, then x is greater than zero.

Arguments : e.g. 1 :Premise 1: All hexagons have six sides.

Premise2 :
PQRSTU is a hexagon
Conclusion : PQRSTU has six sides.

e.g. 2 : Premise 1 : If x is greater than zero, then x is a positive number.

Premise 2 :
6 is greater than zero
Conclusion : 6 is a positive number.

e.g. 3 : Premise 1 : If 4x = 16 , then x = 4.

Premise 2 :
x4
Conclusion : 4 x 16
All the answers can be derived from the question itself. Dots must be at least three.
6 SIMULTANEOUS LINEAR EQUATIONS
i) When there is a fraction , multiply every term of the equation by the denominator to create a new
equation
Solve by elimination or substitution
ii) Use inverse matrix to solve
use a calculator to check the answers

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 Notes for SPM Candidates

7 STRAIGHT LINE
y1 y 2
Gradient , m
x1 x2
Equation of a straight line : y = mx + c
Parallel lines , same gradient
x-intercept , y = 0
y-intercept = c , when x = 0
x-intercept = 12 , Do not write x = 12 or ( 12 , 0 )

8 QUADRATIC EQUATION
Rearrange to general form of quadratic equation , ax 2 bx c 0
Factorise , ( )( ) = 0 . Equation must be written in this form.
e.g. : 3 x 4 x 2 0
4
x x 2 0 cannot be accepted
3
State the values of x.

9 MATRICES
When the matrix has no inverse , ad bc = 0
Convert simultaneous equations into the matrix form
e.g. : 2x 3y = 14 2 3 x 14
x + 3y = 13
1 3 y 13
Formula of the inverse matrix write the inverse matrix before.
e.g. : 2 3 x 14 x 1 3 3 14

1 3 y 13 y 3 1 2 13
inverse matrix
on the left
Give the value of x and the value of y (not in matrix form)
10 CIRCLES III
Use the correct given formulae , 2 r and r 2

Stress on : arclength 2 r and area of sec tor r2
360 360
Substitute with the correct values of r and d.
Answers can be in fractions or 4 significant figures or 2 decimal places
e.g. 3028.32
11 PROBABILITY II
n( A)
Must know when to use P ( A) and P ( A ' ) 1 P ( A)
n( S )
12 GRADIENT AND AREA UNDER THE GRAPH
Duration or length of time is the total time taken
1
Area of trapezium = (a b) h , Area of triangle and Area of rectangle or square
2
Distance-time graph, gradient = speed (the rate of change of distance)
- graph shows a horizontal line
vehicle is at rest
Speed-time graph , gradient = acceleration ( the rate of change of speed)
- graph shows a horizontal line
uniform speed/constant speed

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 SPM
2012- Quadratics
Notes for SPM Candidates
Function
2011- Cubic Function
2010- Quadratics Function
13 GRAPHS OF FUNCTIONS 2009- Cubic Function
Emphasise on the use of the calculator to calculate the unknowns 2008- Reciprocal
Draw the graph : emphasise on : Function
- The Scale and the range of x given
2007- Cubic Function
- Plot the points accurately using a cross symbol
- Can use flexible curve 2006- Reciprocal
- The curve must be smooth, passing through every point. Function
Marks deducted when : 2005- Quadratic Function
the scale is wrong x is not in the given range
The scale is not uniform the curve/line is double line
thickness of curve is not uniform crooked curve is drawn
(bold + thin lines)
The curve does not pass through ruler is used to join the
all the points points

Draw the straight line required

- eliminate variables that have indices to get equation of straight line
- if there are 3 intersections , give 3 answers for the values of x.
All answers are obtained from the graph. Calculated values not accepted.
14 TRANSFORMATIONS III
Combined transformation RS means transformation S followed by transformation R.
Please use the right terminology.
Always start the answer with the transformation first.
Spelling of the transformation.
Describe in full the transformation.
Translation Reflection
x In the line y= mx +c
by or x = k or y=0
y
Rotation o (90o, 180o, 270o, 60o) Enlargement
centre ( x, y ) centre ( x, y )
direction clockwise/anticlockwise scale factor = k

SPM
15 STATISTICS
Modal class
2012- Frequency
Mean Polygon
- the use of formulae 2011- Histogram
Frequency Polygon 2010 - Ogive
- table must have column for midpoint 2009 - Histogram
- labeling at the x-axis must use midpoint
- the graph must be closed at both ends
2008 - Frequency
- All lines must be drawn by using ruler. Polygon
Histogram 2007 - Ogive
- table must have columns for midpoint or upper boundary 2006 - Frequency
- labeling at the x-axis can be midpoint, upper boundary and class interval Polygon
- there should be a gap between the y-axis and the first bar
Ogive
2005 - Histogram
- table must have column for cumulative frequency and upper boundary
- extra one class before the first given class interval with cumulative frequency = 0
- labeling at the x-axis must be upper boundary
- the graph must intersect at the x-axis
- median
- quartiles and interquartile range

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 Notes for SPM Candidates

Information of the graph :

Median is quartile is
Interquartile range is Statement : 45 students have a height of 155 cm

16 PLANS AND ELEVATIONS

Correct shape
Satisfies conditions given
Measurement must be accurate view directly from
Hidden line dashed line
Must use the geometrical instruments to draw. e.g. : ruler , compasses, set square
DO NOT SKETCH... MUST DRAW full scale
Less marks will be given if
a line is a double line gaps in the drawing
of the lines
thickness of line is not an extension is
uniform (bold + thin lines) seen
reflected image is drawn it is not a right
angle
bigger size / smaller size is it is not a straight
drawn line
17 EARTH AS A SPHERE - longitude and latitude

Great Circle
Sketch the earth and the angles
Dis tan ce
i. the formula of average speed, Speed
time
ii. knot = nautical miles per hour
iii. distance along the parallel latitude = (difference in longitude in degrees) x 60 x cos angle of latitude

latitude small circle

SOME REMINDERS
Round off only at the last answer.
All steps must be clearly shown.
Read the instructions and question very carefully.
The answer must be in the lowest form, to 4 significant figures and to 2 decimal
places.
Calculate , find , solve
all steps are clearly shown.
Describe in full ...
all the properties
Master the scientific calculator.
State - give only the answer
Labeling Vertex , point or measurement must be labeled correctly