Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics 9709 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Subject content

2 Pure Mathematics 2
2.3 Trigonometry
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• understand the relationship of the secant,
cosecant and cotangent functions to cosine, sine
and tangent, and use properties and graphs of
all six trigonometric functions for angles of any
magnitude

• use trigonometrical identities for the e.g. simplifying cos ^x − 30ch − 3 sin ^x − 60ch .
simplification and exact evaluation of expressions, e.g. solving tan i + cot i = 4 , 2 sec 2 i - tan i = 5 ,
and in the course of solving equations, and 3 cos i + 2 sin i = 1.
select an identity or identities appropriate to the
context, showing familiarity in particular with the
use of
– sec 2 i /1 + tan 2 i and cosec 2 i /1 + cot 2 i
– the expansions of sin(A ± B), cos(A ± B) and
tan(A ± B)
– the formulae for sin 2A, cos 2A and tan 2A
– the expression of a sin i + b cos i in the
forms R sin ^i ! ah and R cos ^i ! ah .

2.4 Differentiation
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• use the derivatives of ex, ln x, sin x, cos x,
tan x, together with constant multiples, sums,
differences and composites
2x − 4 2
, x ln x, xel – x .
2

• differentiate products and quotients e.g.

3x + 2
• find and use the first derivative of a function e.g. x = t – e2t, y = t + e2t.
which is defined parametrically or implicitly. e.g. x2 + y2 = xy + 7.
Including use in problems involving tangents and
normals.

2.5 Integration
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• extend the idea of ‘reverse differentiation’ to Knowledge of the general method of integration by
1 substitution is not required.
include the integration of eax + b, ,
ax + b
sin(ax + b), cos(ax + b) and sec2(ax + b)
• use trigonometrical relationships in carrying out e.g. use of double-angle formulae to integrate sin2 x
integration or cos2(2x).
• understand and use the trapezium rule to Including use of sketch graphs in simple cases to
estimate the value of a definite integral. determine whether the trapezium rule gives an over-
estimate or an under-estimate.

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 Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics 9709 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

2 Pure Mathematics 2
2.6 Numerical solution of equations
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• locate approximately a root of an equation, e.g. finding a pair of consecutive integers between
by means of graphical considerations and/or which a root lies.
searching for a sign change
• understand the idea of, and use the notation for,
a sequence of approximations which converges
to a root of an equation
• understand how a given simple iterative formula Knowledge of the condition for convergence is not
of the form xn + 1 = F(xn) relates to the equation included, but an understanding that an iteration may
being solved, and use a given iteration, or an fail to converge is expected.
iteration based on a given rearrangement of an
equation, to determine a root to a prescribed
degree of accuracy.

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Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics 9709 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

3 Pure Mathematics 3 (for Paper 3)

Knowledge of the content of Paper 1: Pure Mathematics 1 is assumed, and candidates may be required to
demonstrate such knowledge in answering questions.
3.1 Algebra
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• understand the meaning of |x|, sketch the Graphs of y = |f(x)| and y = f(|x|) for non-linear
graph of y = |ax + b| and use relations such as functions f are not included.
|a| = |b| ⇔ a2 = b2 and
|x – a| < b ⇔ a – b < x < a + b when solving
e.g. |3x – 2| = |2x + 7|, 2x + 5 < |x + 1|.
equations and inequalities
• divide a polynomial, of degree not exceeding 4,
by a linear or quadratic polynomial, and identify
the quotient and remainder (which may be zero)
• use the factor theorem and the remainder e.g. to find factors and remainders, solve polynomial
theorem equations or evaluate unknown coefficients.
Including factors of the form (ax + b) in which the
coefficient of x is not unity, and including calculation
of remainders.
• recall an appropriate form for expressing rational Excluding cases where the degree of the numerator
functions in partial fractions, and carry out the exceeds that of the denominator
decomposition, in cases where the denominator
is no more complicated than
– (ax + b)(cx + d)(ex + f )
– (ax + b)(cx + d)2
– (ax + b)(cx2 + d)
• use the expansion of (1 + x)n, where n is a Finding the general term in an expansion is not
rational number and x 1 1. included.
Adapting the standard series to expand
e.g. `2 − 2 xj is included, and determining the set
1 −1

of values of x for which the expansion is valid in such

cases is also included.

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 Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics 9709 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

3 Pure Mathematics 3
3.2 Logarithmic and exponential functions
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• understand the relationship between logarithms
and indices, and use the laws of logarithms
(excluding change of base)
• understand the definition and properties of ex Including knowledge of the graph of y = ekx for both
and ln x, including their relationship as inverse positive and negative values of k.
functions and their graphs
−1 −1
• use logarithms to solve equations and e.g. 2 x 1 5 , 3 # 23x < 5 , 3 x + 1 = 4 2x .
inequalities in which the unknown appears in
indices
• use logarithms to transform a given relationship e.g.
to linear form, and hence determine unknown y = kxn gives ln y = ln k + n ln x which is linear in ln x
constants by considering the gradient and/or and ln y.
intercept.
y = k (ax) gives ln y = ln k + x ln a which is linear in
x and ln y.

3.3 Trigonometry
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• understand the relationship of the secant,
cosecant and cotangent functions to cosine, sine
and tangent, and use properties and graphs of
all six trigonometric functions for angles of any
magnitude
• use trigonometrical identities for the e.g. simplifying cos(x – 30˚) – 3 sin(x – 60˚).
simplification and exact evaluation of expressions,
and in the course of solving equations, and
e.g. solving tan i + cot i = 4 , 2 sec 2 i − tan i = 5 ,
select an identity or identities appropriate to the
3 cos i + 2 sin i = 1.
context, showing familiarity in particular with the
use of
– sec 2 i /1 + tan 2 i and cosec 2 i /1 + cot 2 i
– the expansions of sin(A ± B), cos(A ± B) and
tan(A ± B)
– the formulae for sin 2A, cos 2A and tan 2A
– the expression of a sin i + b cos i in the
forms R sin ^i ! ah and R cos ^i ! ah .

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Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics 9709 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

3 Pure Mathematics 3
3.4 Differentiation
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
x
• use the derivatives of e , ln x, sin x, cos x, tan x, Derivatives of sin–1 x and cos–1 x are not required.
tan–1 x, together with constant multiples, sums,
differences and composites
2x − 4 2 2
• differentiate products and quotients e.g. , x ln x, xe1 – x .
3x + 2
• find and use the first derivative of a function e.g. x = t – e2t, y = t + e2t.
which is defined parametrically or implicitly. e.g. x2 + y2 = xy + 7.
Including use in problems involving tangents and
normals.

3.5 Integration
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
1
• extend the idea of ‘reverse differentiation’ to Including examples such as .
1 2 + 3x 2
include the integration of eax + b, ,
ax + b
sin(ax + b), cos(ax + b), sec2(ax + b)
1
and 2
x a2
+

• use trigonometrical relationships in carrying out e.g. use of double-angle formulae to integrate sin2 x
integration or cos2(2x).
• integrate rational functions by means of Restricted to types of partial fractions as specified in
decomposition into partial fractions topic 3.1 above.

kf l^xh e.g. integration of

x
, tan x.
• recognise an integrand of the form
f ^xh
, and 2
x +1
integrate such functions

• recognise when an integrand can usefully be e.g. integration of x sin 2x, x2e–x, ln x, x tan–1 x.
regarded as a product, and use integration by
parts
• use a given substitution to simplify and evaluate e.g. to integrate sin2 2x cos x using the substitution
either a definite or an indefinite integral. u = sin x.

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 Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics 9709 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

3 Pure Mathematics 3
3.6 Numerical solution of equations
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• locate approximately a root of an equation, e.g. finding a pair of consecutive integers between
by means of graphical considerations and/or which a root lies.
searching for a sign change
• understand the idea of, and use the notation for,
a sequence of approximations which converges
to a root of an equation
• understand how a given simple iterative formula Knowledge of the condition for convergence is not
of the form xn + 1 = F(xn) relates to the equation included, but an understanding that an iteration may
being solved, and use a given iteration, or an fail to converge is expected.
iteration based on a given rearrangement of an
equation, to determine a root to a prescribed
degree of accuracy.

3.7 Vectors
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• use standard notations for vectors, i.e.

fp
x
f p , xi + yj, y , xi + yj + zk, AB , a
x
y
z

• carry out addition and subtraction of vectors e.g. ‘OABC is a parallelogram’ is equivalent to
and multiplication of a vector by a scalar, and OB = OA + OC .
interpret these operations in geometrical terms
The general form of the ratio theorem is not
included, but understanding that the midpoint of
AB has position vector 2 _OA + OB i is expected.
1

• calculate the magnitude of a vector, and use In 2 or 3 dimensions.

unit vectors, displacement vectors and position
vectors
• understand the significance of all the symbols e.g. finding the equation of a line given the position
used when the equation of a straight line is vector of a point on the line and a direction vector, or
expressed in the form r = a + tb, and find the the position vectors of two points on the line.
equation of a line, given sufficient information
• determine whether two lines are parallel, Calculation of the shortest distance between two
intersect or are skew, and find the point of skew lines is not required. Finding the equation of
intersection of two lines when it exists the common perpendicular to two skew lines is also
not required.
• use formulae to calculate the scalar product of e.g. finding the angle between two lines, and finding
two vectors, and use scalar products in problems the foot of the perpendicular from a point to a line;
involving lines and points. questions may involve 3D objects such as cuboids,
tetrahedra (pyramids), etc.
Knowledge of the vector product is not required.

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Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics 9709 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

3 Pure Mathematics 3
3.8 Differential equations
Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• formulate a simple statement involving a rate of The introduction and evaluation of a constant of
change as a differential equation proportionality, where necessary, is included.
• find by integration a general form of solution for Including any of the integration techniques from
a first order differential equation in which the topic 3.5 above.
variables are separable
• use an initial condition to find a particular
solution
• interpret the solution of a differential equation in Where a differential equation is used to model a
the context of a problem being modelled by the ‘real-life’ situation, no specialised knowledge of the
equation. context will be required.

3.9 Complex numbers

Candidates should be able to: Notes and examples
• understand the idea of a complex number, recall Notations Re z, Im z, |z|, arg z, z* should be known.
the meaning of the terms real part, imaginary The argument of a complex number will usually
part, modulus, argument, conjugate, and use the refer to an angle i such that − r 1 i G r , but in
fact that two complex numbers are equal if and some cases the interval 0 G i 1 2r may be more
only if both real and imaginary parts are equal convenient. Answers may use either interval unless
the question specifies otherwise.
• carry out operations of addition, subtraction, For calculations involving multiplication or division,
multiplication and division of two complex full details of the working should be shown.
numbers expressed in Cartesian form x + iy
• use the result that, for a polynomial equation e.g. in solving a cubic or quartic equation where one
with real coefficients, any non-real roots occur in complex root is given.
conjugate pairs
• represent complex numbers geometrically by
means of an Argand diagram
• carry out operations of multiplication and Including the results |z1z2| = |z1||z2| and
arg _z1 z2i = arg _z1i + arg _z2i , and corresponding
division of two complex numbers expressed in
polar form r ^cos i + i sin ih / re ii
results for division.
• find the two square roots of a complex number e.g. the square roots of 5 + 12i in exact Cartesian
form. Full details of the working should be shown.
• understand in simple terms the geometrical
effects of conjugating a complex number and of
adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing two
complex numbers
• illustrate simple equations and inequalities e.g. |z – a| < k, |z – a| = |z – b|, arg(z – a) = α.
involving complex numbers by means of loci in
an Argand diagram

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