Changes To The Math Studies Syllabus

Changes to the Math Studies SL Syllabus

1. Prior Learning. Midpoint and distance formulas are now considered prior knowledge.

Out: Sine, cosine, and tangent of acute angles moved to topic 5.

In: Midpoints and distance between points.

2. Introduction to the GDC has been removed. It is now an integral part of the course.

3. Numbers and Algebra remains the same topic but the time has increased due to subtopics being added (such as compound interest). The Financial Math topic has been moved here.

Out: Daily compound interest, simple interest.

In: TVM solver is now an acceptable method for solving compound

interest problems. Currency conversion has been moved to this topic.

4. Sets, Logic, and Probability remains the same for the most part. All probability problems will be placed in context.

Out: Problems using the formula P(A U B) = …

In: Truth tables with three propositions, the concept of an argument and its validity.

5. Statistics has now been divided into two separate topics: Descriptive Statistics, and Statistical Applications. The total time has increased due to the addition of one subtopic.

Out: Frequency polygons, stem and leaf diagrams, percentiles, calculation of the correlation coefficient by hand or using the formula, finding the equation of the regression line using the formula, use of the chi-square formula in examinations (critical values will now be given if needed in a question; elsewhere the p value will be used)

In: Normal distribution (excluding standardized normal), GDC can now be used to find the correlation coefficient and equation of the regression line (in their project, however, they are expected to calculate this by hand). For their IA, ALL chi-square expected values must now be greater than 5 (formerly you were allowed no more than 20% less than 5). Also for the IA, calculations of the expected values and the chi-square test statistic are to be done by hand.

6. Geometry and Trigonometry remains mostly the same but the number of hours allocated has been decreased

Out: Midpoint and distance formulas (now in Prior Learning)

In: Angles of elevation and depression, a greater number of 3D solids including all right pyramids (with non-square bases), and the surface area and volumes of these.

7. Mathematical Models

Out: The exponential model of the form f(x) = ka^(bx) + c (but this is okay for projects), graphs and properties of the sine and cosine functions as well as amplitude and period. Also out are unfamiliar functions such as

f(x) = (ax + b)/(cx + d)

In: All exponentials will now be in the form

f(x) = ka^x + c, or f(x) = ka^(-x) + c where a is a rational

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