3.2.1 Notation, vocabulary and manipulation
A1
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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- use and interpret algebraic notation, including:
- in place of
- in place of and
- in place of , in place of , in place of
- in place of
- coefficients written as fractions rather than as decimals
- brackets
| | |
Notes : it is expected that answers will be given in their simplest form without an explicit instruction to do so.
A2
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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substitute numerical values into formulae and expressions, including scientific formulae | | |
Notes : unfamiliar formulae will be given in the question.
See the Appendix for a full list of the prescribed formulae. See also A5
A3
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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understand and use the concepts and vocabulary of expressions, equations, formulae, inequalities, terms and factors | to include identities | |
Notes : this will be implicitly and explicitly assessed.
A4
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions by: | simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions (including those involving surds) by: | simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions (including those involving surds and algebraic fractions) by: |
- collecting like terms
- multiplying a single term over a bracket
- taking out common factors
- simplifying expressions involving sums, products and powers, including the laws of indices
| | |
| - expanding products of two binomials
- factorising quadratic expressions of the form , including the difference of two squares
| - expanding products of two or more binomials
- factorising quadratic expressions of the form
|
A5
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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understand and use standard mathematical formulae rearrange formulae to change the subject | | |
Notes : including use of formulae from other subjects in words and using symbols.
See the Appendix for a full list of the prescribed formulae. See also A2
A6
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| know the difference between an equation and an identity | |
| argue mathematically to show algebraic expressions are equivalent, and use algebra to support and construct arguments | to include proofs |
A7
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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where appropriate, interpret simple expressions as functions with inputs and outputs | | interpret the reverse process as the ‘inverse function’ interpret the succession of two functions as a ‘composite function’ |
Notes : understanding and use of , and notation is expected at Higher tier.
3.2.2 Graphs
A8
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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work with coordinates in all four quadrants | | |
A9
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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plot graphs of equations that correspond to straight-line graphs in the coordinate plane | use the form to identify parallel lines find the equation of the line through two given points, or through one point with a given gradient | use the form to identify perpendicular lines |
A10
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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identify and interpret gradients and intercepts of linear functions graphically and algebraically | | |
A11
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| identify and interpret roots, intercepts and turning points of quadratic functions graphically | |
| deduce roots algebraically | deduce turning points by completing the square |
Notes : including the symmetrical property of a quadratic. See also A18
A12
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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recognise, sketch and interpret graphs of linear functions and quadratic functions | including simple cubic functions and the reciprocal function with | including exponential functions for positive values of and the trigonometric functions (with arguments in degrees) , and for angles of any size |
Notes : see also G21
A13
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| | sketch translations and reflections of a given function |
A14
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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plot and interpret graphs, and graphs of non-standard functions in real contexts, to find approximate solutions to problems such as simple kinematic problems involving distance, speed and acceleration | including reciprocal graphs | including exponential graphs |
Notes : including problems requiring a graphical solution. See also A15
A15
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| | calculate or estimate gradients of graphs and areas under graphs (including quadratic and other non-linear graphs), and interpret results in cases such as distance-time graphs, velocity-time graphs and graphs in financial contexts |
Notes : see also A14 , R14 and R15
A16
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| | recognise and use the equation of a circle with centre at the origin find the equation of a tangent to a circle at a given point |
3.2.3 Solving equations and inequalities
A17
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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solve linear equations in one unknown algebraically find approximate solutions using a graph | including those with the unknown on both sides of the equation | |
Notes : including use of brackets.
A18
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| solve quadratic equations algebraically by factorising | including those that require rearrangement including completing the square and by using the quadratic formula |
| find approximate solutions using a graph | |
Notes : see also A11
A19
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| solve two simultaneous equations in two variables (linear/linear) algebraically find approximate solutions using a graph | including linear/quadratic |
A20
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| | find approximate solutions to equations numerically using iteration |
Notes : including the use of suffix notation in recursive formulae.
A21
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| translate simple situations or procedures into algebraic expressions or formulae derive an equation (or two simultaneous equations), solve the equation(s) and interpret the solution | |
Notes : including the solution of geometrical problems and problems set in context.
A22
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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| solve linear inequalities in one variable | solve linear inequalities in one or two variable(s), and quadratic inequalities in one variable |
| represent the solution set on a number line | represent the solution set on a number line, using set notation and on a graph |
Notes : students should know the conventions of an open circle on a number line for a strict inequality and a closed circle for an included boundary. See also N1
In graphical work the convention of a dashed line for strict inequalities and a solid line for an included inequality will be required.
3.2.4 Sequences
A23
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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generate terms of a sequence from either a term-to-term or a position-to-term rule | | |
Notes : including from patterns and diagrams.
A24
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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recognise and use sequences of triangular, square and cube numbers and simple arithmetic progressions | including Fibonacci-type sequences, quadratic sequences, and simple geometric progressions where is an integer and is a rational number > 0) | including other sequences including where is a surd |
Notes : other recursive sequences will be defined in the question.
A25
Basic foundation content | Additional foundation content | Higher content only |
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deduce expressions to calculate the term of linear sequences | | including quadratic sequences |