Diploma Programme

Mathematics: analysis and approaches

SL formula booklet
For use during the course and in the examinations
First examinations 2021

Version 1.0

STANDARD LEVEL

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2023

Contents

Topic 1: Number and algebra – SL 2

Topic 2: Functions – SL 3

Topic 3: Geometry and trigonometry – SL 4

Topic 4: Statistics and probability – SL 6

Topic 5: Calculus – SL 7
Topic 1: Number and algebra – SL

1.2 The nth term of an un = u1 + (n − 1) d

arithmetic sequence

The sum of n terms of an n n

arithmetic sequence S n= ( 2u1 + (n − 1) d ) ; Sn= (u1 + un )
2 2

1.3 The nth term of a un = u1r n −1

geometric sequence

The sum of n terms of a u1 (r n − 1) u1 (1 − r n )

=
finite geometric sequence Sn = , r ≠1
r −1 1− r

1.8 The sum of an infinite u1

geometric sequence =S∞ , r <1
1− r

1.4 r 
kn
Compound interest 
FV = PV × 1 +  , where FV is the future value,
 100k 
PV is the present value, n is the number of years,
k is the number of compounding periods per year,
r% is the nominal annual rate of interest

1.5 Exponents and logarithms a x = b ⇔ x = log a b , where a > 0, b > 0, a ≠ 1

1.7 Exponents and logarithms log=a xy log a x + log a y

x
log
= a log a x − log a y
y
log a x m = m log a x

log b x
log a x =
log b a
Exponential and
logarithmic functions a x = e x ln a ; log a a x= x= a loga x where a , x > 0, a ≠ 1

1.9 Binomial theorem n ∈  (a + b) n = a n + n C a n −1b + + n C a n − r b r + + b n

1 r

nC = n!
r r !(n − r )!

Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL formula booklet 2

Topic 2: Functions – SL

2.1 Equations of a straight line 0 ; y − y1= m ( x − x1 )

y mx + c ; ax + by + d =
=

y2 − y1
Gradient formula m=
x2 − x1

2.6 Axis of symmetry of the b

graph of a quadratic f ( x) =ax 2 + bx + c ⇒ axis of symmetry is x =−
2a
function

2.7
Solutions of a quadratic −b ± b 2 − 4ac
equation ax 2 + bx + c= 0 ⇒ x= , a≠0
2a

Discriminant ∆= b 2 − 4ac

Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL formula booklet 3

Topic 3: Geometry and trigonometry – SL

Prior learning – SL

Area of a parallelogram A = bh , where b is the base, h is the height

1
Area of a triangle A = (bh) , where b is the base, h is the height
2

1
Area of a trapezoid A
= (a + b) h , where a and b are the parallel sides, h is the height
2

Area of a circle A = πr 2 , where r is the radius

Circumference of a circle C = 2πr , where r is the radius

Volume of a cuboid V = lwh , where l is the length, w is the width, h is the height

Volume of a cylinder V = πr 2 h , where r is the radius, h is the height

Volume of a prism V = Ah , where A is the area of cross-section, h is the height

Area of the curved surface of A= 2πrh , where r is the radius, h is the height
a cylinder

Distance between two

d= ( x1 − x2 ) 2 + ( y1 − y2 ) 2
points ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 )

Coordinates of the midpoint of  x1 + x2 y1 + y2 

a line segment with endpoints  ,   
( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 )  2 2 

3.1 Distance between two

d= ( x1 − x2 ) 2 + ( y1 − y2 ) 2 + ( z1 − z2 ) 2
points ( x1 , y1 , z1 ) and
( x2 , y2 , z2 )

Coordinates of the  x1 + x2 y1 + y2 z1 + z2 
midpoint of a line segment  , , 
with endpoints ( x1 , y1 , z1 )
 2 2 2 

and ( x2 , y2 , z2 )

Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL formula booklet 4

 1
Volume of a right-pyramid V= Ah , where A is the area of the base, h is the height
3

1 2
Volume of a right cone V= πr h , where r is the radius, h is the height
3

Area of the curved surface A = πrl , where r is the radius, l is the slant height
of a cone

4 3
Volume of a sphere V= πr , where r is the radius
3

Surface area of a sphere A = 4πr 2 , where r is the radius

3.2 a b c
Sine rule = =
sin A sin B sin C

a 2 + b2 − c2
Cosine rule c 2 = a 2 + b 2 − 2ab cos C ; cos C =
2ab

1
Area of a triangle A = ab sin C
2

3.4
Length of an arc l = rθ , where r is the radius, θ is the angle measured in radians

1
Area of a sector A = r 2θ , where r is the radius, θ is the angle measured in
2
radians

3.5 sin θ
Identity for tan θ tan θ =
cos θ

3.6 Pythagorean identity cos 2 θ + sin 2 θ =

1

Double angle identities sin 2θ = 2sin θ cos θ

cos 2θ = cos 2 θ − sin 2 θ = 2cos 2 θ − 1 = 1 − 2sin 2 θ

Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL formula booklet 5

Topic 4: Statistics and probability – SL

4.2 Interquartile range IQR

= Q3 − Q1

4.3 k

∑fx i i k
Mean, x , of a set of data x= i =1

n
, where n = ∑f
i =1
i

4.5 n ( A)
Probability of an event A P ( A) =
n (U )

Complementary events P ( A) + P ( A′) =

1

4.6 Combined events P ( A ∪ B )= P ( A) + P ( B) − P ( A ∩ B)

Mutually exclusive events P ( A ∪ B )= P ( A) + P ( B)

P ( A ∩ B)
Conditional probability P ( A B) =
P ( B)

Independent events P ( A ∩ B) =
P ( A) P ( B)

4.7 Expected value of a k

E(X )
discrete random variable X= ∑=
x P(X
i =1
i xi )

4.8 Binomial distribution

X ~ B (n , p)

Mean E ( X ) = np

Variance Var (=
X ) np (1 − p )

4.12 Standardized normal x−µ

variable z=
σ

Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL formula booklet 6

Topic 5: Calculus – SL

5.3 Derivative of x n x n ⇒ f ′( x) =
f ( x) = nx n −1

5.6 Derivative of sin x f ( x) =sin x ⇒ f ′( x) =cos x

Derivative of cos x f ( x) =⇒
cos x f ′( x) =
− sin x

Derivative of e x e x ⇒ f ′( x) =
f ( x) = ex

1
Derivative of ln x f ( x) =ln x ⇒ f ′( x) =
x
dy dy du
Chain rule y = g (u ) , where u = f ( x) ⇒ = ×
dx du dx
dy dv du
Product rule y =uv ⇒ =u + v
dx dx dx

du dv
v −u
u dy
Quotient rule y= ⇒ = dx 2 dx
v dx v
5.9 dv d 2 s
Acceleration a
= =
dt dt 2

Distance travelled from t2

t1 to t 2
distance = ∫t1
v(t ) dt

Displacement from t2

t1 to t 2
displacement = ∫t1
v (t )dt

5.5 Integral of x n x n +1
∫x=
n
dx + C , n ≠ −1
n +1

Area between a curve b

A = ∫ y dx
y = f ( x) and the x-axis, a

where f ( x) > 0

Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL formula booklet 7

 5.10 Standard integrals 1
∫ x=
dx ln x + C

∫ sin x dx =
− cos x + C

∫ cos x=
dx sin x + C

∫e
x
x ex + C
d=

5.11 Area of region enclosed b

A = ∫ y dx
by a curve and x-axis a

Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL formula booklet 8