SL Math - To Remember

Always use RADIAN MODE unless explicit to use degrees

Check DOMAIN when graphing/finding x values (is there no solution? Is it inadmissable?)
SIMPLIFY answers to 3 SIGNIFICANT DIGITS unless otherwise specified
READ the DETAILS (ex. an open faced box, needs to be a whole number of paint cans)

Functions
★ FACTOR
n!
★ Simplify choose notation r! (n−r)!
and expand numerator, then cancel out
★ No negative logs (remember to check if multiple answers work/in domain)
★ Positive ​or ​negative roots for exponents
★ Plug in values in rational function to graph
★ Take log or ln of both sides to solve exponents with unequal bases
★ For reciprocal, max of the quadratic is min of the reciprocal (dividing by largest number)
★ Graph equation if unsure of inequalities
○ x2 − 16 < 0 , graphing shows that − 4 < x < 4 (where less than zero on
graph/number line)
★ Horizontal asymptote is ratio of coefficients
★ Multiply number by denominator to make part of rational function fraction
★ Bring x’s to one side to solve logs and change to same base if different to solve
★ Simplify exponents ( 45/2 = 32 )
★ Sub in correct values (check for negatives, square roots, correct subtraction)
★ e0 = 1 , therefore ln1 = 0
★ Use mapping notation for transformations

Series and Sequences

★ Infinite geometric series denominator is 1-r (​not​ r-1) and − 1 < r < 1
★ Join x exponents for binomial expansion (add other values if bracket is multiplied)
★ Put term with x to exponent r for binomial expansion to make it easier
★ Sub in points/write equations if unsure
★ Always start with equation for binomial expansion, pay attention to coefficient vs term
Trigonometry
★ Double angle identity of cos2θ is 1 − 2sin2 θ
★ Rearrange identities (factor, use when see cos2 θ or sin2 θ , get all in terms of sin/cos)
★ Use CAST to find alternate angles ​(or to find out if cos120 is -½)
★ Check domain/add periods of functions (such as + 2πn )
○ If subbed in x for 2θ , need to divide period and x value by 2
★ Use cos law for ambiguous case because it will be quadratic so gives both answers (will
say to find maximum area/perimeter)
★ Two sides of triangle need to sum to less than third
2tanθ
★ tan2θ = 1−tan2 θ
★ Check if sin or cos graph!
★ For sin2 θ = 1, must factor than solve
★ Use triangles to get exact answers
★ Period of rotating wheel is circumference
★ Don’t assume a right triangle
★ For sinθ = cosθ , divide both sides by cosθ to get tanθ = 1
★ Area = 12 absinC (C is the angle between a and b)

Differential Calculus
★ TAKE THE DERIVATIVE (expand first if complicated)
★ Remember multi-step derivatives (may need a couple rules in one question)
2 2
○ f (x) = e−x will equal f ′(x) =− 2e−x
★ Sub in h=0 at end for first principles
★ Pay attention to whether point is actually on line (check, don’t assume)
★ Second derivative test saves time!
★ CONCAVE UP VS DOWN (min when concave up)
★ For optimization, take the derivative of volume/area/perimeter and set equal to 0
★ Changes direction when from positive to negative (of velocity)
★ Three main types: y = ex sinx , y = sin(ex ) , and y = sinx
ex
★ Derivative is positive when f(x) is increasing
★ When minimum at x=½, can sub in (½, 0) into the derivative to find other variables
Stats
★ To get stats info: stat, calc, linReg, store to Y1 (vars, function, Y1)
★ Cannot extrapolate x from y (x is independent)
★ Outlier in a box and whisker plot is 1.5x IQR above Q3 or below Q1
★ Variance is standard deviation squared (when multiplying a set of data, multiply the
standard deviation by that number and ​then​ square it for variance)

Vectors
★ PERPENDICULAR = dot product equals 0!
★ UNIT VECTORS = set equal to 1 and solve for variable (unless know all coordinates,
then just divide all by magnitude)
★ Use different variables (t, λ , etc) for time if 2 ships moving separately and finding POI
★ ACUTE angle vs OBTUSE angle
★ Use general point when finding shortest distance, sub in t value after to find point
★ Box may be a 3D vector
★ Collinear = on same line
★ Angle between point and an axis = use point on the axis like (0, 0, 1) for z-axis (1 for the
axis its on and the others as 0)
★ When have an equality, use equation, sub in vectors, set equal/solve for (x, y, z)
○ For AD=2DC, make into D-A=2(C-D) and then sub in known vectors
★ Only use parametric form when finding point, ​not​ when dotting vectors
★ When 10 units from A, make the direction vector a unit vector and then set t = 10
★ Distance between two vectors = subtract the general points, then find magnitude and if
given distance, then solve for t

Probability
★ DRAW A DIAGRAM
★ Probability =fraction with denominator, decimal, or percent (unless asks for just the
number of an event)
★ Without replacement is often dependant
★ For with replacement, P(3rd is red) = P(1st is red)
★ Probability if one event AND another = multiply (independent events, but don’t assume)
★ Probability of one event OR another = add
★ Probability for binomcdf must be LESS than a number (otherwise do 1-binomcdf)
★ Branches of tree diagram have the probabilities
 ★ Fewer than 12, sub in 11 in binomcdf (cannot be 12)
★ Pay attention to wording: “given that” = conditional probability and “at least once”
means can be once or more than once (add P(L)(L’) + P(L’)(L) + P(L’)(L’) for when late)

Integral Calculus
★ GRAPH on CALCULATOR or SKETCH (area/volume between two curves, etc)
★ TAKE THE INTEGRAL and ADD C (simplify/factor/split up before integrating)
★ Use SUBSTITUTION (but don’t sub x= into u, must sub x back in first)
★ Constants add an x when taking the integral, sub in point to find C
★ Displacement is the area of a velocity graph
★ Absolute value signs for speed, distance, area between curves, and ln/log
★ Velocity = positive is going forwards; Displacement = positive is to the right
★ When finding volume by hand, square it and then take the integral
★ WORDING = when 2m away from initial position, could equal 2 or -2
★ Make sure graph on calculator matches graph in question

General
★ Convert minutes to minutes and seconds (always check correct units)
★ Write how you get answers (By calc, by special triangles, by graph)
★ Draw graphs with most important details/points with the domain
★ Stretch, reflect, shift, check
★ Use brackets in calculator!
★ Exact​ = not rounded, may need to solve by hand
★ On paper 1, often just need to simplify for cosθ , not actually solve for θ
★ Put f(x) and g(x) into Y1, Y2 in calculator to reduce the chance of error
★ Coordinate vs x-value
★ Negative number to an uneven exponent = negative answer
★ Follow all the same rules when doing calculations with variables