Prerequisite Knowledge Required from ‘O’ Level Add Math

1) Surds, Indices & Logarithms

Rules for Surds

1. a × b = ab √ × √ = √
a a
2. =
b b

3.
a × a = ( a )2 = a
4. ax = ay ⇒ x = y
5. a + b n = c + d n ⇒ a = c and b = d

Caution: √ +  ≠ √ + √, √ −  ≠ √ - √

Rationalising the Denominator (two types)

3 3 5 3 5
(a) E.g. = × =
5 5 5 5
2 2(5 + 2) 2(1 + 2) 2(1 + 2)
(b) E.g. = = =
(5 − 2) (5 − 2)(5 + 2) (5 − 2) 3

Rules for Indices

Same base  × 
= 

 ÷ 
= 

Power ( )n = ×

Same index 
× 
= ()



÷ 
=( )n


Zero index  = 1


Negative index 
=


 
( ) - n = ( )n
 


Fractional index 
 = ( √)

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Rules for Logarithms

• For log   to be defined, both a and x must be positive.

• Logarithm log  is written as lg x
• Logarithm log   is written as ln x

Product of Logarithm log a xy = log a x + log a y

Quotient of Logarithm x
log a = log a x − log a y
y

Power Law log a x r = r log a x

Change of Base log c b

log a b =
log c a

Log of 1 to any base log a 1 = 0

Log of a number to the same base as number log a a = 1

Exponential Graphs

The graphs of y = abx are shown below for different range of values of a & b.

NOTE: MUST DRAW THE ASYMPTOTES FOR THESE CASES!

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Logarithmic Graphs

The graphs of y = a ln (bx + c) are shown below for different range of values of a & b.

2) Quadratic Equations
Quadratic Equation: ax2 + bx + c = 0

± !"
Recall Quadratic Formula: x =
#

a) For roots α and β

• Sum of roots = α + β = − b
a
c
• Product of roots = αβ = a
• Equation is: α2 – (sum of roots)x + (product of roots) = 0
OR: ( x − α )( x − β ) = 0
b) Useful:
α 2 + β 2 = (α + β ) 2 − 2αβ

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Discriminant & type of roots

D = b2 – 4ac Coefficient of x2 > 0. Coefficient of x2 < 0.

y has a min. value y has a max. value

Real & distinct

roots

b2 – 4ac> 0

Real & repeated

(equal) roots

b2 – 4ac= 0

No real roots

b2 – 4ac< 0

Question types

• Line does not intersect curve

• Curve lies entirely above x-axis (min. graph) e.g. y > 0 for all values of x, x2 – 5x
+3 > 0 always
• Curve lies entirely below x-axis (max. graph) e.g. y < 0 for all values of x, -5x2 – 5x
+3 < 0 always
Real roots For real roots, it can be distinct or equal roots

b2 – 4ac ≥ 0

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Polynomials & Partial Fraction
Recall how long division is done.

Factor Theorem

A polynomial f(x) is divisible by (x – a) => remainder = 0 => (x – a) is a factor of f(x).

Partial Fractions

$(&)
Proper rational algebraic expression, is when degree of numerator f(x) < degree of denominator, g(x).
'(&)

Note: To write as partial fractions, first check that the expression is proper.

mx + n A B
= +
(ax + b)(cx + d ) ax + b cx + d

px 2 + qx + r A B C
= + +
(ax + b)(cx + d ) 2
ax + b cx + d (cx + d ) 2

px 2 + qx + r A Bx + c
= + 2
(ax + b)( x + c ) ax + b x + c 2
2 2

3) Modulus Function
The absolute or modulus of a real number x is denoted by |x| and defined as:

The above is useful when solving modulus equation. Alternatively, you can square both sides to remove the
modulus sign. Refer to property 6 below.

Properties of modulus:

1. |a| ≥ 0
2. |- a| = |a|
3. |ab| = |a||b|
 ||
4. | |=
 ||
5. |an| = |a|n
6. |a | =|b| implies that a2 = b2

Note: modulus is always non-negative.

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4) Coordinate Geometry
y
B( x2 , y2 )

θ
A( x1 , y1 )
x

1. For 2 points A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2),

• Length AB = ( x 2 − x1 ) 2 + ( y 2 − y1 ) 2

 x1 + x 2 y1 + y 2 
• Mid-point of AB =  , 
 2 2 
y2 − y1
• Gradient of AB = = tan θ
x2 − x1

2. Line L1 has gradient m1. Line L2 has gradient m2.

• L1 is parallel to L2 ⇒ m1 = km2 .
• L1 is perpendicular to L2 ⇒ m1 × m 2 = − 1 .

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 3. Areas of triangle:

1 x1 x2 x3 x1
Area of ∆ABC = (anti - clockwise direction)
2 y1 y2 y3 y1
1
= ( x1 y 2 + x 2 y 3 + x3 y1 − x1 y 3 − x 3 y 2 − x 2 y1 )
2
OR
1
Area of ∆ABC = ( AB)( AC ) sin θ
2
• Equation of straight line: y = mx + c, where m = gradient, c = y-intercept
• Equation of a horizontal line: y = a, where a is a constant.
• Equation of a vertical line: x = a, where a is a constant.
• An x-intercept is a point where the graph cuts the x-axis. It is found by letting y = 0.
• An y-intercept is a point where the graph cuts the y-axis. It is found by letting x = 0.

Sine Rule
sin θ sin φ
=
BC AB

Cosine Rule

BC 2 = AB 2 + AC 2 − 2( AB)( AC ) cos θ

5) Linear Law

Re-write Non-Linear equations into Linear equations of form y = mx + c

Non-linear equations Linear Equations Y-axis X-axis Gradient, Y-intercept,

m C

1 y = axm ln y = m ln x + ln a ln y ln x m ln a

2 y = abx ln y = x ln b + ln a ln y x ln b ln a

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6) Trigometric Function

Trigonometric Ratio of Special Angles

30° 45° 60°

√1 1 √2 √3
sin =
2 2 2 2

√3 √2 √1 1
cos =
2 2 2 2

1 √3 √3
tan = 1
√3 3 1

Note:

√ √# √,
• For ease of remembering, observe that value of sin increases from to to .
# # #
√, √#
• Always write the value of the special angles in terms of the surd form instead of 0.866 for or 0.707 for
# #

Complementary Angles

sin (90° - θ) = cos θ cos (90° - θ) = sin θ

tan (90° - θ) = cot θ cot (90° - θ) = tan θ

 
sec(90° - θ)= cosec(90° - θ)=
-./(0°  2) /67(0°  2)

 
= =
3452 "832

= cosecθ = secθ

Negative Angles

A positive angle is an anti-clockwise rotation from the positive x-axis about the origin.

A negative angle is a clockwise rotation from the positive x-axis about the origin.

For any angle θ,

cos (-θ) = cos θ

sin (-θ) = - sin θ

tan (-θ) = - tan θ

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Small Angle Approximation

Note:

From the power series expansions of sin x, cos x and tan x respectively, when x is small and measured in
radians,

• sin x ≈ x
x2
• cos x ≈ 1 −
2
• tan x ≈ x.

a. Quotient Relationships
sin θ
• tan θ =
cos θ
cos θ
• cot θ =
sin θ
1
• sec θ =
cos θ
1
• cos ecθ =
sin θ

b. Pythagoras’ Trigonometric Identities

• sin 2 θ + cos 2 θ = 1
• tan 2 θ + 1 = sec 2 θ
• 1 + cot 2 θ = cos ec 2θ

c. R-Formula

For a > 0, b > 0 & acute angle α,

a cos θ ± b sin θ R cos (θ ∓ α )

a sin θ ± b cos θ R sin (θ ± α )


where R = √2 + 2 , tan α =


The following are provided in the MF15:

- Addition Formula
- Double Angle Formula
- Factor Formula

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 d. Graphs of sin, cos and tan functions

y = sin x y = cos x y = tan x

Amplitude = 1 Amplitude = 1 Amplitude undefined

Period = 360º (2 ) Period = 360º (2 ) Period = 180º ( )

7) Tangent and Normal

For a curve y = f(x),

dy
(i) Gradient of tangent = or f ' ( x)
dx
dy
(ii) Gradient of tangent at (a, b) = or f ' ( a ).
dx x= a

(iii) Equation of tangent at (a, b): y − b = f ' (a )( x − a) .

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(iv) Equation of normal at (a, b): y−b=− ( x − a ).
f ' (a)
8) Properties of Circle

Symmetrical Properties of Circles

A line through the centre of circle and

perpendicular to chord will bisect the chord.

If OMQ = 90º then MP = MQ or vice versa

Note: This property is true for all isosceles or

equilateral triangle.

Equal chords are equidistant from the centre.

If PQ = RS then OX = OY or vice versa

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 A tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the
radius.

Tangents from an external point to a circle are

equal and subtend equal angles at the centre.

OT bisects POQ & PTQ

i.e. TP = TQ, POT = QOT &

PTO = QTO

Angle Properties of Circles

Angle at Centre = Twice Angle at

circumference

POR = 2 × PQR

Note: refer to three different diagrams

Angle in semi-circle

PQR = 90º

Note: PR is diameter of circle

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Angles in the same segment

PQS = PRS

QPR = QSR

Note: angles at the circumference are

subtended by the same arc

Opp. Angles in cyclic quad

SRQ + SPQ = 180º

RSP + RQP = 180º

Note: all 4 sides must touch the

circumference.

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