CSEC Mathematics Complete Interactive Study Guide

All topics with interactive examples, calculators, and study tips for effective exam preparation

Number Theory & Computation

Types of Numbers

  • Natural: {1, 2, 3, ...}
  • Whole: {0, 1, 2, 3, ...}
  • Integers: {..., -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, ...}
  • Rational: Can be expressed as fractions (e.g., ½, 0.75, -3)
  • Irrational: Cannot be expressed as fractions (e.g., √2, π)

Key Operations

  • Factors: Numbers that divide exactly (factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12)
  • Multiples: Results of multiplying by integers (multiples of 5: 5, 10, 15, ...)
  • HCF: Largest factor shared (HCF of 12 & 18 is 6)
  • LCM: Smallest shared multiple (LCM of 4 & 6 is 12)
  • Prime Numbers: Only divisible by 1 and itself (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, ...)

Example: Find LCM of 8 and 12

Multiples of 8: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40...

Multiples of 12: 12, 24, 36, 48...

LCM = 24

Interactive LCM & HCF Calculator

Study Guide: Number Theory

Remember: Prime numbers are the building blocks of all numbers. Every whole number greater than 1 is either prime or can be made by multiplying primes together (prime factorization).
Practice: To find LCM, list multiples until you find the first common one. For HCF, list factors and find the greatest common one.
Common Mistake: Confusing factors (numbers that divide exactly) with multiples (results of multiplication).

Consumer Arithmetic

Percentages

  • Percentage increase: Original × (1 + %/100)
  • Percentage decrease: Original × (1 - %/100)

Example: 15% increase on $200

200 × 1.15 = $230

Interest Formulas

Simple Interest

I = P × R × T ÷ 100

Where: P = principal, R = rate (%), T = time (years)

Compound Interest

A = P(1 + r/100)^n

Where: A = final amount, r = rate (%), n = periods

Example: $1000 at 5% compound interest for 2 years

A = 1000(1 + 0.05)² = $1102.50

Interest Calculator

Ratio Calculator

Example: Share $60 in ratio 2:3

:

Sets

Set Notation

  • Set builder: {x | x > 5}
  • Roster: {1, 2, 3, 4}
  • Universal set: U
  • Complement: A' or Aᶜ
  • Empty set: ∅ or {}

Set Operations

  • Union (A ∪ B): Elements in A OR B
  • Intersection (A ∩ B): Elements in A AND B

Example: Set Operations

U = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7}

A = {1,2,3,4}

B = {3,4,5,6}

A ∪ B = {1,2,3,4,5,6}

A ∩ B = {3,4}

Set Operations Simulator

Enter elements for two sets (comma separated):

Measurement

Perimeter & Area

  • Rectangle: P = 2(l + w), A = l × w
  • Triangle: A = ½ × base × height
  • Circle: C = 2πr, A = πr²

Volume & Surface Area

  • Prism: V = base area × height
  • Cylinder: V = πr²h, SA = 2πr(h + r)
  • Sphere: V = ⁴⁄₃πr³, SA = 4πr²

Example: Speed Calculation

Distance: 150 km, Time: 2 hours

Speed = Distance ÷ Time = 150 ÷ 2 = 75 km/h

Geometry Calculator

Statistics

Data Collection & Representation

  • Primary Data: Collected directly by researcher
  • Secondary Data: Collected by someone else
  • Frequency Tables: Organize data with counts
  • Graph Types:
    • Bar charts (categorical data)
    • Histograms (continuous data)
    • Pie charts (proportions)
    • Line graphs (trends over time)

Central Tendency

  • Mean: Sum of values ÷ number of values
  • Median: Middle value when arranged in order
  • Mode: Most frequent value

Example: Data: 4, 7, 5, 9, 5, 6

• Mean = (4+7+5+9+5+6) ÷ 6 = 6

• Arranged: 4,5,5,6,7,9 → Median = (5+6)÷2 = 5.5

• Mode = 5 (most frequent)

Statistics Calculator

Enter numbers separated by commas:

Probability

P(event) = favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes

Examples:

• Die roll: P(odd number) = 3/6 = ½

• Coin toss: P(heads) = ½

• Deck of cards: P(ace) = 4/52 = 1/13

Probability Simulator

Algebra

Algebraic Expressions

  • Terms: Parts separated by + or -
  • Coefficients: Numbers multiplying variables
  • Like Terms: Same variables and exponents
  • Simplify: Combine like terms

3x² + 2x - 5 + x² - 4x + 7

= (3x² + x²) + (2x - 4x) + (-5 + 7)

= 4x² - 2x + 2

Factorization

  • Common Factor: 2x + 4 = 2(x + 2)
  • Difference of Squares: a² - b² = (a+b)(a-b)
  • Quadratic Trinomials: x² + bx + c

Example: x² + 5x + 6

Find factors of 6 that add to 5: 2 and 3

x² + 5x + 6 = (x + 2)(x + 3)

Equation Solver

Enter an equation to solve (e.g., 3x + 5 = 17):

Indices/Laws of Exponents

  • aᵐ × aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ
  • aᵐ ÷ aⁿ = aᵐ⁻ⁿ
  • (aᵐ)ⁿ = aᵐⁿ
  • a⁰ = 1 (a ≠ 0)
  • a⁻ⁿ = 1/aⁿ

Algebraic Fractions

Example: (2x/3) + (x/4)

Find LCD: 12

= (8x/12) + (3x/12)

= 11x/12

Algebraic Fractions Calculator

Relations, Functions & Graphs

Cartesian Plane

  • x-axis: Horizontal axis
  • y-axis: Vertical axis
  • Origin: (0,0)
  • Quadrants: I, II, III, IV

Linear Functions

y = mx + c

Where: m = slope, c = y-intercept

Example: y = 2x + 1

• Slope (m) = 2

• y-intercept = 1

• When x=0, y=1

• When x=1, y=3

Graph Plotter

Enter a function (e.g., 2*x+1 or x^2-4):

Domain & Range

  • Domain: All possible x-values
  • Range: All possible y-values

Example: y = √(x-2)

Domain: x ≥ 2 (can't take square root of negative)

Range: y ≥ 0 (square root is never negative)

Quadratic Functions

y = ax² + bx + c

• Parabola shape

• Vertex at x = -b/(2a)

• Axis of symmetry through vertex

Geometry & Trigonometry

Plane Geometry

  • Angles on straight line: 180°
  • Angles at a point: 360°
  • Vertically opposite angles: equal
  • Triangle sum: 180°

Pythagoras Theorem

a² + b² = c²

For right-angled triangles only

Example: Triangle with sides 3 and 4

c² = 3² + 4² = 9 + 16 = 25

c = √25 = 5

Triangle Calculator

Trigonometric Ratios (SOH-CAH-TOA)

  • sin θ = opposite/hypotenuse
  • cos θ = adjacent/hypotenuse
  • tan θ = opposite/adjacent

Example: Right triangle, angle = 30°, opposite = 5

sin 30° = 0.5 = 5/hypotenuse

Hypotenuse = 5/0.5 = 10

Sine & Cosine Rules

Sine Rule:

a/sinA = b/sinB = c/sinC

Cosine Rule:

a² = b² + c² - 2bc·cosA

For any triangle ABC

Circle Theorems

  • Angle at center = 2 × angle at circumference
  • Angles in same segment are equal
  • Angle in semicircle = 90°
  • Opposite angles of cyclic quadrilateral sum to 180°

Vectors & Matrices

Vectors

  • Notation: **a** or ā or column vector
  • Magnitude: |**v**| = √(x² + y²)
  • Addition: (2,3) + (1,4) = (3,7)
  • Scalar Multiplication: k×(x,y) = (kx, ky)

Vector Addition:

**a** = (2,3), **b** = (1,4)

**a** + **b** = (2+1, 3+4) = (3,7)

Matrices

  • Dimensions: rows × columns
  • Addition: Same dimensions only
  • Multiplication: (m×n) × (n×p) = (m×p)

Matrix Calculator

Transformations

  • Translation: T = [a, b] moves (x,y) to (x+a, y+b)
  • Rotation 90° clockwise: (x,y) → (y,-x)
  • Rotation 180°: (x,y) → (-x,-y)
  • Reflection in x-axis: (x,y) → (x,-y)

Determinant & Inverse

Determinant (2×2):

For A = [[a, b], [c, d]]

det(A) = ad - bc

Example: [[2,3],[1,4]]

det = 2×4 - 3×1 = 8 - 3 = 5

Inverse (2×2):

A⁻¹ = (1/det) × [[d, -b], [-c, a]]

Study Tips & Exam Strategies

Practice regularly with past papers - This helps you understand the exam format and identify your weak areas.
Show all working steps clearly - Even if your final answer is wrong, you may get partial credit for correct steps.
Check units in measurement problems - Always convert to the same units before calculating.
Verify answers make sense - Does your answer seem reasonable? For example, a person's age shouldn't be 250 years.
Memorize key formulas - Create flashcards for important formulas like the quadratic formula, area formulas, etc.
Draw diagrams for geometry problems - Visualizing the problem often makes it easier to solve.
Use calculator efficiently - Know how to use your calculator's memory functions and how to check your work.

Remember: Understanding concepts is more important than memorization! Focus on why formulas work, not just what they are.

Study Progress Tracker

Track which topics you've studied: