WAEC General Mathematics Syllabus Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary and conceptual flashcards based on the WAEC General Mathematics syllabus requirements including exam structure, mathematical definitions, formulas, and units.

Paper 1 Examination Scheme

Consists of fifty multiple-choice objective questions worth $50$ marks, to be answered in $1\frac{1}{2}$ hours.

Paper 2 Section A

Five compulsory elementary questions carrying a total of $40$ marks.

Paper 2 Section B

Eight questions of greater length and difficulty where candidates must answer five for $60$ marks.

Modular Arithmetic Examples

Interpretation of values such as $6 + 4 = k(\text{mod } 7)$ or $3 \times 5 = b(\text{mod } 6)$, often related to market days, clocks, or shift duties.

Indices Multiplication Law

$a^x \times a^y = a^{x+y}$, where $x, y$ are real numbers and $a \neq 0$.

Standard Form (Scientific Notation)

Expression of large and small numbers as a product of a number and a power of $10$, e.g., $375,300,000 = 3.753 \times 10^8$.

Indices and Logarithms Relationship

The relationship where $y = 10^k$ implies $\log_{10} y = k$.

Arithmetic Progression (A.P.)

A sequence where word problems include finding any term $U_n$ and the sum of terms.

Set Notations (\mathcal{E}, \subset, \cup, \cap, \emptyset, P')

Symbols representing Universal Set, Subset, Union, Intersection, Empty set, and Complement of $P$ respectively.

Number Set Symbols (N, Z, Q)

Standard notations for Natural numbers ($N$), Integers ($Z$), and Rational numbers ($Q$).

Matrix Calculation Limits

Identification and operations are restricted to not more than $3 \times 3$ matrices; Determinants and simultaneous equation applications are restricted to $2 \times 2$ matrices.

Financial Arithmetic: Amortization

The computation of payments on capitalized assets.

Binary Operations

Operations carried out on real numbers such as $a*b = 2a + b - ab$.

Quadratic Equation Roots

Forming an equation from root values; e.g., roots $-3$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ lead to $(x + 3)(x - \frac{1}{2}) = 0$.

Undefined Algebraic Fraction

A fraction where the denominator equals zero, such as $\frac{x-3}{x+3}$ which is not defined for $x = -3$.

Area of a Triangle (Trigonometric)

Calculated as $\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} ab \sin(C)$, involving two sides and the included angle.

Sum of Interior Angles of a Polygon

$(n - 2) \times 180^{\circ}$ or $(2n - 4)$ right angles, where $n$ is the number of sides.

Distance Formula in Coordinate Geometry

$|PQ| = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}$ for points $P(x_1, y_1)$ and $Q(x_2, y_2)$.

Gradient (Slope) of a Line

The ratio $m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}$.

Standard Derivative example

If $y = x^2$, the derived function is $\frac{dy}{dx} = 2x$. If $s = 2t^3 + 4$, then $\frac{ds}{dt} = v = 6t^2$.

Measures of Dispersion

Statistics including range, semi inter-quartile range, variance, mean deviation, and standard deviation.

Mean Deviation

The mean of the absolute deviations from the mean.

Hectare (ha) Conversion

$10,000$ square metres ($m^2$) = $1$ hectare ($ha$).

Capacity Units

$1,000$ cubic centimeters ($cm^3$) = $1$ litre ($l$).

Ghana Currency Units

$100$ Ghana pesewas ($Gp$) = $1$ Ghana Cedi (GH\unicode{x20B5}).

Permissible Calculators

Non-programmable, silent, and cordless devices without printing or communication capabilities.