Diploma Programme

Mathematics: applications and interpretation

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 2

Topic 3: Geometry and trigonometry – SL 3

Topic 4: Statistics and probability – SL 5

Topic 5: Calculus – SL 6
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 )

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

1.4 Compound interest r 

kn

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

1.6 vA − vE
Percentage error ε= × 100% , where vE is the exact value and vA is
vE
the approximate value of v

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

2.5 Axis of symmetry of the b

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

Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL formula booklet 2

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 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: applications and interpretation SL formula booklet 3

 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 θ
Length of an arc l
= × 2πr , where θ is the angle measured in degrees, r is
360
the radius

θ
Area of a sector A
= × πr 2 , where θ is the angle measured in degrees, r is
360
the radius

Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL formula booklet 4

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 )

Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL formula booklet 5

Topic 5: Calculus – SL

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

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

Area of region enclosed by b

a curve y = f ( x) and the

A = ∫ y dx
a

x-axis, where f ( x) > 0

5.8
b 1
The trapezoidal rule
∫ y dx ≈ h ( ( y0 + yn ) + 2( y1 + y2 + ... + yn −1 ) ) ,
a 2
b−a
where h =
n

Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL formula booklet 6