Study Guide

APPLICABLE MATHEMATICS
NB: These sheets were written by experienced teachers and are intended as a
GUIDE only.
PREPARATION
1 Apart from time spent in class, a further 6 – 7 hours should be spent on
homework and study in this subject each week. You will be more productive if you
spend about 45 minutes in each study session. If you spend longer than this you
will lose concentration.

2 Organise your file so that you can find things easily. As a suggestion;
# teaching and assessment programme at the front.
# five separate sections, one for each of the topics identified in the syllabus.
(a copy of the syllabus can be obtained from the Curriculum Council
website)
# a section for assessment items.
# a section for revision activities, past examination papers etc.
# tables book

3 Read through the notes and examples you are given after each lesson, before
you start homework.

4 Applicable questions can be wordy and sometimes confusing. Get into the habit
of reading through each question carefully and highlighting key words and
phrases. Identify what you are being asked to do before you start.
You can improve your marks by learning important facts. Keep a record of facts
you need to know. It will make your calculations much more efficient if you
remember certain rules and laws without having to look them up.
STUDYING FACTS!
Write the fact you want to learn in the first column. Put the correct answer in the
next column. Each week cover up the answers and have a go. If you get the fact
right 3 weeks in a row, cross it out – you know it! Add to your list each weekend
as part of your study routine.
ATTEMPTS
e.g. FACT ANSWER

Mutually exclusive events Events which cannot occur

at the same time
⇒ P(A ∩ B)=0
A matrix that has no inverse.
Singular matrix a b 
i.e.   ad ─ bc = 0
c d 
.

5 TREASURE YOUR MISTAKES

Applicable Mathematics
 You learn a lot from making mistakes. Errors and corrections are an excellent way
to improve. Just make sure you find out why you got something wrong and fix it!

6 Don’t rewrite questions – it is a waste of time.

Number all work with page numbers. (e.g: Ex 2-3, p.26, 1a)
This makes the question easy to find when revising.

7 Mark your work as you go and do full corrections - you will need the correct
answers when studying.
For assignments and tests - get a full set of solutions and work through questions
you didn’t get full marks for.
You can only study without frustration if you have solutions to check your
progress.
If you don’t understand something, ASK!

8 Be organised, record mistakes as you go.

STUDY HINT
Keep a record of errors and unfinished work.

SOURCE PROBLEMS YOU PROBLEMS YOU DID

GOT WRONG NOT ATTEMPT

Sadler p26 – 3(b) p28 – 23,24

Test 1 7(b), 9 11

Working through these problems is a good way to prepare for assessments. It

ensures you are using time effectively and working on areas of weakness.

9 A4 notes that can be taken into tests and examinations must be a personal
document. Add to them all the time as you go through the course. Every time you
get a problem wrong, ask yourself: “What would I need on my A4 notes to get this
problem correct?” This way you will have information you actually need with you
in tests and examinations. It doesn’t matter if you collect too much information,
you can always prune later, or write smaller.
N.B. This means you have to have the A4 notes in class at all times. Keep them
in your file.

SO WHEN STUDYING FOR A TEST OR EXAM

• Read notes, work through Type Examples from your text book.
(Cover the solution, then check).
• Work through questions you got wrong in tests and assignments. Your
corrections will help you check!
• Work through problems you missed or got wrong in exercises.
• Add to your A4 notes whenever you find something you need.

Applicable Mathematics