Cambridge Pre-U Syllabus - Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge Pre-U Syllabus
Appendix 3: Mathematical requirements
Candidates should be able to:
• recognise and use expressions in decimal and standard form
• use a calculator for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, finding the arithmetical mean and to
find and use x 2 1
, , x , log10x
x
• take account of accuracy in numerical work and handle calculations so that significant figures are
neither lost unnecessarily nor carried beyond what is justified
• make estimations of the results of calculations (without using a calculator)
• recognise and use ratios
• correctly calculate percentages and express changes or errors as percentages and vice versa
• comprehend and use the symbols , ∆, ≈, /, ∝, Σ
• calculate areas of right-angled and isosceles triangles, circumference and area of circles, areas and
volumes of rectangular blocks and cylinders
• translate information between graphical, numerical, and algebraic forms
• construct and interpret frequency distributions and diagrams, pie charts and histograms
• select appropriate variables and scales for graph plotting using standard 2mm square graph paper
• for linear graphs, calculate the rate of change
• recognise when it is appropriate to join the points with straight ruled lines and when it is appropriate to
use a line (straight or curved) of best fit
• choose, by inspection, a line (straight or curved) which will serve as the best line through a set of data
points presented graphically
• understand, draw and use the slope of a tangent to a curve as a means to obtain the rate of change
• understand and use the prefixes: giga (G), mega (M), kilo (k), milli (m), micro (µ), and nano (n).
• have sufficient understanding of probability to understand genetic ratios
• understand the principles of sampling as applied to biological situations and data
• understand the importance of chance when interpreting data
• use a spreadsheet program for collating, analysing and presenting data
• calculate standard deviation and standard error
• understand the benefits of using standard error and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) to make
statements about data and to use as error bars on graphs
• understand the difference between correlation and causation; use Spearman’s rank and Pearson’s
linear correlation to test for correlation
• use the χ 2 test and the t-test
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