MYP 4
Year 10 — All Learning Objectives
Standard / Extended pathway
Sequences
Term 1Representing Sequences
- 1. Represent a sequence using pictures, tables of values, graphs and algebra.
- 2. Describe a sequence using a term-to-term rule (in words) and a position-to-term rule (using $n$).
- 3. Identify whether a sequence is arithmetic, geometric, quadratic or neither.
- 4. Use the general rule of a sequence to predict any $n$th term.
- 5. Test whether a given number is a term of a sequence by solving an equation.
Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
- 6. Determine the general rule $u_n = u_1 + (n-1)d$ for an arithmetic sequence.
- 7. Determine the general rule $u_n = u_1 \cdot r^{n-1}$ for a geometric sequence.
- 8. Work backwards from given terms to find $u_1$, $d$, $r$ or $n$ (e.g. given $u_5 = 2$ and $u_8 = 8$, find $r$).
- 9. Use properties of sequences to solve for unknowns (e.g. consecutive arithmetic terms $k$, $2k+2$, $4k+4$; consecutive geometric terms $2$, $k$, $10$).
- 10. Write a recursive rule for an arithmetic sequence using $u_{n+1} = u_n + d$.
- 11. Write a recursive rule for a geometric sequence using $u_{n+1} = u_n \cdot r$.
Shifted Patterns and Series (Extended)
- 12. Determine the general rule from a shifted square or cube sequence (e.g. one less than the square numbers gives $u_n = n^2 - 1$).
- 13. Calculate the sum of the first $n$ terms of an arithmetic series.
- 14. Calculate the sum of the first $n$ terms of a geometric series.
- 15. Discuss the behaviour of an infinite geometric series and identify when it converges.
Exponents and Indices
Term 1Index Laws
- 1. Apply the index laws for multiplication, division and power of a power with positive integer indices.
- 2. Evaluate expressions involving zero and negative integer indices (e.g. $a^0 = 1$, $a^{-n} = 1/a^n$).
- 3. Evaluate expressions involving fractional indices (e.g. $a^{1/2}$, $a^{2/3}$).
- 4. Simplify algebraic expressions that combine the index laws, including negative and fractional indices.
Solving Index Equations
- 5. Solve equations by writing both sides with the same base and comparing exponents.
- 6. Solve equations of the form $a^{x} = k$ where the answer is a fraction or negative.
- 7. Solve equations of the form $a^{-2/3} = 1/25$ using fractional indices.
- 8. Convert between ordinary numbers and scientific (standard) form, including with negative powers of $10$.
- 9. Multiply and divide numbers in scientific form, expressing the answer in standard form.
Surds (Extended)
- 10. Simplify surds by extracting the largest square factor (e.g. $\sqrt{50} = 5\sqrt{2}$).
- 11. Add, subtract, multiply and divide surds, including expanding brackets containing surds.
- 12. Rationalise a denominator of the form $1/\sqrt{a}$.
- 13. Rationalise a denominator of the form $1/(a + \sqrt{b})$ using the conjugate.
- 14. Apply surds and index laws inside sequence problems and other algebraic contexts.
Algebra
Term 1–2Expanding and Factorising
- 1. Expand single and double brackets, including $(a+b)(c+d)$ and special products $(a+b)^2$ and $(a-b)(a+b)$.
- 2. Factorise expressions by taking out the highest common factor.
- 3. Factorise quadratic expressions of the form $x^2 + bx + c$ (monic).
- 4. Factorise quadratic expressions of the form $ax^2 + bx + c$ with $a > 1$ (non-monic).
- 5. Factorise the difference of two squares, $a^2 - b^2$.
Solving Equations
- 6. Solve multi-step linear equations, including those with rational coefficients.
- 7. Solve linear equations with variables on both sides and with brackets.
- 8. Solve equations involving square and cube roots, recognising when both signs apply.
- 9. Solve linear equations with irrational coefficients (e.g. coefficients involving $\sqrt{2}$).
Algebraic Fractions and Systems
- 10. Simplify algebraic fractions where the numerator and denominator share a common factor.
- 11. Simplify algebraic fractions that require factorising a quadratic first.
- 12. Simplify algebraic fractions whose numerator or denominator contains surds.
- 13. Solve a system of two linear equations using substitution and elimination.
- 14. Model a real-world problem with a system of equations and interpret the solution in context.
- 15. Solve a system of three linear equations in three unknowns.
Coordinate Geometry
Term 2Points and Line Segments
- 1. Plot points on the Cartesian plane and identify the quadrant they lie in.
- 2. Calculate the distance between two points using $d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}$.
- 3. Calculate the midpoint of a line segment using $M = \left(\dfrac{x_1+x_2}{2}, \dfrac{y_1+y_2}{2}\right)$.
- 4. Find the point that divides a line segment in a given ratio.
Gradient and Equation of a Line
- 5. Understand gradient as a ratio (rise over run) and as $\tan\theta$ where $\theta$ is the angle with the $x$-axis.
- 6. Calculate the gradient between two points using $m = \dfrac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}$.
- 7. Write the equation of a line in the form $y = mx + c$ and identify the gradient and $y$-intercept.
- 8. Find the equation of a line given a point and the gradient, or given two points.
- 9. Sketch lines from their equation, including reading off $x$- and $y$-intercepts.
Parallel, Perpendicular and Applications
- 10. Identify parallel lines from equal gradients.
- 11. Identify perpendicular lines using $m_1 \cdot m_2 = -1$.
- 12. Find the equation of a line parallel or perpendicular to a given line through a given point.
- 13. Solve geometric problems on the Cartesian plane (e.g. show points form a right-angled triangle, parallelogram or rhombus).
- 14. Interpret gradient and intercept as rates of change in real-world linear contexts.
Functions
Term 2Function Notation and Representation
- 1. Understand the definition of a function as a rule that assigns each input exactly one output.
- 2. Evaluate a function for a given input (e.g. find $f(3)$ given $f(x) = 2x - 5$).
- 3. Solve equations of the form $f(x) = k$ to find inputs that give a chosen output.
- 4. Substitute algebraic expressions into a function (e.g. find $f(a+1)$ or $f(2x)$).
- 5. Move between numerical, algebraic, table and graphical representations of a function.
Domain, Range and Linear Functions
- 6. Identify the domain and range of a function from its graph.
- 7. Find a sensible (natural) domain when a function is defined by a formula, including avoiding division by zero or square roots of negatives.
- 8. Sketch and interpret linear functions, including those written as $f(x) = mx + c$.
- 9. Sketch and interpret piecewise linear functions defined on different intervals.
- 10. Use the vertical line test to decide whether a graph represents a function.
Composition and Inverses (Extended)
- 11. Form a composite function $f \circ g$ and evaluate it for given inputs.
- 12. Recognise that composition is not commutative ($f \circ g \neq g \circ f$ in general).
- 13. Find the inverse $f^{-1}(x)$ of a linear function algebraically.
- 14. Recognise that the graph of $y = f^{-1}(x)$ is the reflection of $y = f(x)$ in the line $y = x$.
- 15. Verify an inverse by showing $f(f^{-1}(x)) = x$.
Quadratic Equations
Term 2Solving Quadratic Equations
- 1. Solve a quadratic equation by factorising and applying the null factor law.
- 2. Solve a quadratic equation of the form $x^2 = k$ or $(x - a)^2 = k$.
- 3. Solve rational equations that reduce to a quadratic after clearing fractions.
- 4. Complete the square to solve a quadratic equation.
- 5. Solve a quadratic equation using the quadratic formula $x = \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$.
- 6. Give exact (surd) solutions to quadratic equations where appropriate.
Graphs of Quadratic Functions
- 7. Identify the $y$-intercept of a quadratic function as $f(0)$.
- 8. Find the $x$-intercepts (roots) of a quadratic by setting $f(x) = 0$.
- 9. Determine the axis of symmetry and the vertex (maximum or minimum) of a quadratic.
- 10. Sketch a quadratic from its key features (intercepts, vertex, direction of opening).
- 11. Convert between expanded, factorised and vertex forms of a quadratic.
Applications and Discriminant (Extended)
- 12. Solve optimisation problems modelled by a quadratic (e.g. maximum area, maximum profit, projectile motion).
- 13. Solve a system consisting of a linear and a quadratic equation algebraically.
- 14. Use the discriminant $b^2 - 4ac$ to determine the nature of the roots (two distinct, one repeated, none).
- 15. Solve quadratic inequalities using a sketch or sign-table.
Geometry
Term 2–3Area, Volume and Surface Area
- 1. Calculate the area of compound shapes built from rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, trapezia and circles.
- 2. Calculate the volume of prisms, including cylinders.
- 3. Calculate the volume of pyramids and cones using $V = \tfrac{1}{3} \times \text{base area} \times h$.
- 4. Calculate the surface area of prisms and cylinders, including curved surfaces.
- 5. Rearrange a mensuration formula to make a chosen variable the subject.
Right-angle and Non-right-angle Trigonometry
- 6. Use SOH-CAH-TOA to find missing sides and angles in right-angled triangles.
- 7. Apply Pythagoras' theorem and right-angle trigonometry inside 3D solids (space diagonals, slant heights).
- 8. Apply the sine rule to find missing sides and angles in non-right-angled triangles.
- 9. Apply the cosine rule to find missing sides and angles in non-right-angled triangles.
- 10. Apply the area-of-a-triangle formula $\tfrac{1}{2}ab\sin C$.
Bearings and Accuracy
- 11. Read and draw bearings as three-figure angles measured clockwise from north.
- 12. Solve navigation and surveying problems using bearings together with right-angle and non-right-angle trigonometry.
- 13. Round answers to a given number of decimal places or significant figures and decide on an appropriate level of accuracy.
- 14. Calculate the percentage error between an approximate and an exact value, using the absolute-value convention.
- 15. Combine $\pm$ measurement errors through sums and products, and discuss the effect on the final answer.
Statistics
Term 3Descriptive Measures
- 1. Calculate the mean, median and mode of an ungrouped data set.
- 2. Estimate the mean of a grouped frequency distribution using midpoints.
- 3. Identify the modal class and median class of a grouped distribution.
- 4. Calculate measures of variability: range, interquartile range (IQR) and standard deviation (using technology).
- 5. Discuss the effect of outliers on the mean, median and standard deviation.
Representations: Histograms and Cumulative Frequency
- 6. Construct a frequency histogram and a relative-frequency histogram for grouped data.
- 7. Construct a cumulative frequency table from a grouped frequency distribution.
- 8. Draw a cumulative frequency curve (ogive) and use it to estimate the median, quartiles and percentiles.
- 9. Construct a box-and-whisker plot from a five-number summary.
- 10. Use the $1.5 \times \text{IQR}$ rule to identify potential outliers from a boxplot.
Shape, Skew and Comparison
- 11. Describe the shape of a distribution as symmetric, positively skewed or negatively skewed.
- 12. Predict the effect of skew on the relative positions of the mean and median.
- 13. Compare two distributions using measures of centre, spread and shape.
- 14. Use boxplots side by side to compare two data sets.
- 15. Justify which measure of centre and which measure of spread are most appropriate for a given data set.
Bivariate Statistics
Term 3Scatter Plots and Correlation
- 1. Identify the independent (explanatory) variable and the dependent (response) variable in a bivariate context.
- 2. Construct a scatter plot from a bivariate data set, with appropriate scales and labels.
- 3. Describe the form (linear / non-linear), direction (positive / negative) and strength (weak / moderate / strong) of a relationship.
- 4. Distinguish between correlation and causation, and identify possible confounding variables.
- 5. Interpret Pearson's correlation coefficient $r$ as a measure of the strength and direction of a linear relationship.
Line of Best Fit
- 6. Draw a line of best fit by eye through the mean point of the data.
- 7. Use technology (GDC or spreadsheet) to find the equation of the least-squares regression line $y = mx + c$.
- 8. Interpret the gradient and $y$-intercept of the regression line in the context of the data.
- 9. Use the regression equation to make predictions (interpolation), and discuss the danger of extrapolation.
Residuals and Goodness of Fit (Extended)
- 10. Calculate the residual for a data point as $\text{observed} - \text{predicted}$.
- 11. Interpret the coefficient of determination $r^2$ as the proportion of variation explained by the model.
- 12. Compare $r$ and $r^2$ for different bivariate data sets and discuss which model fits best.
- 13. Discuss the limitations of a linear model when residuals show a clear pattern.
IDU — Aesthetics
Term 3Mathematical Aesthetics
- 1. Identify symmetry (reflective, rotational and translational) in a piece of art, architecture or natural form.
- 2. Use geometric vocabulary (proportion, ratio, tessellation, fractal) to describe an aesthetic choice.
- 3. Investigate the golden ratio $\varphi$ and where it appears in art, architecture and biology.
- 4. Construct a geometric pattern, tessellation or fractal that meets a stated aesthetic constraint.
Interdisciplinary Inquiry (Criterion D)
- 5. Compare how mathematics and another subject (Language, Visual Arts, Music) each describe a chosen aesthetic concept.
- 6. Bring evidence from both disciplines together to support a single interdisciplinary claim.
- 7. Reflect on how a mathematical lens changes the way an aesthetic object is read or made.
- 8. Discuss age-appropriate Theory of Knowledge questions about beauty, pattern and proof.
Presenting the IDU
- 9. Plan and produce an IDU artefact (poster, slide deck, model or short report) that meets Criterion D expectations.
- 10. Use consistent terminology and notation across the mathematical and non-mathematical parts of the IDU.
- 11. Cite sources for images, ideas and data, including images of artworks and architecture.
- 12. Evaluate the final IDU against the published rubric and reflect on what worked and what to improve.