This course by Imperial College London is designed to help you develop the skills you need to succeed in your A-level maths exams.
You will investigate key topic areas to gain a deeper understanding of the skills and techniques that you can apply throughout your A-level study. These skills include:
Fluency – selecting and applying correct methods to answer with speed and efficiency
Confidence – critically assessing mathematical methods and investigating ways to apply them
Problem solving – analysing the ‘unfamiliar’ and identifying which skills and techniques you require to answer questions
Constructing mathematical argument – using mathematical tools such as diagrams, graphs, logical deduction, mathematical symbols, mathematical language, construct mathematical argument and present precisely to others
Deep reasoning – analysing and critiquing mathematical techniques, arguments, formulae and proofs to comprehend how they can be applied
Over seven modules, your initial skillset will be extended to give a clear understanding of how background knowledge underpins the A -level course. You’ll also be encouraged to consider how what you know fits into the wider mathematical world.
Syllabus
Module 1 Indices and Surds
Recognise and use the laws of indices for all rational exponents
Use and manipulate surds, including rationalising the denominator
Solve a variety of problems that include surds and indices
Module 2 Inequalities
Solve linear and quadratic inequalities in a single variable and interpret these solutions graphically
Express the solutions to linear and quadratic inequalities usingnumber lines and inequality notation, and using the terms ‘and’and ‘or’and set notation
Represent linear and quadratic inequalities in two variables graphically, using standard A-level conventions
Module 3 The Factor Theorem & Algebraic Division
Manipulate polynomials algebraically, using the factor theorem to write a polynomial as the product of linear factors or a combination of linear and quadratic factors
Divide one polynomial by another of a lower order by equating coefficients
Module 4 Coordinate Geometry
Solve problems using the coordinate geometry of the circle
Complete the square to find the centre and radius of a circle from its equation
Solve problems using the properties of the angle in a semicircle, the perpendicular from the centre to a chord, and a tangent from a poin
Module 5 Graphical Transformation and Curve Sketching
Use curve sketching techniques based on the the shapes and symmetries of standard curves
Identify key features of a curve from its equation and transform the equations of linear, quadratic, rational and trigonometrical curves using translations, rotations and stretches
Use knowledge of the symmetry and asymptotes of standard curves to create sketches
Module 6 An Introduction to Mechanics
Interpret and accurately use the term distance, speed, displacement, velocity, and acceleration
Interpret graphs to do with speed against time, distance against time, velocity against time and acceleration against time, and solve problems involving motion in a straight line with constant acceleration
Apply the formulae for constant acceleration to solve problems involving motion in a straight line
Module 7 An Introduction to Statistics
Identify the ideas of a population and a sample and use simple sampling techniques to draw informal inferences about populations
Apply critical thinking to issues of representative sampling
Interpret histograms to draw informal inferences about univariate data
Interpret scatter diagrams, regression lines and the ideas of correlation to draw informal inferences about bivariate data