MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

2011-AS-M & S ADVANCED SUPPLEMENTARY LEVEL

INTRODUCTION

This syllabus has been designed mainly for candidates who wish to further their study of mathematics beyond the Certificate of Education
level, but who may not intend to specialize in the physical sciences and engineering.

AIMS

The aim of the examination is to test, with reference to the subject matter listed in the syllabus below, the candidates’
244

1. understanding of the mathematical and statistical concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply them,
2. ability to formulate models and to identify and apply appropriate techniques for the solution of problems.

THE EXAMINATION

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper with two sections. Section A (40%) will consist of 6-8 short and relatively
straightforward questions all of which are to be attempted. Section B (60%) will consist of 6 long and harder questions of which
candidates will be required to answer 4.

Notes: 1. Knowledge of the subject matter in the current Mathematics Syllabus at the level of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education
Examination is assumed. However, Additional Mathematics is not a prerequisite.
2. Electronic calculators* and mathematical drawing instruments may be used in the examination.
3. Statistical tables will be printed in the question paper where appropriate.
THE SYLLABUS

2011-AS-M & S
Syllabus Notes

1. Permutations and combinations. Simple applications to problems including arrangements

and selections.

2. Use of the binomial expansion of (1 + x)n when Formal proof of the expansion is not required.
(a) n is a positive integer; Determination of the greatest term and relations between
(b) n is rational and x < 1 . coefficients are excluded. Knowledge of the ∑ notation is
expected.

3. The exponential functions. Properties and graphs of the functions. Solution of simple
equations with unknown indices. Knowledge that
2 3
245

e x = 1+ x + x + x + L is expected.
1! 2! 3!

4. The logarithmic functions. Properties and graphs of the functions to any base (the
change of base is not expected). Solution of simple
equations involving logarithms. Application to reduction
of the relations y = kx n and y = ka x to linear relations.

5. Differentiation of powers of x , e x and ln x . Intuitive concepts of limits and derivatives are expected.
Differentiation of the trigonometric functions is excluded.

6. Differentiation of a sum, a product, and a quotient of Proofs of differentiation rules will not be examined.
functions. Differentiation of composite functions and
inverse functions. Second derivatives.
Syllabus Notes

2011-AS-M & S
7. Applications of differentiation to small increments, Including graphs of polynomials and rational functions of
gradients, rates of change, maxima and minima, and
sketching of simple curves. the form ax + b , their convexity, points of inflexion,
cx + d
horizontal and vertical asymptotes.

8. Indefinite integration as the reverse process of Including integration of 1 and e x .

differentiation. Integration of simple functions. x
Integration by substitution. Integration by parts is not required.

Definite integrals and their simple properties. Application Proofs of these properties are not required.
to finding plane areas.
246

9. Approximation of definite integrals using the trapezoidal Error estimation is not expected.
rule.

10. First notions of population parameters and sample Population with mean µ and variance σ 2 . Knowledge
statistics.
that the sample mean x and the sample variance s 2 tend
to µ and σ 2 respectively as the sample size tends to ∞ .

Basic statistical measures and their interpretations. Mean (including weighted means with application to index
numbers), mode, modal class, median, range, interquartile
range, percentiles, variance and standard deviation.
Frequency distributions, cumulative frequency
distributions and their graphical representation, including
stem-and-leaf as well as box-and-whisker diagrams.
Syllabus Notes

2011-AS-M & S
11. Sample space and events; probability of an event. The use of set notation is expected. The concept of
mutually exclusive, exhaustive and complementary events
is included. Calculation of probabilities may include the
use of simple permutations and combinations.

12. The addition rule, conditional probabilities and the P ( A ∪ B) = P ( A) + P (B) − P ( A ∩ B) ;

multiplication rule; Bayes’ theorem. P ( A ∩ B) = P ( A) P (B A) ;
P ( A ∩ B) = P ( A) P (B) , where A and B are independent
events.

For Bayes’ theorem, only simple cases are expected. Tree

247

diagrams may be found useful for calculating probabilities.

13. Bernoulli, binomial, geometric and Poisson distributions Knowledge of formulae for their means and variances is
and their applications. expected but proofs of these formulae are not required:

Distribution Mean Variance

Bernoulli (p) p p (1 − p )

Binomial (n , p) np np (1 − p )
1 1− p
Geometric (p)
p p2

Poisson (λ) λ λ
Syllabus Notes

2011-AS-M & S
14. The normal distribution and its applications. Use of the normal table. Approximating binomial
probabilities using normal distributions is not required.

15. Comparison of observed frequency distributions with fitted Poisson, binomial and normal cases only. No formal
frequency distributions. statistical test of fit is required. Comparison of observed
and expected frequencies in class intervals only.
248

* See Regulation 5.15.