ZNOTES.

ORG

UPDATED TO 2023-2025 SYLLABUS

CAIE AS LEVEL
MATHEMATICS
SUMMARIZED NOTES ON THE THEORY SYLLABUS
Prepared for Muhammad for personal use only.
CAIE AS LEVEL MATHEMATICS
A line segment, joining points A(2, −3) and B(4, a) has a
1. Coordinate Geometry midpoint M (b, −2). Find the values of a and b.
Answer
Using the mid-point formula
1.1. Distance formula x1 + x2 y 1 + y 2
M =( , )
​ ​ ​ ​

2 2
​ ​

The distance formula helps us find the distance, or

length, between two points.
The y value of the mid-point can be represent as
Let us consider two points, on the same linear line, y1 + y2
yM =
​ ​

A(x1 , y1 ) and B(x2 , y2 ). The lines x = x2 and y = y1 can

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

2
​ ​

be drawn, resulting in a right angled triangle with the line

−3 + a
AB as the hypotenuse. −2 =
2
​

a = −1

The x value of the mid-point can be represented as

x1 + x2
xM =
​ ​

2
​ ​

2+4
b=
2
​

b=3

1.2. The Gradient

The length of the base is obtained from x2 − x1 and the
The gradient, also called the slope, describes the
​ ​

height is obtained from y2 − y1 .

inclination of a line. It gives a numerical value to the
​ ​

Using Pythagoras theorem, we can derive the distance angle a line makes with the positive x-axis.
formula for two points, A and B , as: It is popularly denoted by m in the equation y =
mx + c.
AB = (x2 − x1 )2 + (y2 − y1 )2
​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Consider two points, A(x1 , y1 ) and B(x2 , y2 ). A right

​ ​ ​ ​

Mid-point formula angled triangle can be drawn, with a similar explanation to

the one in the distance formula, with the hypotenuse line
The mid-point formula helps us find a point, usually AB .
denoted by M , which is equidistant from two other
points.The mid-point of two points can be found using:
x1 + x2 y 1 + y 2
M( , )
​ ​ ​ ​

2 2
​ ​

Example 1
The distance between points A(0, 4) and B(a, 1) is 5 units.
Find the value of the positive integer a.
Answer
Using the distance formula:

AB = (x2 − x1 )2 + (y2 − y1 )2
​ ​ ​ ​ ​

We can apply the trigonometric ratio

We can substitute our values in
length of opposite side
52 = (a − 0)2 + (1 − 4)2 ​ tan(θ) =
length of adjacent side
​

a2 = 16 ⟹ a = 4 In the context of the diagram above

y2 − y1
tan(θ) =
​ ​

x2 − x1
​

Example 2
​ ​

We will also denote m as

y2 − y1
m=
​ ​

x2 − x1
​

​ ​

WWW.ZNOTES.ORG Copyright © 2024 ZNotes Education & Foundation. All Rights Reserved. This document is
authorised for personal use only by Muhammad at Alhuda International School on 21/11/24.
CAIE AS LEVEL MATHEMATICS
Such that we are able to find the angle of inclination, θ, by:

tan(θ) = m

θ = tan−1 (m)

Magnitude of the Gradient

The function is going to have an increasing y value, as
the x value increases, if the gradient has a positive
value. This means the curve is moving upwards.
The function is going to have a decreasing y value, as
the x value increases, if the gradient has a negative
value. This means the curve is moving downwards. Let the line AB have a gradient of m1 and the line DB have
​

a gradient of m2 such that

​

tan(θ1 ) = m1 ⟹ θ1 = tan−1 (m1 )

​ ​ ​ ​

tan(θ2 ) = m2 ⟹ θ2 = tan−1 (m2 )

​ ​ ​ ​

From the diagram above

θ2 − θ1 = θ
​ ​

This gives us

tan−1 (m2 ) − tan−1 (m1 ) = θ

​ ​

Angle between two lines 1.3. Equations of lines

The angle, θ, between two lines having gradients m1 and m2​ ​ Equation of line parallel to y -axis
is given by
The equation of a line parallel to the y -axis can be
m2 − m1 m2 − m1
tan(θ) = ± ⟹ θ = tan−1 (± ) written in the form x = a.
​ ​ ​ ​

1 + m1 m2 1 + m1 m2
​ ​

​ ​ ​ ​

All points on this line have the coordinate P (a, y).

Note that you must take the positive value of the ratio if
you are trying to find the acute angle between two lines.

Another way to look at this formula is by considering the

formula to find θ using the gradient m

Equation of line parallel to x-axis

WWW.ZNOTES.ORG Copyright © 2024 ZNotes Education & Foundation. All Rights Reserved. This document is
authorised for personal use only by Muhammad at Alhuda International School on 21/11/24.
CAIE AS LEVEL MATHEMATICS

The equation of a line parallel to the x-axis can be Consider a general point P (x, y), which can be any
written in the form y = b. point on the line, and a known point Q(x1 , y1 ) which ​ ​

All points on this line have the coordinate P (x, b). the line passes through.

Intercepts
An intercept is the point at which a line cuts the
coordinate axes.

For this graph:

The y -intercept is (0, B)

The x-intercept is (A, 0)

Equation of a straight line

The equation of a straight line is given by

y = mx + c

m represents the gradient.

c represents the y -intercept (0, c). It can also be looked
at in terms of a vertical translation.

Point-slope formula
The point-slope formula is another way to find the equation
of a straight line.

WWW.ZNOTES.ORG Copyright © 2024 ZNotes Education & Foundation. All Rights Reserved. This document is
authorised for personal use only by Muhammad at Alhuda International School on 21/11/24.
CAIE AS LEVEL MATHEMATICS

WWW.ZNOTES.ORG Copyright © 2024 ZNotes Education & Foundation. All Rights Reserved. This document is
authorised for personal use only by Muhammad at Alhuda International School on 21/11/24.
CAIE AS Level
Mathematics

© ZNotes Education Ltd. & ZNotes Foundation 2024. All rights reserved.
This version was created by Muhammad on Thu Nov 21 2024 for strictly personal use only.
These notes have been created by Aneesh B for the 2023-2025 syllabus.
The document contains images and excerpts of text from educational resources available on the internet and printed books.
If you are the owner of such media, test or visual, utilized in this document and do not accept its usage then we urge you to contact us
and we would immediately replace said media. No part of this document may be copied or re-uploaded to another website.
Under no conditions may this document be distributed under the name of false author(s) or sold for financial gain.
"ZNotes" and the ZNotes logo are trademarks of ZNotes Education Limited (registration UK00003478331).