Diploma Programme

Mathematics: analysis and approaches

HL formula booklet
For use during the course and in the examinations
First examinations 2021

Version 1.0

HIGHER LEVEL

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2023

Contents

Topic 1: Number and algebra – HL 2

Topic 2: Functions – HL 3

Topic 3: Geometry and trigonometry – HL 4

Topic 4: Statistics and probability – HL 7

Topic 5: Calculus – HL 9
Topic 1: Number and algebra – HL

1.2 The nth term of an un = u1 + ( n − 1) d

arithmetic sequence

The sum of n terms of an n n

arithmetic sequence Sn = 2u1 + (n − 1) d ; S n = (u1 + u n )
2 2

1.3 The nth term of a un = u1r n −1

geometric sequence

The sum of n terms of a u1 (r n − 1) u1 (1 − r n )

finite geometric sequence Sn = = , r ≠1
r −1 1− r

1.8 The sum of an infinite u1

geometric sequence S∞ = , r <1
1− r

1.4 r 
kn
Compound interest 
FV = PV ×  1 +  , where FV is the future value,
 100k 
PV is the present value, n is the number of years,
k is the number of compounding periods per year,
r% is the nominal annual rate of interest

1.5 Exponents and logarithms a x = b ⇔ x = log a b , where a > 0, b > 0, a ≠ 1

1.7 Exponents and logarithms log a xy = log a x + log a y

x
log a = log a x − log a y
y
log a x m = m log a x

log b x
log a x =
log b a
Exponential and
logarithmic functions a x = e x ln a ; log a a x = x = a loga x where a , x > 0, a ≠ 1

1.9 Binomial theorem n ∈  (a + b) n = a n + n C a n −1b +  + nC a n − r b r +  + b n

1 r

nC = n!
r r !(n − r )!

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 2

 1.10 nC = n!
Combinations
r r !( n − r )!

n P = n!
Permutations
r (n − r )!
2
n n
  b  n n −1  b  
Extension of binomial a+b = a 1 + n   +   + ... 
 a 2!  a  
theorem, n ∈   

1.12 Complex numbers z = a + bi

1.13 Modulus-argument (polar) z = r (cos + isin ) = rei = r cis

and exponential (Euler)
form

1.14 n
r (cos + isin ) = r n (cos n + i sin n ) = r n ein = r n cis n
De Moivre’s theorem

Topic 2: Functions – HL

2.1 Equations of a straight line y = mx + c ; ax + by + d = 0 ; y − y1 = m x − x1

y2 − y1
Gradient formula m=
x2 − x1

2.6 Axis of symmetry of the b

graph of a quadratic f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c ⇒ axis of symmetry is x = −
2a
function

2.7
Solutions of a quadratic −b ± b 2 − 4ac
equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0 ⇒ x= , a≠0
2a
Discriminant ∆ = b 2 − 4ac

2.12 Sum and product of the n

−1 a0
− an −1
roots of polynomial Sum is ; product is
equations of the form an an
n

∑a x
r =0
r
r
=0

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 3

Topic 3: Geometry and trigonometry – HL

Prior learning – HL

Area of a parallelogram A = bh , where b is the base, h is the height

1
Area of a triangle A = (bh) , where b is the base, h is the height
2

1
Area of a trapezoid A = ( a + b) h , where a and b are the parallel sides, h is the height
2

Area of a circle A = πr 2 , where r is the radius

Circumference of a circle C = 2πr , where r is the radius

Volume of a cuboid V = lwh , where l is the length, w is the width, h is the height

Volume of a cylinder V = πr 2 h , where r is the radius, h is the height

Volume of a prism V = Ah , where A is the area of cross-section, h is the height

Area of the curved surface of A = 2πrh , where r is the radius, h is the height
a cylinder

Distance between two

d = ( x1 − x2 )2 + ( y1 − y2 ) 2
points ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 )

Coordinates of the midpoint of  x1 + x2 y1 + y2 

a line segment with endpoints  2 , 2 
( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) 

3.1 Distance between two

d = ( x1 − x2 )2 + ( y1 − y2 )2 + ( z1 − z2 )2
points ( x1 , y1 , z1 ) and
( x2 , y2 , z2 )

Coordinates of the  x1 + x2 y1 + y2 z1 + z2 
midpoint of a line segment  , , 
with endpoints ( x1 , y1 , z1 )
 2 2 2 

and ( x2 , y2 , z2 )

1
Volume of a right-pyramid V = Ah , where A is the area of the base, h is the height
3

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 4

 1
Volume of a right cone V = πr 2 h , where r is the radius, h is the height
3

Area of the curved surface A = πrl , where r is the radius, l is the slant height
of a cone

4
Volume of a sphere V = πr 3 , where r is the radius
3

Surface area of a sphere A = 4πr 2 , where r is the radius

3.2 a b c
Sine rule = =
sin A sin B sin C

a 2 + b 2 − c2
Cosine rule c 2 = a 2 + b 2 − 2 ab cos C ; cos C =
2ab

1
Area of a triangle A = ab sin C
2

3.4
Length of an arc l = r , where r is the radius, is the angle measured in radians

1
Area of a sector A = r 2 , where r is the radius, is the angle measured in
2
radians

3.5 sin
Identity for tan tan =
cos

3.6 Pythagorean identity cos 2 + sin 2 =1

Double angle identities sin 2 = 2sin cos

cos 2 = cos 2 − sin 2 = 2cos 2 − 1 = 1 − 2sin 2

3.9 1
Reciprocal trigonometric sec =
identities cos

1
cosec =
sin

Pythagorean identities 1 + tan 2 = sec 2

1 + cot 2 = cosec 2

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 5

 3.10 Compound angle identities sin ( A ± B) = sin A cos B ± cos A sin B

cos ( A ± B ) = cos A cos B  sin A sin B

tan A ± tan B
tan ( A ± B) =
1  tan A tan B

Double angle identity 2 tan

tan 2 =
for tan 1 − tan 2

3.12  v1 
2 2 2  
Magnitude of a vector v = v + v2 + v3 , where v =  v2 
1
v 
 3

3.13  v1   w1 
   
Scalar product v ⋅ w = v1w1 + v2 w2 + v3 w3 , where v =  v2  , w =  w2 
v  w 
 3  3

v ⋅ w = v w cos , where is the angle between v and w

Angle between two v1w1 + v2 w2 + v3 w3

cos =
vectors v w

3.14 Vector equation of a line r = a + λb

Parametric form of the x = x0 + l , y = y0 + m, z = z0 + n

equation of a line

Cartesian equations of a x − x0 y − y0 z − z0
= =
line l m n

3.16  v2 w3 − v3 w2   v1   w1 
     
Vector product v × w =  v3 w1 − v1 w3  , where v =  v2  , w =  w2 
v w −v w  v  w 
 1 2 2 1  3  3
v × w = v w sin , where is the angle between v and w

Area of a parallelogram A = v × w where v and w form two adjacent sides of a

parallelogram

3.17 Vector equation of a plane r = a + λb + c

Equation of a plane r ⋅n = a ⋅n
(using the normal vector)

Cartesian equation of a ax + by + cz = d
plane

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 6

Topic 4: Statistics and probability – HL

4.2 Interquartile range IQR = Q3 − Q1

4.3 k

∑fx i i k
Mean, x , of a set of data x= i =1

n
, where n = ∑f
i =1
i

4.5 n ( A)
Probability of an event A P ( A) =
n (U )

Complementary events P ( A) + P ( A′) = 1

4.6 Combined events P ( A ∪ B ) = P ( A) + P ( B ) − P ( A ∩ B )

Mutually exclusive events P ( A ∪ B) = P ( A) + P ( B )

P ( A ∩ B)
Conditional probability P ( A B) =
P ( B)

Independent events P ( A ∩ B ) = P ( A) P ( B )

4.7 Expected value of a k

discrete random variable X E ( X ) = ∑ xi P ( X = xi )

i =1

4.8 Binomial distribution

X ~ B ( n , p)

Mean E ( X ) = np

Variance Var ( X ) = np (1 − p )

4.12 Standardized normal x−

variable z=

4.13 P ( B) P ( A | B)
Bayes’ theorem P ( B | A) =
P ( B) P ( A | B) + P ( B′) P( A | B′)

P( Bi ) P( A | Bi )
P ( Bi | A) =
P( B1 ) P( A | B1 ) + P( B2 ) P( A | B2 ) + P( B3 ) P( A | B3 )

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 7

 4.14 k k

∑f ∑fx
2 2
i xi − i i
2 2 2
Variance = i =1
= i =1
−
n n

∑f
2
i xi −
Standard deviation = i =1

Linear transformation of a E aX + b = aE ( X ) + b
single random variable
Var aX + b = a 2 Var ( X )

Expected value of a ∞

continuous random E(X ) = = ∫ x f ( x) d x

−∞
variable X

2
Variance Var ( X ) = E  ( X − )2  = E ( X 2 ) − E (X )

Variance of a discrete Var ( X ) = ∑ ( x − )2 P ( X = x) = ∑ x 2 P ( X = x) − 2

random variable X

Variance of a continuous ∞ ∞
Var ( X ) = ∫ ( x − ) 2 f ( x)dx = ∫ x 2 f ( x) dx − 2
random variable X −∞ −∞

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 8

Topic 5: Calculus – HL

5.12 Derivative of f ( x ) from dy  f ( x + h) − f ( x ) 

first principles
y = f ( x) ⇒ = f ′( x) = lim  
dx h → 0
 h 

5.3 Derivative of x n f ( x ) = x n ⇒ f ′( x) = nx n −1

5.6 Derivative of sin x f ( x ) = sin x ⇒ f ′( x) = cos x

Derivative of cos x f ( x ) = cos x ⇒ f ′( x ) = − sin x

Derivative of e x f ( x ) = e x ⇒ f ′( x ) = e x

1
Derivative of ln x f ( x ) = ln x ⇒ f ′( x) =
x
dy dy du
Chain rule y = g (u ) , where u = f ( x) ⇒ = ×
dx du dx
dy dv du
Product rule y = uv ⇒ =u +v
dx dx dx

du dv
v −u
Quotient rule
u dy dx dx
y= ⇒ = 2
v dx v
5.15 Standard derivatives
tan x f ( x ) = tan x ⇒ f ′( x) = sec 2 x

sec x f ( x ) = sec x ⇒ f ′( x) = sec x tan x

cosec x f ( x ) = cosec x ⇒ f ′( x) = −cosec x cot x

cot x f ( x ) = cot x ⇒ f ′( x ) = −cosec 2 x

ax f ( x ) = a x ⇒ f ′( x) = a x (ln a)

1
log a x f ( x ) = log a x ⇒ f ′( x ) =
x ln a
1
arcsin x f ( x ) = arcsin x ⇒ f ′( x) =
1 − x2

1
arccos x f ( x ) = arccos x ⇒ f ′( x) = −
1 − x2

1
arctan x f ( x ) = arctan x ⇒ f ′( x) =
1 + x2

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 9

 5.9 dv d 2 s
Acceleration a= =
dt dt 2

t2
Distance travelled from distance = ∫t1
v(t ) dt
t1 to t 2

t2
Displacement from displacement = ∫t1
v (t )dt
t1 to t 2

5.5 x n +1
∫ x dx =
n
Integral of x n + C , n ≠ −1
n +1

b
Area between a curve A = ∫ y dx
a
y = f ( x ) and the x-axis,
where f ( x ) > 0

5.10 Standard integrals 1

∫ x dx = ln x +C

∫ sin x dx = − cos x + C

∫ cos x dx = sin x + C

∫e
x
dx = e x + C

5.15 Standard integrals 1 x

∫a
x
dx = a +C
ln a
1 1  x
∫a 2
+x 2
dx = arctan   + C
a a

1  x
∫ a 2 − x2
dx = arcsin   + C ,
a
x <a

5.16 dv du
Integration by parts ∫ u dx dx = uv − ∫ v dx dx or ∫ u dv = uv − ∫ v du

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 10

 5.11 b
Area of region enclosed A = ∫ y dx
a
by a curve and x-axis

5.17 b
Area of region enclosed A = ∫ x dy
a
by a curve and y-axis

b b
Volume of revolution V = ∫ πy 2 dx or V = ∫ πx 2 dy
a a
about the x or y-axes

5.18 Euler’s method yn +1 = yn + h × f ( xn , yn ) ; xn +1 = xn + h , where h is a constant

(step length)

Integrating factor for

e∫
P ( x )dx

y ′ + P ( x ) y = Q ( x)

5.19 x2
Maclaurin series f ( x ) = f (0) + x f ′(0) + f ′′(0) + 
2!

Maclaurin series for x2

special functions ex = 1 + x + + ...
2!

x 2 x3
ln (1 + x) = x − + − ...
2 3

x3 x 5
sin x = x − + − ...
3! 5!

x2 x4
cos x = 1 − + − ...
2! 4!

x3 x5
arctan x = x − + − ...
3 5

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL formula booklet 11