NCTB MATHEMATICS

Topic-Based Study Guide

All topics from Class 5 → Class 10 reorganised by subject

Algebra · Geometry · Trigonometry · Mensuration · Statistics · Number Systems

★★★ High Priority Must master — appears every year in SSC

★★■ Medium Priority Important — study after high-priority topics

★■■ Foundation Quick read — builds base for later topics

TABLE OF CONTENTS
■ NUMBER SYSTEMS & ARITHMETIC
› Basic Operations (×, ÷, +, −)
› Multiples, Factors, HCF & LCM
› Fractions & Decimals
› Integers (Negative Numbers)
› Rational & Irrational Numbers
› Average, Percentage & Ratio Basics
› Profit, Loss, Interest & Financial Maths
› Exponents & Logarithms

■ ALGEBRA
› Algebraic Expressions — Basics
› Algebraic Identities & Factorisation
› Algebraic Fractions
› Equations — Linear (One Variable)
› Equations — Simultaneous (Two Variables)
› Equations — Quadratic
› Algebraic Ratio & Proportion
› Sequences & Series (AP & GP)
› Sets & Functions

■ GEOMETRY
› Angles & Lines — Fundamentals
› Parallel Lines & Transversals
› Triangles — Congruence & Properties
› Triangles — Similarity
› Quadrilaterals
› Pythagoras Theorem
› Circles — Theorems & Proofs
› Area-Related Theorems
› Practical Geometry (Constructions)

■ MENSURATION
› Perimeter & Area — 2D Shapes
› Surface Area & Volume — 3D Shapes
› Units & Measurement Conversion

■ TRIGONOMETRY
› Trigonometric Ratios & Identities
› Heights & Distances (Elevation & Depression)

■ STATISTICS & DATA

› Organising & Representing Data
› Mean, Median & Mode
■ NUMBER SYSTEMS & ARITHMETIC
★★
Basic Operations (×, ÷, +, −) ■

Class 5 Multiplication & Division

• Method of multiplication for 3–4 digit numbers
• Long division with remainders
• Relationship: multiplicand × multiplier = product

Class 5 Problems of Four Basic Operations

• BODMAS / order of operations
• Mixed problems using +, −, ×, ÷ together
• Real-life word problems with brackets

★★
Multiples, Factors, HCF & LCM ★

Class 5 Multiples and Factors

• Prime and composite numbers
• Prime factorisation
• HCF by listing and prime factorisation
• LCM by listing and prime factorisation
• Word problems using HCF and LCM

Class 6 Natural Numbers and Fractions

• Divisibility rules for 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10
• Prime, composite and co-prime numbers
• HCF and LCM of fractions and decimals
• Simplifying fractions using HCF/LCM

★★
Fractions & Decimals ★

Class 5 Fractions
• Proper, improper and mixed fractions
• Equivalent fractions — simplifying to lowest terms
• Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of fractions
• Word problems with fractions

Class 5 Decimal Fractions

• Place value: tenths, hundredths, thousandths
• Converting fractions ↔ decimals
• All four operations on decimals

Class 6 Natural Numbers and Fractions (advanced)

• HCF and LCM of decimal fractions
• Complex fraction simplification
 ★★
Integers (Negative Numbers) ★

Class 6 Integers
• Concept of negative numbers and number line
• Absolute value of integers
• Addition and subtraction of integers
• Multiplication & division sign rules (+×+=+, +×−=−, etc.)
• Mixed integer operations

★★
Rational & Irrational Numbers ★

Class 7 Rational and Irrational Numbers

• Rational numbers in p/q form — definition and examples
• Irrational numbers: √2, √3, π
• Properties of rational numbers (closure, commutative, associative, distributive)
• Operations on rational numbers
• Square roots and cube roots

Class
Real Numbers
9–10
• Classification: natural → whole → integer → rational → irrational → real
• Surds: √2, √3, ■5 — simplifying and rationalising denominators
• Laws of indices: a^m × a^n = a^(m+n), (a^m)^n = a^(mn), etc.
• Rationalisation: multiplying by conjugate to clear surd from denominator

★★
Average, Percentage & Ratio Basics ★

Class 5 Average
• Arithmetic mean — concept and calculation
• Finding missing value when average is given

Class 5 Percentage
• Percent as per-hundred concept
• Converting fractions/decimals ↔ percentages
• Percentage of a number; word problems

Class 6 Ratios and Percentages

• Ratio notation a:b; simplifying and equivalent ratios
• Dividing a quantity in a given ratio
• Proportion: direct and inverse
• Unitary method
• Profit, loss, simple interest basics

Class 7 Proportion, Profit and Loss

• Continued proportion; direct & inverse proportion problems
• Finding CP/SP when profit% or loss% is given
• Discount: marked price, discount%, selling price
• VAT and commission problems
 ★★
Profit, Loss, Interest & Financial Maths ■

Class 8 Profits
• Simple interest: I = PRT/100 — finding I, P, R or T
• Compound interest: A = P(1 + r/100)^n
• Annual, half-yearly and quarterly compounding
• Tax (income tax, VAT) and insurance basics

★★
Exponents & Logarithms ★

Class
Exponents and Logarithms
9–10
• Full review of all index laws
• Scientific notation: a × 10^n
• log_a(x) = y means a^y = x — definition
• Laws of logs: log(mn)=log m+log n, log(m/n)=log m−log n, log(m^n)=n×log m
• Changing base formula
• Solving exponential equations using logarithms
• Using log tables / calculator
■ ALGEBRA
★★
Algebraic Expressions — Basics ★

Class 6 Algebraic Expressions

• Variables, constants, coefficients
• Monomials, binomials, trinomials, polynomials
• Like and unlike terms
• Addition and subtraction of algebraic expressions
• Multiplication: monomial×monomial, monomial×polynomial, binomial×binomial
• Substitution: evaluating expressions at x = some number

★★
Algebraic Identities & Factorisation ★

Class 7 Multiplication & Division of Algebraic Expressions

• (a+b)² = a²+2ab+b²
• (a−b)² = a²−2ab+b²
• (a+b)(a−b) = a²−b²
• (a+b)³ = a³+3a²b+3ab²+b³
• (a−b)³ = a³−3a²b+3ab²−b³
• Factorisation: common factor, grouping, difference of squares, perfect square
• Division of algebraic expressions

Class 7 Algebraic Formulae and Applications

• Using identities for fast calculation (e.g. 101² = (100+1)²)
• Factorising quadratics: ax²+bx+c
• Finding a²+b², a³+b³ from given a+b and ab
• Key results: a²+b²=(a+b)²−2ab, a³+b³=(a+b)(a²−ab+b²)

Class 8 Algebraic Formulae and Applications

• (a+b+c)² = a²+b²+c²+2ab+2bc+2ca
• Factorisation of degree-3 polynomials
• Factor theorem: if f(a)=0, then (x−a) is a factor
• Sum and difference of cubes: a³+b³ and a³−b³
• Finding a²+b²+c², a³+b³+c³ from conditions

Class
Algebraic Expressions
9–10
• All factorisation methods combined
• Long division of polynomials
• Remainder theorem and factor theorem
• HCF and LCM of algebraic expressions

★★
Algebraic Fractions ★

Class 7 Algebraic Fractions

• Simplifying algebraic fractions (cancel common factors)
• Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of algebraic fractions
• Compound algebraic fractions

Class 8 Algebraic Fractions

• Simplifying complex algebraic fractions
• Partial fractions (introduction)
• Equations involving algebraic fractions

★★
Equations — Linear (One Variable) ★

Class 6 Simple Equations

• What is an equation? LHS = RHS
• Solving one-step and two-step equations
• Equations with variables on both sides
• Word problems → equations → solve

Class 7 Simple Equations

• Equations with fractions and decimals
• Equations leading to identities or contradictions
• Age problems, number problems, geometry word problems

★★
Equations — Simultaneous (Two Variables) ★

Class 8 Simple Simultaneous Equations

• Substitution method
• Elimination method
• Cross-multiplication method
• Word problems: age, mixture, boat/stream

Class
Simple Simultaneous Equations in Two Variables
9–10
• All three methods — full mastery
• Graphical solution: intersection of two lines
• Conditions: unique / no / infinite solutions
• Word problems: age, number, speed/distance, mixture, income/expenditure

★★
Equations — Quadratic ★

Class
Equations in One Variable
9–10
• Solving by factorisation
• Solving by completing the square
• Quadratic formula: x = [−b ± √(b²−4ac)] / 2a
• Discriminant b²−4ac: nature of roots (two distinct / equal / no real roots)
• Sum of roots α+β = −b/a, product αβ = c/a
• Forming a quadratic from given roots
• Word problems leading to quadratic equations
 ★★
Algebraic Ratio & Proportion ★

Class
Algebraic Ratio and Proportion
9–10
• Ratio, equal ratio, inverse ratio
• Componendo, dividendo, componendo-dividendo rules
• If a/b = c/d → (a+b)/(a−b) = (c+d)/(c−d) ← very common in SSC
• Continued proportion; mean proportional: b = √(ac)
• Applying proportion to simplify complex algebraic expressions

★★
Sequences & Series (AP & GP) ★

Class 8 Patterns
• Arithmetic sequences (constant difference)
• Geometric sequences (constant ratio)
• Finding the nth term for simple patterns
• Pascal's triangle

Class
Finite Series
9–10
• AP: nth term a■ = a+(n−1)d
• AP: sum S■ = n/2 [2a+(n−1)d]
• GP: nth term a■ = ar^(n−1)
• GP: sum S■ = a(r■−1)/(r−1) for r≠1
• Sum of 1+2+…+n = n(n+1)/2
• Sum of squares: n(n+1)(2n+1)/6
• Sum of cubes: [n(n+1)/2]²

★★
Sets & Functions ★

Class 8 Set
• Definition; roster and set-builder notation
• Empty, finite, infinite, universal sets; subsets
• Union (A∪B), Intersection (A∩B), Complement (A')
• Difference (A−B); Venn diagrams
• Laws: commutative, associative, distributive, De Morgan's

Class
Sets and Functions
9–10
• Venn diagrams with 2 and 3 sets
• |A∪B| = |A|+|B|−|A∩B| cardinality formula
• Functions: domain, co-domain, range
• One-to-one (injective), onto (surjective), bijective functions
• Composition of functions: f(g(x))
• Inverse functions
■ GEOMETRY
★★
Angles & Lines — Fundamentals ■

Class 5 Geometry
• Points, lines, line segments, rays
• Types of angles: acute, right, obtuse, straight, reflex
• Triangles: types by sides and angles
• Quadrilaterals: square, rectangle, parallelogram

Class 6 Basic Concepts of Geometry

• Adjacent, complementary, supplementary angles
• Vertically opposite angles
• Transversal cutting parallel lines: alternate, co-interior, corresponding angles
• Triangle angle-sum property (180°) — first introduction
• Exterior angle theorem

★★
Parallel Lines & Transversals ■

Class 7 Parallel Straight Lines

• Corresponding angles equal when lines parallel
• Alternate interior angles equal when lines parallel
• Co-interior angles supplementary
• Proving lines parallel using angle conditions

Class
Lines, Angles and Triangles
9–10
• Full proofs of all parallel-line angle theorems
• Angle-sum and exterior angle theorem with proofs
• Congruence theorems: SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, RHS with formal proofs
• Isosceles triangle theorem and converse
• Inequalities in triangles

★★
Triangles — Congruence & Properties ★

Class 7 Triangles
• Congruence conditions: SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, RHS
• Isosceles triangle: base angles equal
• Equilateral triangle properties
• Triangle inequality: sum of two sides > third side
• Median, altitude, angle bisector, perpendicular bisector

★★
Triangles — Similarity ★

Class 7 Congruence and Similarity

• Congruent figures: same shape AND size
• Similar figures: same shape, different size
• Ratio of corresponding sides in similar triangles
• AA similarity condition

Class
Ratio, Similarity and Symmetry
9–10
• AA, SAS, SSS conditions for similarity with proofs
• Basic Proportionality Theorem (Thales): line ■ to one side divides other two sides proportionally
• Converse of BPT
• Areas of similar triangles: ratio = (ratio of sides)²
• Line symmetry and rotational symmetry
• Axis of symmetry; order of rotational symmetry

★★
Quadrilaterals ■

Class 8 Quadrilaterals
• Parallelogram: opposite sides equal and parallel; diagonals bisect each other
• Rectangle, rhombus, square properties
• Trapezium properties
• Midpoint theorem of triangles
• Proofs of quadrilateral theorems

★★
Pythagoras Theorem ★

Class 8 Pythagoras Theorem

• Statement: hypotenuse² = base² + height²
• Proof of Pythagoras theorem
• Finding the third side when two sides are given
• Pythagorean triples: (3,4,5), (5,12,13), (8,15,17)
• Converse: if c²=a²+b², triangle is right-angled
• Applications: distance, height, diagonal problems

★★
Circles — Theorems & Proofs ★

Class 8 Circle (intro)

• Parts: centre, radius, diameter, chord, arc, sector, segment
• Angle in a semicircle = 90°
• Angles in the same segment are equal
• Tangent ⊥ radius at point of contact
• Two tangents from external point are equal
• Perpendicular from centre bisects chord

Class
Circle (full)
9–10
• Equal chords are equidistant from centre (proof)
• Central angle = 2 × inscribed angle on same arc (proof)
• Cyclic quadrilateral: opposite angles sum to 180°
• Tangent-chord angle = inscribed angle in alternate segment
• All circle theorems with formal proofs for SSC

★★
Area-Related Theorems ★

Class
Area Related Theorems and Constructions
9–10
• Triangles on same base between same parallels have equal area (proof)
• Triangle = ½ area of parallelogram on same base between same parallels (proof)
• Proof-based problems using both theorems
• Construction: divide a line segment in given ratio
• Construction: triangle equal in area to given quadrilateral

★★
Practical Geometry (Constructions) ■

Class 6 Practical Geometry

• Perpendicular bisector of a line segment
• Angle bisector
• Constructing 60°, 90°, 120° without protractor
• Triangles given: SSS, SAS, ASA conditions

Class
Practical Geometry
9–10
• Constructing triangles from various conditions
• Constructing quadrilaterals
• Circumscribed circle (circumcircle) of a triangle
• Inscribed circle (incircle) of a triangle
■ MENSURATION
★★
Perimeter & Area — 2D Shapes ■

Class 5 Geometry & Measurement

• Perimeter of rectangles, squares, triangles
• Area of rectangles and squares

Class 7 Measurement
• Area of triangles: ½ × base × height; Heron's formula
• Area of parallelogram and trapezium
• Area of circle: πr²; Circumference: 2πr

Class
Mensuration — 2D
9–10
• Area of triangle: ½bh, Heron's formula, ½ab sin C
• Area of all quadrilateral types
• Area of circle, sector (θ/360 × πr²) and segment

★★
Surface Area & Volume — 3D Shapes ★

Class 8 Measurement (3D)

• Surface area: cylinder, cone, sphere
• Volume of cylinder: πr²h
• Volume of cone: ■πr²h
• Volume of sphere: ■⁄■πr³

Class
Mensuration — 3D
9–10
• Cuboid SA: 2(lb+bh+hl); Volume: lbh
• Cube SA: 6a²; Volume: a³
• Cylinder SA (open/closed): 2πrh and 2πr(r+h)
• Cone SA: πrl+πr² where l = slant height
• Sphere SA: 4πr²; Hemisphere SA: 3πr²
• Combined solid shape problems (e.g. cone on cylinder)
• Conversion problems (melting sphere into cylinders)

★★
Units & Measurement Conversion ■

Class 5 Measurement
• Length: mm, cm, m, km — conversions
• Mass: g, kg, ton — conversions
• Capacity: ml, L — conversions

Class 5 Time
• 12-hour and 24-hour time
• Elapsed time calculations
• Converting seconds ↔ minutes ↔ hours ↔ days

Class 7 Measurement
• Volume of cuboid and cube
• Surface area of cuboid and cube
• Conversion between units of area and volume
• Word problems with combined shapes
■ TRIGONOMETRY
★★
Trigonometric Ratios & Identities ★

Class
Trigonometric Ratio
9–10
• Right triangle: opposite, adjacent, hypotenuse
• Six trig ratios: sin θ, cos θ, tan θ, cosec θ, sec θ, cot θ
• Reciprocal identities: sin θ=1/cosec θ, cos θ=1/sec θ, tan θ=1/cot θ
• Standard angles — MEMORISE:
• sin: 0°=0, 30°=½, 45°=1/√2, 60°=√3/2, 90°=1
• cos: 0°=1, 30°=√3/2, 45°=1/√2, 60°=½, 90°=0
• tan: 0°=0, 30°=1/√3, 45°=1, 60°=√3, 90°=undefined
• Pythagorean identities: sin²θ+cos²θ=1, 1+tan²θ=sec²θ, 1+cot²θ=cosec²θ
• Proving trigonometric identities
• Complementary angle relationships: sin(90°−θ)=cosθ, etc.

★★
Heights & Distances (Elevation & Depression) ★

Class
Distance and Elevation
9–10
• Angle of elevation — looking UP at an object
• Angle of depression — looking DOWN at an object
• Using tan θ = opposite/adjacent for height and distance
• Problems with two angles from different observation points
• Shadow length problems
• Lighthouse, building, tower problems — very frequent in SSC
■ STATISTICS & DATA
★★
Organising & Representing Data ■

Class 5 Data Arrangement

• Collecting and organising data in tables
• Reading and drawing bar charts
• Interpreting pictograms

Class 6 Information and Data

• Types of data: primary vs secondary
• Frequency distribution tables
• Bar graphs, histograms, line graphs

Class 7 Information and Data

• Grouped and ungrouped frequency distribution
• Cumulative frequency
• Pie charts — drawing and interpreting

Class 8 Information and Data

• Frequency polygons
• Ogive (cumulative frequency curve)
• Finding median from ogive

★★
Mean, Median & Mode ★

Class 6 Information and Data

• Mean, median, mode — calculating each

Class 7 Information and Data

• Mean from frequency table
• Median and mode from grouped data

Class
Statistics
9–10
• Constructing frequency distribution from raw data
• Mean from grouped data: Σ(f×x) / Σf
• Median from grouped data using formula
• Mode from grouped data using formula
• Histogram and frequency polygon
• Ogive curves (less-than and more-than types)
• Reading median from ogive
• Measures of dispersion: range, mean deviation, standard deviation
• Probability basics: P(A) = favourable/total; complementary events P(A')=1−P(A)
MASTER QUICK-REFERENCE
All topics at a glance — colour coded by subject. Use as a daily checklist.

Topic Subject Area Priority Done?

Basic Operations (×, ÷, +, −) ■ NUMBER SYSTEMS ★★■ []

Multiples, Factors, HCF & LCM ■ NUMBER SYSTEMS ★★★ []
Fractions & Decimals ■ NUMBER SYSTEMS ★★★ []
Integers (Negative Numbers) ■ NUMBER SYSTEMS ★★★ []
Rational & Irrational Numbers ■ NUMBER SYSTEMS ★★★ []
Average, Percentage & Ratio Basics ■ NUMBER SYSTEMS ★★★ []
Profit, Loss, Interest & Financial Maths ■ NUMBER SYSTEMS ★★■ []
Exponents & Logarithms ■ NUMBER SYSTEMS ★★★ []
Algebraic Expressions — Basics ■ ALGEBRA ★★★ []
Algebraic Identities & Factorisation ■ ALGEBRA ★★★ []
Algebraic Fractions ■ ALGEBRA ★★★ []
Equations — Linear (One Variable) ■ ALGEBRA ★★★ []
Equations — Simultaneous (Two Variables) ■ ALGEBRA ★★★ []
Equations — Quadratic ■ ALGEBRA ★★★ []
Algebraic Ratio & Proportion ■ ALGEBRA ★★★ []
Sequences & Series (AP & GP) ■ ALGEBRA ★★★ []
Sets & Functions ■ ALGEBRA ★★★ []
Angles & Lines — Fundamentals ■ GEOMETRY ★★■ []
Parallel Lines & Transversals ■ GEOMETRY ★★■ []
Triangles — Congruence & Properties ■ GEOMETRY ★★★ []
Triangles — Similarity ■ GEOMETRY ★★★ []
Quadrilaterals ■ GEOMETRY ★★■ []
Pythagoras Theorem ■ GEOMETRY ★★★ []
Circles — Theorems & Proofs ■ GEOMETRY ★★★ []
Area-Related Theorems ■ GEOMETRY ★★★ []
Practical Geometry (Constructions) ■ GEOMETRY ★★■ []
Perimeter & Area — 2D Shapes ■ MENSURATION ★★■ []
Surface Area & Volume — 3D Shapes ■ MENSURATION ★★★ []
Units & Measurement Conversion ■ MENSURATION ★★■ []
Trigonometric Ratios & Identities ■ TRIGONOMETRY ★★★ []
Heights & Distances (Elevation & Depression) ■ TRIGONOMETRY ★★★ []
Organising & Representing Data ■ STATISTICS ★★■ []
Mean, Median & Mode ■ STATISTICS ★★★ []