Maths notes

Absolutely. Below is a combined ZIMSEC O-Level Mathematics

revision set covering the major areas you need for Forms 1–4. ZIMSEC
currently has different Mathematics pathways, including Mathematics A
(4075) and Mathematics B; the older 4008/4028 distinction was non-
calculator/calculator versions. (ZIMSEC)

📘 ZIMSEC O-LEVEL MATHEMATICS — COMPLETE NOTES

1. NUMBER SYSTEMS

Natural numbers

Counting numbers:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...

Whole numbers

Natural numbers including zero:

0, 1, 2, 3, ...

Integers

Positive and negative whole numbers including zero:

..., −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...

Rational numbers

Numbers that can be written as:

[
\frac{a}{b},\quad b\neq0
]

Examples:

 ½

 0.25

 3

 −2.5

Irrational numbers

Numbers that cannot be written as a fraction of two integers.

Examples:

 √2
  √3

 π

Real numbers

All rational and irrational numbers.

2. PLACE VALUE

Example:

5 738.42

Digi
Place
t

Thousand
5
s

7 Hundreds

3 Tens

8 Units

4 Tenths

Hundredth
2
s

3. FACTORS AND MULTIPLES

Factor

A number that divides another number exactly.

Factors of 12:

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

Multiple

The result obtained when a number is multiplied by an integer.

Multiples of 5:

5, 10, 15, 20, 25...

Prime number
A number with exactly two factors: 1 and itself.

Examples:

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13

Prime factorisation

Example:

[
60=2^2\times3\times5
]

4. HCF AND LCM

HCF

Highest Common Factor.

Example:

Factors of 12: 1,2,3,4,6,12

Factors of 18: 1,2,3,6,9,18

Therefore:

HCF = 6

LCM

Lowest Common Multiple.

Multiples of 4:

4,8,12,16,20...

Multiples of 6:

6,12,18,24...

Therefore:

LCM = 12

5. FRACTIONS

Proper fraction

Numerator is smaller than denominator.

[
\frac{3}{5}
]

Improper fraction

Numerator is greater than or equal to denominator.

[
\frac{7}{4}
]

Mixed number

[
1\frac34
]

Adding fractions

[
\frac12+\frac14
]

LCM = 4

[
=\frac24+\frac14=\frac34
]

Multiplying fractions

[
\frac23\times\frac45
=\frac8{15}
]

Dividing fractions

Invert the second fraction and multiply.

[
\frac23\div\frac45

\frac23\times\frac54

\frac56
]

6. DECIMALS
Examples:

 0.5

 0.25

 3.75

 12.006

Converting decimal to fraction

[
0.75=\frac{75}{100}=\frac34
]

Decimal to percentage

Multiply by 100.

[
0.45=45%
]

Percentage to decimal

Divide by 100.

[
35%=0.35
]

7. SIGNED NUMBERS

Rules

Same signs when adding:

 Add numbers.

 Keep the common sign.

Different signs:

 Subtract.

 Keep the sign of the larger number.

Examples:

[
-5+(-3)=-8
]
[
-5+3=-2
]

[
5-(-3)=8
]

Multiplication/division

Positive × positive = positive

Negative × negative = positive

Positive × negative = negative

Negative × positive = negative

8. RATIO

A ratio compares quantities.

Example:

Boys : Girls = 2 : 3

If there are 10 boys:

[
2\rightarrow10
]

Multiply by 5:

[
3\times5=15
]

Therefore there are 15 girls.

9. PROPORTION

Direct proportion

As one quantity increases, the other increases in the same ratio.

[
y\propto x
]
Therefore:

[
y=kx
]

Inverse proportion

As one quantity increases, the other decreases.

[
y\propto\frac1x
]

Therefore:

[
y=\frac{k}{x}
]

10. PERCENTAGES

Percentage of a quantity

[
\frac{\text{percentage}}{100}\times\text{quantity}
]

Example:

20% of $500:

[
\frac{20}{100}\times500=$100
]

Percentage increase

[
\frac{\text{increase}}{\text{original}}\times100
]

Percentage decrease

[
\frac{\text{decrease}}{\text{original}}\times100
]

11. PROFIT AND LOSS

Profit

[
Profit=Selling\ Price-Cost\ Price
]

Loss

[
Loss=Cost\ Price-Selling\ Price
]

Percentage profit

[
\frac{Profit}{Cost\ Price}\times100
]

Percentage loss

[
\frac{Loss}{Cost\ Price}\times100
]

12. SIMPLE INTEREST

[
I=\frac{PRT}{100}
]

Where:

 P = principal

 R = rate

 T = time

Amount:

[
A=P+I
]

13. COMPOUND INTEREST

[
A=P\left(1+\frac r{100}\right)^n
]
Compound interest:

[
CI=A-P
]

14. SPEED, DISTANCE AND TIME

[
Speed=\frac{Distance}{Time}
]

Therefore:

[
Distance=Speed\times Time
]

[
Time=\frac{Distance}{Speed}
]

Average speed

[
Average\ speed=\frac{Total\ distance}{Total\ time}
]

15. TIME

Conversions:

1 minute = 60 seconds

1 hour = 60 minutes

1 day = 24 hours

1 week = 7 days

1 year = 12 months

For 24-hour time:

18:30 = 6:30 pm.

16. INDICES
Rules

[
a^m\times a^n=a^{m+n}
]

[
\frac{a^m}{a^n}=a^{m-n}
]

[
(a^m)^n=a^{mn}
]

[
a^0=1
]

[
a^{-n}=\frac1{a^n}
]

Example

[
2^3\times2^4=2^7
]

17. STANDARD FORM

Standard form:

[
A\times10^n
]

where:

[
1\leq A<10
]

Example:

[
450000=4.5\times10^5
]

Small number:
[
0.00032=3.2\times10^{-4}
]

18. SURDS

A surd is an irrational root that cannot be simplified into an integer or

rational number.

Example:

[
\sqrt{12}
]

[
=\sqrt{4\times3}
]

[
=2\sqrt3
]

Rationalising denominators

Example:

[
\frac1{\sqrt3}
]

Multiply by √3:

[
\frac{\sqrt3}{3}
]

19. ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Like terms

[
3x+5x=8x
]

Unlike terms
[
3x+5y
]

cannot be simplified further.

Expansion

[
3(x+4)
]

[
=3x+12
]

Double brackets

[
(x+2)(x+3)
]

[
=x^2+5x+6
]

20. FACTORISATION

Common factor:

[
6x+12=6(x+2)
]

Difference of two squares:

[
a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b)
]

Example:

[
x^2-9=(x-3)(x+3)
]

21. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

Example:

[
\frac{6x}{3}=2x
]

For addition, find the common denominator.

Example:

[
\frac1x+\frac2x=\frac3x
]

22. LINEAR EQUATIONS

Example:

[
3x+5=20
]

Subtract 5:

[
3x=15
]

Divide by 3:

[
x=5
]

23. SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS

Example:

[
x+y=10
]

[
x-y=2
]

Add:
[
2x=12
]

[
x=6
]

Then:

[
y=4
]

24. QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

General form:

[
ax^2+bx+c=0
]

Factorisation

[
x^2+5x+6=0
]

Factors of 6 that add to 5:

2 and 3.

[
(x+2)(x+3)=0
]

Therefore:

[
x=-2,\quad x=-3
]

Quadratic formula

[
x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}
]
25. QUADRATIC DISCRIMINANT

[
b^2-4ac
]

If:

> 0 → two real roots

= 0 → equal roots

< 0 → no real roots

26. INEQUALITIES

Symbols:

 (<) less than

 (>) greater than

 (\leq) less than or equal to

 (\geq) greater than or equal to

Example:

[
2x+3>9
]

[
2x>6
]

[
x>3
]

Important

When multiplying or dividing an inequality by a negative number, reverse

the inequality sign.

27. SEQUENCES

Arithmetic sequence

Constant difference.
Example:

2, 5, 8, 11...

Common difference = 3.

Nth term:

[
T_n=a+(n-1)d
]

Geometric sequence

Constant ratio.

Example:

2, 6, 18, 54...

Ratio = 3.

28. SETS

A set is a collection of objects.

Symbols:

[
\in = belongs\ to
]

[
\notin = does\ not\ belong
]

[
\cup = union
]

[
\cap = intersection
]

Union

Everything in either set.

Intersection

Elements common to both sets.

29. VENN DIAGRAMS

Used to represent sets and relationships between sets.

Important formula:

[
n(A\cup B)=n(A)+n(B)-n(A\cap B)
]

30. COORDINATES

Coordinates are written:

[
(x,y)
]

 x-coordinate → horizontal.

 y-coordinate → vertical.

31. GRADIENT

[
Gradient=\frac{change\ in\ y}{change\ in\ x}
]

For two points:

[
(x_1,y_1),(x_2,y_2)
]

[
m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}
]

32. EQUATION OF A STRAIGHT LINE

[
y=mx+c
]

where:
  m = gradient

 c = y-intercept

Parallel lines

Have the same gradient.

Perpendicular lines

For non-vertical/non-horizontal lines:

[
m_1m_2=-1
]

33. DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS

[
d=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}
]

34. MIDPOINT

[
M=
\left(
\frac{x_1+x_2}{2},
\frac{y_1+y_2}{2}
\right)
]

35. ANGLES

Important facts

Angles on a straight line:

[
180^\circ
]

Angles around a point:

[
360^\circ
]
Angles in a triangle:

[
180^\circ
]

Angles in a quadrilateral:

[
360^\circ
]

36. PARALLEL LINES

Corresponding angles

Equal.

Alternate angles

Equal.

Co-interior angles

[
180^\circ
]

37. TRIANGLES

Equilateral

 Three equal sides.

 Three angles of 60°.

Isosceles

 Two equal sides.

 Two equal base angles.

Scalene

 All sides different.

Right-angled triangle

One angle is 90°.

38. PYTHAGORAS' THEOREM

For a right-angled triangle:

[
a^2+b^2=c^2
]

where c is the hypotenuse.

39. CONGRUENCY

Congruent shapes have exactly the same:

 Size.

 Shape.

Common tests:

 SSS

 SAS

 ASA

 RHS

40. SIMILARITY

Similar shapes have:

 Same shape.

 Corresponding angles equal.

 Corresponding sides in the same ratio.

If scale factor = k:

Length scale factor:

[
k
]

Area scale factor:

[
k^2
]
Volume scale factor:

[
k^3
]

41. POLYGONS

Interior angle sum

[
(n-2)180^\circ
]

where n = number of sides.

Regular polygon interior angle

[
\frac{(n-2)180^\circ}{n}
]

Exterior angle of regular polygon

[
\frac{360^\circ}{n}
]

42. CIRCLE

Important parts:

 Centre.

 Radius.

 Diameter.

 Chord.

 Arc.

 Sector.

 Segment.

 Tangent.

 Circumference.

Diameter
[
d=2r
]

43. CIRCUMFERENCE

[
C=2\pi r
]

or

[
C=\pi d
]

44. AREA OF CIRCLE

[
A=\pi r^2
]

45. ARC LENGTH

[
Arc\ length=\frac{\theta}{360}\times2\pi r
]

46. SECTOR AREA

[
Area=\frac{\theta}{360}\times\pi r^2
]

47. CIRCLE THEOREMS

The angle at the centre

Is twice the angle at the circumference standing on the same arc.

Angle in a semicircle

Is 90°.
Angles in the same segment

Are equal.

Opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral

Add to 180°.

Radius and tangent

The radius is perpendicular to the tangent at the point of contact.

48. PERIMETER

Perimeter is the total distance around a shape.

Rectangle:

[
P=2(l+w)
]

Square:

[
P=4s
]

49. AREA

Rectangle:

[
A=lw
]

Square:

[
A=s^2
]

Triangle:

[
A=\frac12bh
]

Parallelogram:
[
A=bh
]

Trapezium:

[
A=\frac12(a+b)h
]

50. VOLUME

Cuboid:

[
V=lwh
]

Prism:

[
V=Area\ of\ cross-section\times length
]

Cylinder:

[
V=\pi r^2h
]

51. SURFACE AREA

Cuboid:

[
SA=2(lw+lh+wh)
]

Cylinder:

[
SA=2\pi r^2+2\pi rh
]

Sphere:
[
SA=4\pi r^2
]

52. SPHERE

Volume:

[
V=\frac43\pi r^3
]

Surface area:

[
SA=4\pi r^2
]

53. CONE

Volume:

[
V=\frac13\pi r^2h
]

54. TRIGONOMETRY

For right-angled triangles:

SOH CAH TOA

Sine

[
\sin\theta=\frac{opposite}{hypotenuse}
]

Cosine

[
\cos\theta=\frac{adjacent}{hypotenuse}
]

Tangent
[
\tan\theta=\frac{opposite}{adjacent}
]

55. BEARINGS

Bearings are measured:

 Clockwise.

 From north.

 Using three figures.

Examples:

045°

120°

270°

The reverse bearing differs by 180°.

56. SCALE DRAWINGS

Scale:

[
Scale=\frac{Drawing\ distance}{Actual\ distance}
]

Example:

Scale 1 : 100 000 means:

1 cm on the map = 100 000 cm on the ground.

57. TRANSFORMATIONS

Four major transformations:

Translation

Moves a shape.

Reflection

Flips a shape in a mirror line.

Rotation

Turns a shape around a centre.

Enlargement

Changes the size of a shape.

58. VECTORS

A vector has:

 Magnitude.

 Direction.

A scalar has magnitude only.

Scalar examples

 Mass.

 Time.

 Temperature.

 Speed.

Vector examples

 Velocity.

 Force.

 Displacement.

 Acceleration.

59. MATRICES

A matrix is a rectangular arrangement of numbers.

Example:

[
A=
\begin{pmatrix}
2&3\
4&5
\end{pmatrix}
]
Addition

Add corresponding elements.

Multiplication

Multiply rows by columns.

For a 2 × 2 matrix:

[
\begin{pmatrix}
a&b\
c&d
\end{pmatrix}
]

determinant:

[
ad-bc
]

60. STATISTICS

Statistics involves collecting, presenting and interpreting data.

Population

The entire group being studied.

Sample

A smaller group selected from the population.

Primary data

Collected directly.

Secondary data

Obtained from existing sources.

61. TYPES OF DATA

Discrete data

Countable values.

Example:
Number of children.

Continuous data

Can take any value within a range.

Example:

Height, mass, temperature.

62. MEAN

[
Mean=\frac{sum\ of\ values}{number\ of\ values}
]

For frequency tables:

[
Mean=\frac{\sum fx}{\sum f}
]

63. MEDIAN

The middle value when data is arranged in order.

Example:

2, 4, 6, 8, 10

Median = 6

64. MODE

The value that occurs most frequently.

Example:

2, 3, 3, 4, 5

Mode = 3

65. RANGE

[
Range=Highest\ value-Lowest\ value
]
66. FREQUENCY TABLES

Frequency means the number of times a value occurs.

For grouped data, calculate the class midpoint:

[
Midpoint=\frac{Lower\ boundary+Upper\ boundary}{2}
]

67. CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY

Cumulative frequency is the running total of frequencies.

It is used to find:

 Median.

 Quartiles.

 Percentiles.

68. HISTOGRAMS

Used mainly for continuous grouped data.

When class widths differ, use:

[
Frequency\ density=
\frac{Frequency}{Class\ width}
]

69. PROBABILITY

Probability measures how likely an event is.

[
P(Event)=\frac{Number\ of\ favourable\ outcomes}{Total\ number\ of\
outcomes}
]

Probability ranges from:

[
0\leq P(E)\leq1
]

Impossible event:

[
P=0
]

Certain event:

[
P=1
]

70. COMPLEMENTARY PROBABILITY

[
P(A')=1-P(A)
]

Example:

If probability of rain is 0.3:

[
P(no\ rain)=1-0.3=0.7
]

71. PROBABILITY OF MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

If events cannot happen together:

[
P(A\ or\ B)=P(A)+P(B)
]

72. PROBABILITY OF INDEPENDENT EVENTS

[
P(A\ and\ B)=P(A)\times P(B)
]

Example:

Probability of heads twice:

[
\frac12\times\frac12=\frac14
]

73. GRAPHS

Important graphs include:

 Linear graphs.

 Quadratic graphs.

 Cubic graphs.

 Reciprocal graphs.

 Distance-time graphs.

 Velocity-time graphs.

Distance-time graph

Gradient represents speed.

Velocity-time graph

Gradient represents acceleration.

Area under a velocity-time graph represents distance/displacement.

74. FUNCTIONS

A function maps an input to an output.

Example:

[
f(x)=2x+3
]

If x = 4:

[
f(4)=2(4)+3=11
]

75. MATRICES AND TRANSFORMATIONS

Matrices can be used to represent transformations.

A transformation may involve:

 Reflection.

 Rotation.

 Enlargement.

 Stretching.

76. LINEAR PROGRAMMING

Linear programming involves:

1. Defining variables.

2. Writing inequalities.

3. Drawing constraints.

4. Identifying the feasible region.

5. Testing vertices.

6. Finding maximum/minimum values.

77. APPROXIMATION

Decimal places

Example:

3.746 to 2 decimal places:

3.75

Significant figures

3.746 to 3 significant figures:

3.75

78. ERROR INTERVALS

If a measurement is rounded to the nearest unit:

Example:

A length of 5 cm correct to the nearest cm:

[
4.5\leq x<5.5
]

⭐ FORMULA SHEET TO MEMORISE

Number & Algebra

[
Percentage=\frac{part}{whole}\times100
]

[
Profit=SP-CP
]

[
Loss=CP-SP
]

[
I=\frac{PRT}{100}
]

[
A=P(1+\frac r{100})^n
]

[
Speed=\frac{distance}{time}
]

[
y=mx+c
]

[
x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}
]

Geometry

[
Area\ triangle=\frac12bh
]
[
Area\ circle=\pi r^2
]

[
Circumference=2\pi r
]

[
Volume\ cylinder=\pi r^2h
]

[
Volume\ sphere=\frac43\pi r^3
]

[
a^2+b^2=c^2
]

Trigonometry

[
\sin\theta=\frac OH
]

[
\cos\theta=\frac AH
]

[
\tan\theta=\frac OA
]

Statistics

[
Mean=\frac{\sum x}{n}
]

[
Mean=\frac{\sum fx}{\sum f}
]

[
Range=Maximum-Minimum
]

Probability
[
P(A)=\frac{Favourable}{Total}
]

[
P(A')=1-P(A)
]

[
P(A\cap B)=P(A)P(B)
]

📚 Best way to use these notes

The ZIMSEC syllabus is broad: published syllabus material includes areas

such as numbers, algebra, inequalities, variation/proportion, indices and
logarithms, matrices, circle geometry, vectors, statistics/probability and
transformations. (Studocu)

For serious O-Level revision, don't just memorise the formulas. For
each topic, practise:

1. Learn the rule → 2. Study a worked example → 3. Do 5–10

questions → 4. Mark them → 5. Redo every mistake.

ZIMSEC also confirms that the calculator and non-calculator Mathematics

versions differ in approach, with Paper 1 requiring manual computation.
(ZIMSEC)

If you're preparing for the exam, the most useful next step is a full
ZIMSEC O-Level Maths revision pack arranged Form 1 → Form 2 →
Form 3 → Form 4, with worked examples and exam questions for
every topic.