Modules 2, 3 & 4
Patterns, Relationships & Representations • Finance • Space, Shape & Orientation
Simple explanations, formulas, examples and alternative methods
MODULE 2: PATTERNS, RELATIONSHIPS AND
REPRESENTATIONS
1. Patterns
A pattern is a sequence of numbers that follows a rule.
Example: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 … The difference is +3 each time, so the next number is 17.
Easy/alternative method: Subtract a term from the next term. If the answer stays the same, you have an
arithmetic pattern.
2. Arithmetic sequence
An arithmetic sequence increases or decreases by the same amount each time.
Formula: T■ = a + (n − 1)d
Example: Find the 10th term of 3, 6, 9, 12 …: a = 3, d = 3, n = 10. T■■ = 3 + (10 − 1)(3) = 30.
Easy/alternative method: Write the first term, find the difference, then count how many differences are
needed to reach the required term.
3. Direct proportion
Two quantities are directly proportional when they increase or decrease together in the same ratio.
Formula: y = kx
Example: If 1 pen costs R5, then 4 pens cost 4 × R5 = R20.
Easy/alternative method: Find the cost of 1 item first, then multiply by the number of items.
4. Inverse proportion
Two quantities are inversely proportional when one increases while the other decreases.
Formula: y = k/x or xy = k
Example: 2 workers take 6 hours. 2 × 6 = 12. With 4 workers: 4 × hours = 12, so hours = 3.
Easy/alternative method: Keep the product constant: workers × hours stays the same.
5. Independent and dependent variables
The independent variable is what you change. The dependent variable changes because of it.
Formula: x-axis = independent variable; y-axis = dependent variable
Example: Hours worked affect money earned. Hours worked = independent; money earned = dependent.
Easy/alternative method: Ask: 'What am I changing?' = independent. 'What responds?' = dependent.
MODULE 3: FINANCE
1. Income, expenses and profit
Income is money coming in. Expenses are money going out. Profit is what remains after expenses.
Formula: Profit = Income − Expenses
Example: Income R10 000 and expenses R7 500: profit = R2 500.
Easy/alternative method: List all income and all expenses separately, total each group, then subtract.
2. Budget
A budget plans how income will be used.
Formula: Balance = Income − Total expenses
Example: Income R8 000; expenses R2 500 + R1 500 + R800 + R400 = R5 200. Balance = R2 800.
Easy/alternative method: Add all expenses first, then subtract the total from income.
3. Percentage
A percentage shows a part out of 100.
Formula: Percentage = (Part ÷ Whole) × 100
Example: 45 out of 60: (45 ÷ 60) × 100 = 75%.
Easy/alternative method: Turn the fraction into a decimal, then multiply by 100.
4. Percentage increase/decrease
Compare how much a value changed with its original value.
Formula: % change = (Change ÷ Original value) × 100
Example: R200 to R250: increase = R50; 50 ÷ 200 × 100 = 25% increase.
Easy/alternative method: Always use the ORIGINAL value as the denominator.
5. Discount
A discount reduces the original price.
Formula: Discount = Original price × discount rate; New price = Original price − Discount
Example: R400 with 20% discount: discount = R80; new price = R320.
Easy/alternative method: For 20% off, simply pay 80%: R400 × 0.80 = R320.
6. VAT
VAT is tax added to goods and services. Using the South African rate of 15% for these examples.
Formula: VAT = Price × 15%; VAT-inclusive = Price × 1.15; VAT-exclusive = VAT-inclusive ÷ 1.15
Example: R500 before VAT: VAT = R75; total = R575. If R575 includes VAT: R575 ÷ 1.15 = R500.
Easy/alternative method: For adding VAT, multiply by 1.15.
7. Break-even point
Break-even is where income equals expenses: there is no profit and no loss.
Formula: Break-even quantity = Fixed costs ÷ (Selling price − Variable cost)
Example: Fixed costs R1 000, selling price R50, variable cost R30: 1 000 ÷ (50 − 30) = 50 units.
Easy/alternative method: First find the contribution per unit: selling price − variable cost.
8. Simple interest
Simple interest is calculated on the original amount.
Formula: I = P × r × t
Example: R2 000 at 5% for 2 years: I = 2 000 × 0.05 × 2 = R200. Total = R2 200.
Easy/alternative method: Convert the percentage to a decimal before multiplying.
9. Inflation
Inflation means prices generally increase over time.
Formula: New price = Old price × (1 + inflation rate)
Example: R1 000 with 6% inflation: R1 000 × 1.06 = R1 060.
Easy/alternative method: Add the inflation percentage to 100%, then multiply.
10. Tariffs
A tariff is a charge for a service such as transport, telephone or electricity.
Formula: Total cost = Fixed charge + (Rate × Usage)
Example: R100 fixed fee + R2 per minute for 50 minutes = R100 + R100 = R200.
Easy/alternative method: Separate the fixed fee from the usage charge.
MODULE 4: SPACE, SHAPE AND ORIENTATION
1. Perimeter
Perimeter is the distance around a 2D shape.
Formula: Rectangle: P = 2(L + W)
Example: Length 8 cm and width 5 cm: P = 2(8 + 5) = 26 cm.
Easy/alternative method: Add all outside sides. For a rectangle, add length + width and multiply by 2.
2. Area
Area is the space inside a 2D shape.
Formula: Rectangle: A = L × W; Square: A = s²
Example: Rectangle 8 cm × 5 cm = 40 cm². Square with side 6 cm: 6² = 36 cm².
Easy/alternative method: Count square units when a grid is given.
3. Triangle area
The area of a triangle is half the area of a rectangle with the same base and height.
Formula: A = ½bh
Example: Base 10 cm and height 6 cm: A = ½ × 10 × 6 = 30 cm².
Easy/alternative method: Multiply base × height, then divide by 2.
4. Pythagoras theorem
Used only for right-angled triangles. The hypotenuse is the longest side, opposite the 90° angle.
Formula: a² + b² = c²
Example: If a = 3 cm and b = 4 cm: c² = 9 + 16 = 25, so c = 5 cm.
Easy/alternative method: If the missing side is a shorter side: a² = c² − b².
5. Circle circumference
Circumference is the distance around a circle.
Formula: C = 2πr or C = πd
Example: If r = 7 cm: C = 2 × 3.142 × 7 ≈ 43.99 cm.
Easy/alternative method: Use C = πd when the diameter is given.
6. Circle area
Area is the space inside a circle.
Formula: A = πr²
Example: If r = 7 cm: A = 3.142 × 7² ≈ 153.96 cm².
Easy/alternative method: Find the radius first if only the diameter is given.
7. Diameter and radius
The diameter goes all the way across the circle through the centre. The radius goes from the centre to the
edge.
Formula: d = 2r; r = d ÷ 2
Example: Diameter 20 cm → radius = 10 cm.
Easy/alternative method: Remember: diameter is TWO radii.
8. Cube volume
Volume measures the space inside a 3D object.
Formula: V = s³
Example: Side 4 cm: V = 4³ = 64 cm³.
Easy/alternative method: Multiply side × side × side.
9. Rectangular prism volume
Multiply length, width and height.
Formula: V = L × W × H
Example: 10 cm × 4 cm × 3 cm = 120 cm³.
Easy/alternative method: Think of it as number of layers: base area × height.
10. Cylinder volume
A cylinder's volume is the area of its circular base multiplied by its height.
Formula: V = πr²h
Example: r = 3 cm and h = 10 cm: V = 3.142 × 3² × 10 ≈ 282.78 cm³.
Easy/alternative method: Find the circle's area first, then multiply by height.
11. Sphere volume
The sphere formula gives the amount of space inside a sphere.
Formula: V = ■⁄■πr³
Example: If r = 3 cm: V = ■⁄■ × 3.142 × 3³ ≈ 113.11 cm³.
Easy/alternative method: Cube the radius first, then multiply by π and 4/3.
12. Map scale
A map scale compares a distance on the map with the real distance.
Formula: Actual distance = Map distance × scale factor
Example: Scale 1 : 100 000 means 1 cm on the map = 100 000 cm in reality = 1 km.
Easy/alternative method: Convert units at the end. Remember 100 000 cm = 1 km.
FORMULA CHEAT SHEET
Topic Formula
Arithmetic sequence T■ = a + (n − 1)d
Direct proportion y = kx
Inverse proportion y = k/x or xy = k
Profit Income − Expenses
Percentage (Part ÷ Whole) × 100
Discount Original price × discount rate
VAT Price × 15%
VAT inclusive Price × 1.15
VAT exclusive VAT-inclusive ÷ 1.15
Simple interest I=P×r×t
Inflation Old price × (1 + rate)
Break-even quantity Fixed costs ÷ (Selling price − Variable cost)
Rectangle perimeter 2(L + W)
Rectangle area L×W
Square area s²
Triangle area ½bh
Pythagoras a² + b² = c²
Circle circumference 2πr or πd
Circle area πr²
Cube volume s³
Rectangular prism LWH
Cylinder volume πr²h
Sphere volume ■⁄■πr³
Diameter / radius d = 2r; r = d ÷ 2
Quick reminders: Perimeter = around; Area = inside a 2D shape; Volume = space inside a 3D object;
circumference = around a circle; radius = centre to edge; diameter = across the circle; Pythagoras =
right-angled triangle only.