WASSCE / WAEC CORE / GENERAL MATHEMATICS SYLLABUS

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TOPICS CONTENTS NOTES

A. NUMBER AND
NUMERATION

( a ) Number bases ( i ) conversion of numbers from Conversion from one base

one base to another to base 10 and vice versa.
Conversion from one base to
another base .

( ii ) Basic operations on number Addition, subtraction and

bases multiplication of number
bases.

(b) Modular Arithmetic (i) Concept of Modulo Arithmetic. Interpretation of modulo

arithmetic e.g.
6 + 4 = k(mod7),
(ii) Addition, subtraction and 3 x 5 = b(mod6),
Section A - m = 2(mod 3), etc.
multiplication operations in
modulo arithmetic.

Section B - (iii) Application to daily life Relate to market days,

clock,shift duty, etc.
( c ) Fractions, Decimals and (i) Basic operations on fractions
Approximations and decimals.
(ii) Approximations and Approximations should be
significant figures. realistic e.g. a road is not
measured correct to the
nearest cm.

( d ) Indices ( i ) Laws of indices e.g. ax x ay = ax + y , axay = ax

y, (ax)y = axy, etc where x, y

are real numbers and a

Include simple examples of
negative and fractional
indices.

( ii ) Numbers in standard form Expression of large and small

( scientific notation) numbers in standard form
e.g. 375300000 = 3.753 x 108
0.00000035 = 3.5 x 10-7
Use of tables of squares,
square roots and reciprocals
is accepted.

( e) Logarithms ( i ) Relationship between indices

and logarithms e.g. y =
k10implies log10y = [Link] involving
( ii ) Basic rules of logarithms e.g. multiplication, division,
log10(pq) = log10p + log10qpowers and roots.
log10(p/q) = log10p log10q
log10pn = nlog10p.
(iii) Use of tables of logarithms
and antilogarithms.

( f ) Sequence and Series (i) Patterns of sequences. Determine any term of a

given sequence. The notation
Un = the nth termof a
sequence may be used.

(ii) Arithmetic progression (A.P.) Simple cases only, including

Geometric Progression (G.P.) word problems. (Include sum
for A.P. and exclude sum for
G.P).

( g ) Sets (i) Idea of sets, universal sets,

finite and infinite sets, compliment of P).
 parallel lines. ( ii )Corresponding angles are
equal.
( iii )Interior opposite angles are
supplementary
(iv) Intercept theorem.
Application to proportional
division of a line segment.

(c) Triangles and Polygons. (i) The sum of the angles of a

triangle is 2 right angles. The formal proofs of those
(ii) The exterior angle of a underlined may be required.
triangle equals the sum of
the two interior opposite
angles.

(iii) Congruent triangles. Conditions to be known but

proofs not required e.g. SSS,
SAS, etc.

( iv ) Properties of special Use symmetry where

triangles- Isosceles, applicable.
equilateral, right-angled, etc

(v) Properties of special

quadrilaterals
parallelogram, rhombus,
square, rectangle, trapezium.

( vi )Properties of similar Equiangular properties and

triangles. ratio of sides and areas.

( vii ) The sum of the angles of a Sum of interior angles =

polygon (n - 2)180o or (2n 4)right
angles, where n is the
number of sides

(viii) Property of exterior angles

of a polygon.

(ix) Parallelograms on the same

base and between the same
parallels are equal in area.

( d ) Circles (i) Chords. Angles subtended by chords

in a circle and at the centre.
Perpendicular bisectors of
 chords.

(ii) The angle which an arc of a

circle subtends at the centre
of the circle is twice that the formal proofs of those
which it subtends at any
underlined may be required.
point on the remaining part
of the circumference.

(iii) Any angle subtended at the

circumference by a diameter
is a right angle.

(iv) Angles in the same segment

are equal.
(v) Angles in opposite segments
are supplementary.

( vi )Perpendicularity of tangent
and radius.

(vii )If a tangent is drawn to a

circle and from the point of
contact a chord is drawn,
each angle which this chord
makes with the tangent is
equal to the angle in the
alternate segment.