This JAMB Syllabus for Mathematics aims to prepare the candidates for the Unified
Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
General Objectives | JAMB Syllabus for Mathematics
It is designed to test the achievement of the course objectives, which are to:
(1) acquire computational and manipulative skills;
(2) develop precise, logical and formal reasoning skills;
(3) develop deductive skills in interpretation of graphs, diagrams and data;
(4) apply mathematical concepts to resolve issues in daily living.
This syllabus is divided into five sections:
I. Number and Numeration.
II. Algebra
III. Geometry/Trigonometry.
IV. Calculus
V. Statistics
Section 1: Number and Numeration
Topic 1: Number Bases
(a) operations in different number bases from 2 to 10;
(b) conversion from one base to another including fractional parts.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. perform four basic operations (x,+,-,÷)
ii. convert one base to another.
Topic 2: Fractions, Decimals, Approximations and Percentages
(a) fractions and decimals;
(b) significant figures;
(c) decimal places;
(d) percentage errors;
(e) simple interest;
(f) profit and loss percent;
(g) ratio, proportion and rate;
(h) shares and valued added tax (VAT).
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. perform basic operations
(x,+,-,÷) on fractions and decimals;
ii. express to specified number of significant figures and decimal places;
iii. calculate simple interest, profit and loss percent; ratio proportion and rate;
iv. Solve problems involving share and VAT.
Topic 3: Indices, Logarithms and Surds
(a) laws of indices;
(b) standard form;
(c) laws of logarithm;
(d) logarithm of any positive number to a given base;
(e) change of bases in logarithm and application;
(f) relationship between indices and logarithm;
(g) surds.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. apply the laws of indices in calculation;
ii. establish the relationship between indices and logarithms in solving problems;
iii. solve problems in different bases in logarithms;
iv. simplify and rationalize surds;
v. perform basic operations on surds.
Topic 4: Sets
(a) types of sets
(b) algebra of sets
(c) venn diagrams and their applications.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. identify types of sets, i.e empty, universal, complements, subsets, finite, infinite and
disjoint sets;
ii. solve problems involving cardinality of sets;
iii. solve set problems using symbol;
iv. use venn diagrams to solve problems involving not more than 3 sets.
Section 2: Algebra
Topic 1: Polynomials
(a) change of subject of formula
(b) factor and remainder theorems
(c) factorization of polynomials of degree not exceeding 3.
(d) multiplication and division of polynomials
(e) roots of polynomials not exceeding degree 3
(f) simultaneous equations including one linear one quadratic;
(g) graphs of polynomials of degree not greater than 3.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. find the subject of the formula of a given equation;
ii. apply factor and remainder theorem to factorize a given expression;
iii. multiply and divide polynomials of degree not more than 3;
iv. factorize by regrouping difference of two squares, perfect squares and cubic
expressions; etc.
v. solve simultaneous equations – one linear, one quadratic;
vi. interpret graphs of polynomials including applications to maximum and minimum
values.
Topic 2: Variation
(a) direct
(b) inverse
(c) joint
(d) partial
(e) percentage increase and decrease.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. solve problems involving direct, inverse, joint and partial variations;
ii. solve problems on percentage increase and decrease in variation.
Topic 3: Inequalities
(a) analytical and graphical solutions of linear inequalities;
(b) quadratic inequalities with integral roots only.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. solve problems on linear and quadratic inequalities;
ii. interpret graphs of inequalities.
Topic 4: Progression
(a) nth term of a progression
(b) sum of A. P. and G. P.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. determine the nth term of a progression;
ii. compute the sum of A. P. and G.P;
iii. sum to infinity of a given G.P.
Topic 5: Binary Operations
(a) properties of closure, commutativity, associativity and distributivity;
(b) identity and inverse elements (simple cases only).
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. solve problems involving closure, commutativity, associativity and distributivity;
ii. solve problems involving identity and inverse elements.
Topic 6: Matrices and Determinants
(a) algebra of matrices not exceeding 3 x 3;
(b) determinants of matrices not exceeding 3 x 3;
(c) inverses of 2 x 2 matrices [excluding quadratic and higher degree equations].
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. perform basic operations (x,+,-,÷) on matrices;
ii. calculate determinants;
iii. compute inverses of 2 x 2 matrices.
Section 3: Geometry and Trigonometry
Topic 1: Euclidean Geometry
(a) Properties of angles and lines
(b) Polygons: triangles, quadrilaterals and general polygons;
(c) Circles: angle properties, cyclic quadrilaterals and intersecting chords;
(d) construction.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. identify various types of lines and angles;
ii. solve problems involving polygons;
iii. calculate angles using circle theorems;
iv. identify construction procedures of special angles, e.g. 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90° etc.
Topic 2: Mensuration
(a) lengths and areas of plane geometrical figures;
(b) lengths of arcs and chords of a circle;
(c) Perimeters and areas of sectors and segments of circles;
(d) surface areas and volumes of simple solids and composite figures;
(e) the earth as a sphere:- longitudes and latitudes.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. calculate the perimeters and areas of triangles, quadrilaterals, circles and composite
figures;
ii. find the length of an arc, a chord, perimeters and areas of sectors and segments of
circles;
iii. calculate total surface areas and volumes of cuboids, cylinders. cones, pyramids,
prisms, spheres and composite figures;
iv. determine the distance between two points on the earth’s surface.
Topic 3: Loci
locus in 2 dimensions based on geometric
principles relating to lines and curves.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
identify and interpret loci relating to parallel lines, perpendicular bisectors, angle
bisectors and circles.
Topic 4: Coordinate Geometry
(a) midpoint and gradient of a line segment;
(b) distance between two points;
(c) parallel and perpendicular lines;
(d) equations of straight lines.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. determine the midpoint and gradient of a line segment;
ii. find the distance between two points;
iii. identify conditions for parallelism and perpendicularity;
iv. find the equation of a line in the two-point form, point-slope form, slope intercept
form and the general form.
Topic 5: Trigonometry
(a) trigonometrical ratios of angles;
(b) angles of elevation and depression;
(c) bearings;
(d) areas and solutions of triangle;
(e) graphs of sine and cosine;
(f) sine and cosine formulae.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. calculate the sine, cosine and tangent of angles between – 360° ≤ θ ≤ 360°;
ii. apply these special angles, e.g. 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, 135° to solve simple
problems in trigonometry;
iii. solve problems involving angles of elevation and depression;
iv. solve problems involving bearings;
v. apply trigonometric formulae to find areas of triangles;
vi. solve problems involving sine and cosine graphs.
Section 4: Calculus
Topic 1: Differentiation
(a) limit of a function
(b) differentiation of explicit algebraic and simple trigonometric functions – sine, cosine
and tangent.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. find the limit of a function
ii. differentiate explicit algebraic and simple trigonometrical functions.
Topic 2: Application of Differentiation
(a) rate of change;
(b) maxima and minima.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
solve problems involving applications of rate of change, maxima and minima.
Topic 3: Integration
(a) integration of explicit algebraic and simple trigonometrical functions;
(b) area under the curve.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. solve problems of integration involving algebraic and simple trigonometric functions;
ii. calculate area under the curve (simple cases only).
Section 5: Statistics
Topic 1: Representation of data
(a) frequency distribution;
(b) histogram, bar chart and pie chart.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. identify and interpret frequency distribution tables;
ii. interpret information on histogram, bar chat and pie chart.
Topic 2: Measures of Location
(a) mean, mode and median of ungrouped and grouped data – (simple cases only);
(b) cumulative frequency.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. calculate the mean, mode and median of ungrouped and grouped data (simple cases
only);
ii. use ogive to find the median, quartiles and percentiles.
Topic 3: Measures of Dispersion
range, mean deviation, variance and standard deviation.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
calculate the range, mean deviation, variance and standard deviation of ungrouped and
grouped data.
Topic 4: Permutation and Combination
(a) Linear and circular arrangements;
(b) Arrangements involving repeated objects.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
solve simple problems involving permutation and combination.
Topic 5: Probability
(a) experimental probability (tossing of coin, throwing of a dice etc);
(b) Addition and multiplication of probabilities (mutual and independent cases).
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
solve simple problems in probability (including addition and multiplication).