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    IB Math AASL
    /
    2D & 3D Geometry
    /

    Skills

    Skill Checklist

    Track your progress across all skills in your objective. Mark your confidence level and identify areas to focus on.

    Track your progress:

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    ๐Ÿ“– = included in formula booklet โ€ข ๐Ÿšซ = not in formula booklet

    Track your progress:

    Don't know

    Working on it

    Confident

    ๐Ÿ“– = included in formula booklet โ€ข ๐Ÿšซ = not in formula booklet

    2D & 3D Geometry

    Skill Checklist

    Track your progress across all skills in your objective. Mark your confidence level and identify areas to focus on.

    23 Skills Available

    Track your progress:

    Don't know

    Working on it

    Confident

    ๐Ÿ“– = included in formula booklet โ€ข ๐Ÿšซ = not in formula booklet

    Track your progress:

    Don't know

    Working on it

    Confident

    ๐Ÿ“– = included in formula booklet โ€ข ๐Ÿšซ = not in formula booklet

    Right angled triangles

    6 skills
    Area of triangle equals ยฝbh
    SL 1.prior

    The area of a triangle is given by

    A=21โ€‹(bh)๐Ÿ“–

    where b is the base and h is the height.


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    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Pythagoras' Theorem
    SL 3.prior

    In a right angled triangle with sides a, b and hypotenuse (longest side) c, Pythagoras' Theorem states

    a2+b2=c2๐Ÿšซ

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    Trigonometric Ratios
    SL Core 3.2

    In a right angled triangle with an angle ฮธ<90ยฐ, the trigonometric ratios sin, cos and tan are defined by

    sinฮธย cosฮธย tanฮธโ€‹=hypotenuseoppositeโ€‹ย =hypotenuseadjacentโ€‹ย =adjacentoppositeโ€‹โ€‹


    where opposite and adjacent refer to the side lengths of the sides opposite and adjacent to ฮธ, while hypotenuse is the length of the longest side.

    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Triangle Angles Sum to 180ยฐ
    SL 3.prior

    In any triangle ABC, the angles add up to 180ยฐ:

    โˆ A+โˆ B+โˆ C=180ยฐ๐Ÿšซ


    Example

    A triangle has angles 35ยฐ and 55ยฐ. Find the missing angle.

    35ยฐ+55ยฐ+x=180ยฐ

    so x=180โˆ’35โˆ’55=90ยฐ.

    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Finding angles in right angled triangles
    SL Core 3.2

    If we know the value of sinฮธ, cosฮธ or tanฮธ in a right angled triangle, we can find ฮธ using an inverse trigonometric function on a calculator. These functions are sinโˆ’1, cosโˆ’1 and tanโˆ’1 and satisfy

    sinโˆ’1(sinฮธ)=ฮธcosโˆ’1(cosฮธ)=ฮธtanโˆ’1(tanฮธ)=ฮธโ€‹

    whenever ฮธ<90ยฐ, which is always true in a right angled triangle.

    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Finding side lengths from an angle
    SL Core 3.2

    The trigonometric ratios sin, cos and tan are actually functions that relate an angle ฮธ to a ratio of sides. The values of sin, cos and tan for specific angles can be found on the calculator. For example

    sin(40ยฐ)โ‰ˆ0.643
    Watch video explanation โ†’

    Non-right-angled triangles

    4 skills
    Area of non-right-angled triangles
    SL Core 3.2

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    When we know two side lengths and the angle between the two sides, we can find the area even if we don't directly know the height by using the fact that

    sinC=ahโ€‹โ‡’h=asinC

    Thus

    A=21โ€‹(bh)=21โ€‹absinC๐Ÿ“–
    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Sine rule
    SL Core 3.2

    The previously found formula for area

    A=21โ€‹absinC๐Ÿ“–

    applies to any pair of sides and the angle between them. Since the area is the same no matter which sides we use:

    21โ€‹absinC=21โ€‹bcsinA=21โ€‹acsinB

    Multiplying everything by 2 and dividing by abc:

    csinCโ€‹=asinAโ€‹=BsinBโ€‹๐Ÿšซ

    Flipping the numerator and denominator gives the form that appears in the formula booklet:

    sinAaโ€‹=sinBbโ€‹=sinCcโ€‹๐Ÿ“–


    The sine rule is primarily used when we know two angles and a side. When we know two sides and an angle, the version with angles in the numerator is easier to work with.

    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Cosine rule
    SL Core 3.2

    The cosine rule is a generalization of Pythagoras' theorem for non-right-angled triangles. It states that

    c2=a2+b2โˆ’2abcosC๐Ÿ“–


    The cosine rule is primarily used when we

    • know two sides and the angle between them, and want to find the third side,

    • know all three sides and want to find an angle.

    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Ambiguous Case of the Sine rule
    SL 3.5

    The ambiguous case of the sine rule is a consequence of the symmetry of the sin function:

    sin(180ยฐโˆ’A)=sin(A)

    Therefore, if a given triangle has a specific sin(A) and it is not specified whether A is acute / obtuse, then there are two possible lengths for the side opposite A:

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    When we type sinโˆ’1(x) into the calculator, it will always return an acute angle. To find the corresponding obtuse angle, we take

    180ยฐโˆ’sinโˆ’1(x)
    Watch video explanation โ†’

    Applied triangle geometry

    2 skills
    Angles of elevation & depression
    SL Core 3.3

    Angles of elevation and depression describe how far upward or downward you look relative to a horizontal line when observing an object.

    • The angle of elevation is the angle formed by looking upward from the horizontal line to an object above your line of sight.

    • The angle of depression is the angle formed by looking downward from the horizontal line to an object below your line of sight.

    These angles are always measured relative to a horizontal line, never vertical. Because the lines of sight form alternate interior angles with horizontal lines, the angle of elevation from one viewpoint equals the angle of depression from the other viewpoint.

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    Watch video explanation โ†’
    True bearings
    SL Core 3.3

    A true bearing describes a direction measured clockwise from the north direction (0ยฐ) around a full circle up to 360ยฐ. Bearings are always given using three digits (e.g. 045ยฐ,120ยฐ,270ยฐ) to avoid confusion.

    • A bearing of 000โˆ˜ points directly north.

    • 090โˆ˜ points east.

    • 180โˆ˜ points south.

    • 270โˆ˜ points west.

    When working with true bearings, clearly draw a compass rose to visualize directions and measure angles clockwise from the north line.


    One very useful fact about bearings is that returning in the direction something came from means adding or subtracting 180ยฐ from the original bearing - since it is doing a U-turn.


    Whether you add or subtract depends on whether the original bearing is smaller or bigger than 180ยฐ, since the resulting bearing must be between 0 and 360ยฐ.

    Watch video explanation โ†’

    Circles: Radians, arcs and sectors

    6 skills
    Circumference & Area of a circle
    SL 3.4

    The ratio of a circle's perimeter to its diameter is constant in all circles. This constant is called ฯ€ (pi). Since the diameter is twice the radius, the circumference of a circle is

    C=2ฯ€r๐Ÿ“–

    The area of a circle is

    A=ฯ€r2๐Ÿ“–

    where r is the radius of the circle.

    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Arc length (radians)
    SL 3.4

    An arc is defined by the radius r of the circle and the angle ฮธ that the arc "sweeps out" over the circle's perimeter.

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    Since the arc length is a fraction of the overall circumference determined by the value of the angle ฮธ, the arc length is calculated as

    l=rฮธ
    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Converting Between Radians & Degrees
    SL 3.4

    Since the perimeter of a full circle is 2ฯ€r, the angle ฮธ corresponding to a full circle (360ยฐ) is

    r2ฯ€rโ€‹rad=360ยฐ

    So

    ฯ€rad=180ยฐ๐Ÿšซ


    Some key angles in radians and degrees:

    Degrees

    Radians

    0ยฐ

    0

    30ยฐ

    6ฯ€โ€‹

    45ยฐ

    4ฯ€โ€‹

    60ยฐ

    3ฯ€โ€‹

    90ยฐ

    2ฯ€โ€‹

    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Arc length (degrees)
    SL 3.4

    An arc is part of the circumference of a circle. It is defined by the radius r of the circle and the angle ฮธ that the arc "sweeps out" over the circle's perimeter.

    Powered by Desmos


    Since the arc length is a fraction of the overall circumference determined by the value of the angle ฮธ, the arc length is calculated as

    l=360ฮธโ€‹2ฯ€r=180ฮธฯ€rโ€‹
    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Sector area (radians)
    SL 3.4

    A sector is an area enclosed between a circular arc and the two radii of the circle touching each end of the arc:

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    The area of a circle is ฯ€r2, and there are 2ฯ€ radians in a circle. Therefore, a sector with central angle ฮธ is 2ฯ€ฮธโ€‹ of a full circle, and has area

    A=2ฯ€ฮธโ€‹โ‹…ฯ€r2

    so

    A=21โ€‹ฮธr2๐Ÿ“–
    Watch video explanation โ†’
    Definition of a radian
    SL 3.4

    One radian is the interior angle of an arc which has a length equivalent to the radius r of the circle. Since the circumference of a circle is given by 2ฯ€r, then, there are 2ฯ€ total radians in a circle (the equivalent of 360ยฐ).

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    3D solids

    5 skills
    Spheres
    SL Core 3.1

    A sphere is a perfectly round, three-dimensional geometric shape where every point on its surface is exactly the same distance (the radius) from a single central point. It's the three-dimensional analog of a circle. For example, a ball or globe is spherical in shape. The surface area A and volume V of a sphere are given by:

    AVโ€‹=4ฯ€r2=34โ€‹ฯ€r3โ€‹๐Ÿ“–


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    Cylinders
    SL 3.prior

    A cylinder is a three-dimensional geometric shape formed by two identical circular bases connected by a curved lateral surface. The segment connecting the centers of the circular bases is called the axis, which is perpendicular to each base in a right cylinder (the type usually studied).

    The volume V of a cylinder with radius r is given by:

    V=ฯ€r2h๐Ÿ“–


    The curved surface of a cylinder (excluding the circular ends) is given by:

    A=2ฯ€rh๐Ÿ“–

    If we include the circular ends, each with area ฯ€r2, we get

    A=2ฯ€r(r+h)๐Ÿšซ

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    Volume of a prism
    SL 3.prior

    A prism is a three-dimensional solid shape consisting of two parallel, congruent faces called bases, connected by rectangular lateral faces. Prisms are named according to the shape of their basesโ€”for example, triangular prism, rectangular prism, or hexagonal prism.

    The volume V of a prism is calculated by multiplying the area A of its base by its height h:

    V=Ah


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    Right cones
    SL Core 3.1

    A right circular cone is a three-dimensional geometric shape whose apex (vertex) lies directly above the center of its circular base.

    Key Parts:

    • Circular Base: Flat circle with radius r.

    • Apex (Vertex): The point directly above the center of the base.

    • Height (h): Perpendicular distance from apex to base center.

    • Slant Height (l): Distance along the cone's surface from apex to edge of base.

    Formulas:

    • Volume:

    V=31โ€‹ฯ€r2h๐Ÿ“–
    • Surface Area of curved surface:

    A=ฯ€rl๐Ÿ“–
    • Slant Height Relationship:

    l=โˆšr2+h2โ€‹๐Ÿšซ


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    Right Pyramid
    SL Core 3.1

    A right pyramid is a three-dimensional shape with a polygonal base and triangular lateral faces, in which the apex (vertex) is located directly above the center (centroid) of the base.

    Key Parts:

    • Polygonal base: a flat polygon (triangle, square, pentagon, etc.)

    • Apex (vertex): the point positioned vertically above the base's centroid

    • Height (h): perpendicular distance from apex to base centroid

    • Slant height (l): distance along a lateral face from the apex perpendicular to an edge of the base

    The volume of a right pyramid is given by

    V=31โ€‹Aร—h

    where A is the area of the base.


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