IB Mathematics IA Tips
IB Mathematics HL and SL IA Tips
Unless advised otherwise by your school, I recommend that your IA includes the following:
Cover Page
• School Name
• School Crest, if available
• Subject & Level (e.g. Mathematics HL)
• Portfolio Type (e.g. Portfolio Type I)
• Portfolio Title (e.g. Patterns Within Systems of Linear Equations)
• Candidate Name (e.g. Desy Kris)
• Candidate Number (e.g. 001234-567)
• Examination Session (e.g. May 2012)
Header and Footer
• Candidate Name (e.g. Desy Kris)
• Candidate Number (e.g. 001234-567)
• Subject & Level (e.g. Mathematics HL)
• Portfolio Type & Title (e.g. Portfolio Type I – Patterns Within Systems of Linear Equations)
I recommend that your Footer includes:
• Page number in "Page X of Y" format (Page 3 of 20)
• (Note that your cover page is not included in the page number)
Formatting
• Font : Times New Roman or Arial
• Font Size : 12 or 11 respectively
• Font Colour : Black (Automatic)
• Line Spacing : 1.5 lines
• Alignment : Justified
• All variables and constants typed using the Equation feature in Microsoft Word
• The portfolio should be printed in colour
Introduction
• Define some terms where appropriate (e.g. define Stellar Numbers). If you do not come up with the definitions by yourself, citations should be included as footnotes.
• Introduce the problem in the task
• Briefly describe what your portfolio is all about
• Mention the purpose of the portfolio
• Name the software or program(s) that you are going to use
• Include a logo of all the software or program(s) used (e.g. Figure 1)
Body
• Answer all the questions in the order of how the questions are presented in the task sheet. However, do not write your portfolio in question-answer form. Do not put headings also. There should be a nice flow throughout your portfolio, which is supposed to be one whole essay not divided into sections.
• Define relevant variables clearly. Usually x∈ℤ or x∈ℝ. If x∈ℝ and you are asked to put in different values of x, try all possible kind of constants such as:
• Show all the relevant steps for calculations. Any calculation performed should be shown.
• Calculate everything using your calculator except for rudimentary calculations (e.g. use calculator to find the inverse of a matrix but do not use calculator to calculate 2+3)
• If you are using a calculator, put a screenshot showing just the part showing the mathematics. You do not need the program interface. These figures should be big enough that it is readable by unaided eyes but not too big.
• Use mathematical notations and terminologies where appropriate (e.g. arithmetic sequence, discriminant, augmented matrix, asymptote, infinity, etc.)
• Use a graphing software to plot graphs
• Use different colours if you plot more than one function on the same set of axes. Indicate clearly which function is which colour. Legends should be put on the same page with the graph.
• Put the graph and the caption on the same page. If you need to rotate the graph, rotate the caption too so that the examiner know how they should see the graph.
• Do not describe step by step how to plot the graph using your graphing software. Instructions on how you got the graphs you got are not necessary, as what the examiners are focusing on is your mathematical process, not the tools you used for the process. Just describe briefly what you are doing with that software.
• If you are asked to develop a model function, develop any of the following
• Go the extra mile, if possible.
• A good portfolio should be 15-30 pages long.
Conclusion
• Tell them that this is the end of your investigation.
• Restate all the general statements or the model functions.
Unless advised otherwise by your school, I recommend that your IA includes the following:
Cover Page
• School Name
• School Crest, if available
• Subject & Level (e.g. Mathematics HL)
• Portfolio Type (e.g. Portfolio Type I)
• Portfolio Title (e.g. Patterns Within Systems of Linear Equations)
• Candidate Name (e.g. Desy Kris)
• Candidate Number (e.g. 001234-567)
• Examination Session (e.g. May 2012)
Header and Footer
• Candidate Name (e.g. Desy Kris)
• Candidate Number (e.g. 001234-567)
• Subject & Level (e.g. Mathematics HL)
• Portfolio Type & Title (e.g. Portfolio Type I – Patterns Within Systems of Linear Equations)
I recommend that your Footer includes:
• Page number in "Page X of Y" format (Page 3 of 20)
• (Note that your cover page is not included in the page number)
Formatting
• Font : Times New Roman or Arial
• Font Size : 12 or 11 respectively
• Font Colour : Black (Automatic)
• Line Spacing : 1.5 lines
• Alignment : Justified
• All variables and constants typed using the Equation feature in Microsoft Word
• The portfolio should be printed in colour
Introduction
• Define some terms where appropriate (e.g. define Stellar Numbers). If you do not come up with the definitions by yourself, citations should be included as footnotes.
• Introduce the problem in the task
• Briefly describe what your portfolio is all about
• Mention the purpose of the portfolio
• Name the software or program(s) that you are going to use
• Include a logo of all the software or program(s) used (e.g. Figure 1)
Body
• Answer all the questions in the order of how the questions are presented in the task sheet. However, do not write your portfolio in question-answer form. Do not put headings also. There should be a nice flow throughout your portfolio, which is supposed to be one whole essay not divided into sections.
• Define relevant variables clearly. Usually x∈ℤ or x∈ℝ. If x∈ℝ and you are asked to put in different values of x, try all possible kind of constants such as:
- Integers (e.g. −12, 0, 23)
- Fractions (e.g. −13/19, 1/2, 21/4)
- Surds (e.g. −√2, (√5)/7, √(107) )
- Logarithm (e.g. − log5 8.5 , (log 9)/6 , ln 4)
- Pi (e.g. − 2π ,5/π , 7.3π3)
- Trig functions (sin 2π ,−tan 100° , 2 cos2 45° , cot 35°)
- Euler's number (e.g. − e, 2e/9 , 6.8e2)
- Complex number (e.g. √(-7), 3.8+4i)
• Show all the relevant steps for calculations. Any calculation performed should be shown.
• Calculate everything using your calculator except for rudimentary calculations (e.g. use calculator to find the inverse of a matrix but do not use calculator to calculate 2+3)
• If you are using a calculator, put a screenshot showing just the part showing the mathematics. You do not need the program interface. These figures should be big enough that it is readable by unaided eyes but not too big.
• Use mathematical notations and terminologies where appropriate (e.g. arithmetic sequence, discriminant, augmented matrix, asymptote, infinity, etc.)
• Use a graphing software to plot graphs
• Use different colours if you plot more than one function on the same set of axes. Indicate clearly which function is which colour. Legends should be put on the same page with the graph.
• Put the graph and the caption on the same page. If you need to rotate the graph, rotate the caption too so that the examiner know how they should see the graph.
• Do not describe step by step how to plot the graph using your graphing software. Instructions on how you got the graphs you got are not necessary, as what the examiners are focusing on is your mathematical process, not the tools you used for the process. Just describe briefly what you are doing with that software.
• If you are asked to develop a model function, develop any of the following
- Linear
- Quadratic
- Cubic
- Exponential
- Logarithmic
- Sinusoidal
- Power
• Go the extra mile, if possible.
• A good portfolio should be 15-30 pages long.
Conclusion
• Tell them that this is the end of your investigation.
• Restate all the general statements or the model functions.