MATHEMATICS

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

The aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) syllabus in Mathematics is to
prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test the achievement of the
course objectives which are to:

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(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;

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(4) apply mathematical concepts to resolve issues in daily living.

This syllabus is divided into five sections:

I. Number and Numeration

II. Algebra

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III. Geometry/Trigonometry
IV. Calculus
V. Statistics
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TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
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SECTION I: NUMBER AND
NUMERATION
1. Number bases: Candidates should be able to:
(a) operations in different number bases i. perform four basic operations (x, +, -, ÷);
from 2 to 10; ii. convert one base to another;
(b) conversion from one base to another
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iii. perform operations in modulo arithmetic.

including fractional parts.
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2. Fractions, Decimals, Approximations Candidates should be able to:

and Percentages: i. perform basic operations
(a) fractions and decimals;
(b) significant figures; (x, +, -, ÷) on fractions and decimals;
(c) decimal places; ii. express to specified number of significant figures
and decimal places;
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(d) percentage errors;

(e) simple interest; iii. calculate simple interest, profit and loss per cent;
(f) profit and loss percent; ratio proportion, rate and percentage error;
(g) ratio, proportion and rate; iv. solve problems involving share and VAT.
(h) shares and valued added tax (VAT).

3. Indices, Logarithms and Surds: Candidates should be able to:

(a) laws of indices; i. apply the laws of indices in calculation;
(b) equations involving indices; ii. establish the relationship between indices and
(c) standard form; logarithms in solving problems;
(d) laws of logarithm; iii. solve equations involving indices;
iv. solve problems in different bases in logarithms;
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(e) logarithm of any positive number to a v. simplify and rationalize surds;

given base; vi. perform basic operations on surds.
(f) change of bases in logarithm and
application;
(g) relationship between indices and
logarithm;
(h) Surds.

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4. Sets: Candidates should be able to:
(a) types of sets i. identify types of sets, i.e. empty, universal,
(b) algebra of sets complements, subsets, finite, infinite and disjoint

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(c) Venn diagrams and their applications. sets;
ii. solve problems involving cardinality of sets;
iv. iii. solve set problems using symbols;
v. iv. use Venn diagrams to solve problems involving
not more than 3 sets.

SECTION II: ALGEBRA

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1. Polynomials: Candidates should be able to:
(a) change of subject of formula; i. find the subject of the formula of a given
(b) multiplication and division of polynomials; equation;
(c)
exceeding 3;
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factorization of polynomials of degree not ii. apply factor and remainder theorem to factorize a
given expression;
(d) roots of polynomials not exceeding degree 3; iii. multiply, divide polynomials of degree not more
(e) factor and remainder theorems; than 3 and determine values of defined and
(f) simultaneous equations including one linear undefined expression;
one quadratic; iv. factorize by regrouping difference of two squares,
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(g) graphs of polynomials of degree not greater perfect squares and cubic expressions; etc.
than 3. v. solve simultaneous equations – one linear, one
quadratic;
vi. interpret graphs of polynomials including
applications to maximum and minimum values.
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2. Variation: Candidates should be able to:

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(a) direct;
(b) inverse; i. solve problems involving direct, inverse, joint
(c) joint; and partial variations;
(d) partial; ii. solve problems on percentage increase and
(e) percentage increase and decrease. decrease in variation.

3. Inequalities: Candidates should be able to:

(a) analytical and graphical solutions of linear i. solve problems on linear and quadratic
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inequalities; inequalities;
(b) quadratic inequalities with integral roots ii. interpret graphs of inequalities.
only.

4. Progression: Candidates should be able to:

i. determine the nth term of a progression;
(a) nth term of a progression ii. compute the sum of A. P. and G.P;
(b) sum of A. P. and G. P. iii. sum to infinity of a given G.P.
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5. Binary Operations: Candidates should be able to:

(a) properties of closure, commutativity,
associativity and distributivity; i. solve problems involving closure,
(b) identity and inverse elements (simple commutativity, associativity and distributivity;
cases only). ii. solve problems involving identity and inverse
elements.

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6. Matrices and Determinants: Candidates should be able to:
(a) algebra of matrices not exceeding 3 x 3; i. perform basic operations (x, +, -, ÷) on

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(b) determinants of matrices not exceeding matrices;
3 x 3; ii. calculate determinants;
(c) inverses of 2 x 2 matrices; iii. compute inverses of 2 x 2 matrices.
[excluding quadratic and higher degree
equations].

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SECTION III: GEOMETRY AND
TRIGONOMETRY

1. Euclidean Geometry: Candidates should be able to:

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(a) Properties of angles and lines
(b) Polygons: triangles, quadrilaterals and i. identify various types of lines and angles;
general polygons; ii. solve problems involving polygons;
(c) Circles: angle properties, cyclic iii. calculate angles using circle theorems;
quadrilaterals and intersecting chords; iv. identify construction procedures of special
(d) construction.
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angles, e.g. 30º, 45º, 60º, 75º, 90º etc.

2. Mensuration: Candidates should be able to:

(a) lengths and areas of plane geometrical
figures; i. calculate the perimeters and areas of triangles,
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(b) lengths of arcs and chords of a circle; quadrilaterals, circles and composite figures;
(c) Perimeters and areas of sectors and ii. find the length of an arc, a chord, perimeters
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segments of circles; and areas of sectors and segments of circles;

(d) surface areas and volumes of simple iii. calculate total surface areas and volumes of
solids and composite figures; cuboids, cylinders. cones, pyramids, prisms,
(e) the earth as a sphere: longitudes and spheres and composite figures;
latitudes. iv. determine the distance between two points on
the earth’s surface.
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3. Loci: Candidates should be able to:

locus in 2 dimensions based on geometric identify and interpret loci relating to parallel
principles relating to lines and curves. lines, perpendicular bisectors, angle bisectors and
circles.
4. Coordinate Geometry: Candidates should be able to:
(a) midpoint and gradient of a line i. determine the midpoint and gradient of a line
segment; segment;
(b) distance between two points; ii. find the distance between two points;
(c) parallel and perpendicular lines;
(d) equations of straight lines.
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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.
5. Trigonometry:
(a) trigonometrical ratios of angles; Candidates should be able to:
(b) angles of elevation and depression; i. calculate the sine, cosine and tangent of angles

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(c) bearings; between - 360º ≤ Ɵ ≤ 360º;
(d) areas and solutions of triangle; ii. apply these special angles, e.g. 30º, 45º, 60º,
(e) graphs of sine and cosine; 75º, 90º, 1050, 135º to solve simple problems in

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(f) sine and cosine formulae. 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

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graphs.

SECTION IV: CALCULUS

1. Differentiation:
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(a) limit of a function
Candidates should be able to:
i. find the limit of a function
(b) differentiation of explicit ii. differentiate explicit algebraic and simple
algebraic and simple trigonometrical functions.
trigonometrical functions –
sine, cosine and tangent.
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2. Application of differentiation: Candidates should be able to:
(a) rate of change; solve problems involving applications of rate of
(b) maxima and minima. change, maxima and minima.
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3. Integration: Candidates should be able to:

(a) integration of explicit i. solve problems of integration involving
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algebraic and simple algebraic and simple trigonometric

trigonometrical functions; functions;
(b) area under the curve. ii. calculate area under the curve (simple cases
only).

SECTION V: STATISTICS
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1. Representation of data: Candidates should be able to:

(a) frequency distribution; i. identify and interpret frequency distribution
(b) histogram, bar chart and pie chart. tables;
ii. interpret information on histogram, bar chat
and pie chart.

2. Measures of Location: Candidates should be able to:

(a) mean, mode and median of ungrouped i. calculate the mean, mode and median of
and grouped data – (simple cases only); ungrouped and grouped data (simple cases
(b) cumulative frequency. only);
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ii. use ogive to find the median, quartiles and

percentiles.

3. Measures of Dispersion: Candidates should be able to:

range, mean deviation, variance and standard calculate the range, mean deviation, variance and
deviation. standard deviation of ungrouped and grouped data.

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4. Permutation and Combination: Candidates should be able to:
solve simple problems involving permutation and
(a) Linear and circular arrangements; combination.
(b) Arrangements involving repeated objects.

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5. Probability: Candidates should be able to:
solve simple problems in probability (including
(a) experimental probability (tossing of coin, addition and multiplication).
throwing of a dice etc);
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(b) Addition and multiplication of probabilities
(mutual and independent cases).
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 RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Adelodun A. A. (2000) Distinction in Mathematics: Comprehensive Revision Text, (3 rd Edition)

Ado –Ekiti: FNPL.

Anyebe, J. A. B. (1998) Basic Mathematics for Senior Secondary Schools and Remedial Students
in Higher Institutions, Lagos: Kenny Moore.

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Channon, J. B. Smith, A. M. (2001) New General Mathematics for West Africa SSS 1 to 3, Lagos:
Longman.

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David –Osuagwu, M. et al. (2000) New School Mathematics for Senior Secondary Schools, Onitsha:
Africana - FIRST Publishers.

Egbe. E et al (2000) Further Mathematics, Onitsha: Africana – FIRST Publishers

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Ibude, S. O. et al.. (2003) Algebra and Calculus for Schools and Colleges: LINCEL Publishers.

Tuttuh – Adegun M. R. et al. (1997) Further Mathematics Project Books 1 to 3, Ibadan: NPS
Educational
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Wisdomline Pass at Once JAMB.
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