Germany Jahrgangsstufe 12 Mathematics
Chapters: 5
1. Functions: antiderivatives, product and chain rule
Polynomial functions with parameters · The natural exponential function · Derivatives of sine and cosine
- Polynomial Functions and Their Graphs – A polynomial function is y = aₙxⁿ + … + a₁x + a₀ with whole-number powers. The degree n and the leading coefficient aₙ fix the end behaviour. Each real zero r gives a factor (x − r); the graph crosses the x-axis at a zero of odd multiplicity and touches (bounces) at a zero of even multiplicity. A degree-n polynomial has at most n real zeros and at most n − 1 turning points, and exactly n zeros when complex ones are counted. The average rate of change between two points is the slope of the secant line.
- Exponential Functions – An exponential function has the form y = a·bˣ, where a ≠ 0 is the starting value and b > 0, b ≠ 1 is the growth factor. If b > 1 it grows; if 0 < b < 1 it decays. Each step of 1 in x multiplies y by b (a constant ratio), unlike a linear function which adds a constant. The graph of y = bˣ passes through (0, 1), has domain all real numbers, range y > 0, and the x-axis as a horizontal asymptote. The general form y = a·b^(k(x − d)) + c stretches, reflects and shifts it.
- Continuity and Differentiability – A function is continuous at a point when its graph has no break there: the left limit, the right limit and the value are all equal. The derivative is the slope of the tangent line. With the chain rule, implicit differentiation, the rules for eˣ, ln x and inverse trig functions, logarithmic differentiation and parametric forms, you can differentiate almost any Class 12 function. The second derivative tells how the slope itself changes, that is, how the curve bends.
2. Random variables and binomial distribution
Random variables and binomial distribution
- Binomial Distribution – Repeat the same yes/no trial n times, independently, with the same chance of success p each time. The number of successes X follows the binomial distribution B(n, p): P(X = k) = ⁿCₖ pᵏ qⁿ⁻ᵏ with q = 1 − p. Its mean is np and its variance is npq.
3. One-sided significance test for binomial data
One-sided significance test
- Hypothesis Testing – A hypothesis test checks a claim about a population using a sample. Start with the null hypothesis H₀ (no change, e.g. p = 0.5) and the alternative H₁ (what we suspect, e.g. p > 0.5). Choose a significance level such as 5%. Work out how likely the sample result (or more extreme) is if H₀ were true: the p-value. If the p-value is below the level, or the result falls in the critical region, reject H₀. Otherwise there is not enough evidence to reject it. Type I error = rejecting a true H₀; Type II error = not rejecting a false H₀.
4. Functions: quotient rule and inverse functions
Rational functions · The square root function · The natural logarithm function
- Rational Functions: Graphs, Asymptotes and Sketching – A rational function is one polynomial divided by another, like y = (2x + 1)/(x − 1). It is not defined where the bottom is zero. Near those x-values the graph shoots up or down along a vertical asymptote. Far out, it settles near a horizontal (or slant) asymptote. Find domain, asymptotes, intercepts and holes, then sketch.
- Inverse Functions – An inverse function undoes what a function does. If f sends a to b, then f⁻¹ sends b back to a. To find it, write y = f(x), swap x and y, and solve for y. The graph of f⁻¹ is the mirror image of the graph of f in the line y = x. Only one-to-one functions have an inverse; if a function is not one-to-one, limit its domain first (for example x² with x ≥ 0 has inverse √x).
- Logarithms – A logarithm tells you the power you need. log_b x = y means b^y = x. So log₂ 8 = 3 because 2³ = 8. Logs turn multiplying into adding: log(ab) = log a + log b, log(a/b) = log a − log b, log(aⁿ) = n log a. Base 10 is the common log, base e is the natural log (ln). Any base can be changed: log_b x = log x ÷ log b.
5. Basics of 3D coordinate geometry
3D coordinate geometry basics
- Introduction to Three-dimensional Geometry (Class 11) – In space we use three mutually perpendicular axes x, y, z through the origin O. Each pair makes a coordinate plane: XY (z = 0), YZ (x = 0) and ZX (y = 0). The three planes divide space into eight octants, named by the signs of x, y, z. A point P(x, y, z) is reached by moving x along the x-axis, y parallel to the y-axis and z parallel to the z-axis; x, y, z are its distances from the YZ, ZX and XY planes. Points on the x-axis are (x, 0, 0); points on the XY-plane are (x, y, 0). The distance between P(x₁, y₁, z₁) and Q(x₂, y₂, z₂) is PQ = √((x₂ − x₁)² + (y₂ − y₁)² + (z₂ − z₁)²).