IB Math AA SL case studies
IB Math AA SL · Put your knowledge to work in context.
IB Math AA SL - Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches Standard Level - is one of the two Standard Level mathematics courses in the IB Diploma Programme, and the one built around algebra, functions and calculus rather than a statistics-heavy treatment. It suits students who are comfortable manipulating expressions, sketching curves and reasoning symbolically, and who are heading towards economics, chemistry, engineering-adjacent or other numerate degrees. It is taught over the two-year programme at your school and assessed through two externally marked papers plus an internally marked mathematical exploration. Paper 1 is the no-calculator paper, where clean technique and exact values matter; Paper 2 assumes a graphic display calculator and rewards interpretation, modelling and clear communication of results. The IB Math AA SL case studies are 5 cases and about 2,591 words.
1Two Savings Offers with a Fee and a Rounding Trap
Maya has 6,000 to deposit for five years. Bank A pays 4.2% per year compounded quarterly and charges no fees.
529 words, about 3 min2Poster Pricing with a Restricted Domain
A small studio sells hand-printed posters. Market testing suggests that if the price is p dollars per poster, the number sold each week is q = 120 − 4p.
519 words, about 3 min3The Ambiguous Survey of a Triangular Plot
A surveyor is measuring a triangular plot ABC for a fence. She measures AB = 85 m, AC = 62 m, and angle ABC = 38°.
523 words, about 3 min4Rapid Test, Base Rate, and the Cost of a Second Test
A regional clinic uses a rapid antibody test for a condition that affects 3% of the adult population. In validation studies, the test correctly identifies 88% of people who have the condition (sensitivity) and correctly identifies 94% of people who do not (specificity).
524 words, about 3 min5Speed, Velocity, and the Particle That Turns Around
A particle moves along a straight line with velocity v(t)=t^2−6t+8 metres per second for 0≤t≤5, where t is in seconds. Its initial displacement is s(0)=0.
496 words, about 2 min