UniGeniusWACE Methods

WACE Methods

What is in WACE Methods Units 3 and 4

Unit 3 covers further differentiation and its applications, integrals, and discrete random variables. Unit 4 covers the logarithmic function, continuous random variables and the normal distribution, and interval estimates for proportions. The ATAR examination is on Units 3 and 4, with Year 11 content assumed.

Weeks before your first paper
Hours a week for General Maths
Topic 3.1: Further differentiation and applications
Topic 3.2: Integrals
Topic 3.3: Discrete random variables
Topic 4.1: The logarithmic function
Topic 4.2: Continuous random variables and the normal distribution
Topic 4.3: Interval estimates for proportions

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Topic 3.1

Further differentiation and applications: 16 of your hours. It is 3 of the 30 questions on each timed check, 17%.

Hours per topic
TopicYour hoursShare of the checks
Topic 3.1: Further differentiation and applications1617%
Topic 3.2: Integrals1617%
Topic 3.3: Discrete random variables1617%
Topic 4.1: The logarithmic function1617%
Topic 4.2: Continuous random variables and the normal distribution1617%
Topic 4.3: Interval estimates for proportions1617%

Week by week

  1. Week 1Topic 3.1: Further differentiation and applications
  2. Week 2Topic 3.1: Further differentiation and applications
  3. Week 3Topic 3.1: Further differentiation and applications
  4. Week 4Topic 3.1: Further differentiation and applications
  5. Week 5Topic 3.2: Integrals
  6. Week 6Topic 3.2: Integrals
  7. Week 7Topic 3.2: Integrals
  8. Week 8Topic 3.2: Integrals
  9. Week 9Topic 3.3: Discrete random variables
  10. Week 10Topic 3.3: Discrete random variables
  11. Week 11Topic 3.3: Discrete random variables
  12. Week 12Topic 3.3: Discrete random variables
  13. Week 13Topic 4.1: The logarithmic function
  14. Week 14Topic 4.1: The logarithmic function
  15. Week 15Topic 4.1: The logarithmic function
  16. Week 16Topic 4.1: The logarithmic function
  17. Week 17Topic 4.2: Continuous random variables and the normal distribution
  18. Week 18Topic 4.2: Continuous random variables and the normal distribution
  19. Week 19Topic 4.2: Continuous random variables and the normal distribution
  20. Week 20Topic 4.2: Continuous random variables and the normal distribution
  21. Week 21Topic 4.3: Interval estimates for proportions
  22. Week 22Topic 4.3: Interval estimates for proportions
  23. Week 23Topic 4.3: Interval estimates for proportions
  24. Week 24Topic 4.3: Interval estimates for proportions
  25. Week 25A timed check and two short response questions, then review every lost mark
  26. Week 26A timed check and two short response questions, then review every lost mark

Check your topics with the free test

Section OneCalculator-free, 35%, 50 minutes working
Section TwoCalculator-assumed, 65%, 100 minutes working
Questions5 to 10 in Section One, 8 to 13 in Section Two
Section Two allowsUp to three calculators (CAS assumed), two A4 sheets of notes, a formula sheet

Unit 3: calculus and discrete random variables

  • Further differentiation: the derivatives of e^x, sin x and cos x, the product, quotient and chain rules, the increments formula, the second derivative, concavity, points of inflection, curve sketching and optimisation.
  • Integrals: anti-derivatives and initial conditions, definite integrals as signed area, the fundamental theorem, areas under and between curves, and displacement from velocity.
  • Discrete random variables: probability functions, the mean and variance, linear changes, and the Bernoulli and binomial distributions.

Unit 4: logarithms, continuous random variables and inference

  • The logarithmic function: logarithms and their laws, logarithmic scales, solving equations, the graphs of log functions, and the calculus of ln x.
  • Continuous random variables: density and cumulative distribution functions, the expected value and variance, and the normal distribution.
  • Interval estimates for proportions: random sampling and bias, the sample proportion, approximate confidence intervals and the margin of error.

How this course maps the syllabus

The course has six topics, one for each syllabus topic, each with two lessons, four-option practice and short response questions in the style of both sections. Set the planner above with the weeks you have and how sure you are of each topic, and it splits your hours.

Try 2 questions

Question 1Practice
Table of values. When x = 1: f(x) = 3, f'(x) = −1, g(x) = 2, g'(x) = 6. When x = 2: f(x) = 1, f'(x) = 4, g(x) = 3, g'(x) = −2. When x = 3: f(x) = 5, f'(x) = 5, g(x) = 1, g'(x) = 2.
xxf(x)f(x)f′(x)f'(x)g(x)g(x)g′(x)g'(x)
13−126
2143−2
35512
The table gives values of the functions ff and gg and their derivatives: at  , , , , ; at  , , , , ; at  , , , , . Given  , what is h′(2)h'(2)?
Question 2Practice
A Bernoulli random variable XX has parameter  . What is Var(X)\text{Var}(X)?

Next step

Take the free testTake the course tour

Questions people ask

Which syllabus does the course follow?

The Mathematics Methods ATAR Year 12 syllabus, effective from 1 January 2025, Units 3 and 4.

Is Year 11 content examined?

The examination is on Units 3 and 4, and Year 11 content is assumed knowledge, so first derivatives, functions and probability rules appear inside its questions.

Does this course cover Mathematics Specialist or Applications?

No. It is built for Mathematics Methods only.