All Form One Mathematics Chapters
- Chapter 1Concept of MathematicsRead below · Free
- Chapter 2NumbersContinue in the app
- Chapter 3ApproximationsContinue in the app
- Chapter 4Ratios and ProportionsContinue in the app
- Chapter 5AlgebraContinue in the app
- Chapter 6Coordinate GeometryContinue in the app
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
- Explain the meaning of mathematics.
- Name and describe the branches of mathematics.
- Explain how mathematics relates to other subjects.
- Describe the importance of mathematics in daily life.
1. Introduction
Mathematics is all around us. Almost everything we do involves mathematics. It is applied in science, engineering, technology, social studies, economics and many other fields. Devices such as mobile phones, computers, television sets and satellites are designed and made using mathematical knowledge.
The skills you develop will help you solve daily life problems in fields such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, botany, zoology, music, history and business.
2. Key Words and Concepts
Before we begin, let us understand the following terms:
3. Meaning of Mathematics
The word “mathematics” comes from the Greek word mathema, meaning “which is learnt”, or “science, knowledge or learning”. Numbers, measurements, shapes of objects and equations form only a small part of it.
Mathematics can be thought of as the science of the structures, orders, patterns and relations that grew out of the basic practices of counting, measuring and describing the shapes of objects. It is also the language of science: through mathematical reasoning we can understand nature and predict it. It gives a precise expression for every concept that can be written using mathematical symbols and structures, and it plays a key role in understanding both science and arts subjects.
🔦 Spotlight — The Language of Science
Mathematics is used to describe the speed of a car, the size of a field, the interest on a loan and the orbit of a satellite, all in the same precise language.
🗣️ Classroom Activity 1: Maths in My Day
In pairs, list five things you did today that involved mathematics (counting money, telling the time, measuring, sharing and so on).
- Say which operation or idea you used each time.
- Share your list with the class.
4. Branches of Mathematics
Mathematics can be grouped into branches such as arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
| Branch | Description |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Properties and operations of numbers: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. |
| Algebra | Arithmetic operations applied to symbols (variables) that represent quantities with no fixed values. |
| Geometry | Sizes, shapes, positions, angles and dimensions of objects; points, lines, planes, similarity and congruence. |
🧠 Jog Your Brain — Check Your Understanding
Answer the questions. Click “View Answer” to reveal the correct response.
1. The word “mathematics” comes from the Greek word meaning:
2. The branch dealing with numbers and the basic operations is:
3. In algebra, letters that stand for quantities with no fixed value are called:
4. Geometry deals mainly with:
5. A business makes a profit when the:
5. Mathematics and Other Subjects
Mathematics is a tool for understanding other subjects. Formulas used to describe situations in other fields are called mathematical models. Learning mathematics also builds problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
| Subject | How mathematics is used |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Farmers use ratios to work out the amount of seed for a piece of land and the bags of fertiliser needed per acre. This avoids wasting money. Mathematics also helps to decide irrigation water, seedling spacing, costs, savings and how to divide land. |
| Biology | Animal weights, rate of respiration, nutritive values of food and transpiration are calculated mathematically. It is also used to estimate blood cells and measure blood pressure. |
| Chemistry | Measuring masses, volumes, lengths, temperatures and densities; measuring the parts of mixtures; balancing chemical equations. |
| Physics | Most physical quantities are expressed by formulas, in numbers and units. For example, speed is the ratio of distance covered to time taken. |
| ICT | Programs, software and computer languages use mathematical ideas. Colour codes in web design are numbers (for example #000000 for black and #008000 for green), and computers use the digits 0 and 1. |
| Business Studies | Profit or loss is the difference between selling and buying price; mathematics is also used for loans and setting prices. |
| Geography | Calculating distances, gradients and heights of hills; fixing places with latitude and longitude; showing buildings on maps using scales. |
| History | Finding the duration of events such as the World Wars, colonial periods and years in office; dating fossils using carbon-14. |
| Literature | Analysing writing style by finding the average number of words per sentence (about 20 words is average). |
| Music | A semibreve has four beats, a minim two, a crotchet one, a quaver half a beat and a semiquaver a quarter. Reading music depends on these values. |
| Sports and Games | Winners are decided by points; a football team has 11 players and a netball team 7; playing grounds follow set measurements. |
✏️ Classroom Activity 2: Profit or Loss
A shopkeeper buys a box of 20 exercise books for TSh 12,000 and sells all of them at TSh 800 each.
- Work out the total selling price.
- Decide whether there is a profit or a loss, and how much.
Answer: selling price = 20 × 800 = TSh 16,000, so there is a profit of TSh 4,000.
6. Importance of Mathematics
Learning mathematics and using it in daily life improves problem solving, critical thinking and time management, among other benefits.
- Financial management: budgets need mathematical skills so that spending matches the money available.
- Problem-solving skills: mathematics builds analytical and logical thinking, which makes us better problem solvers.
- Time management: it helps to work out the time spent on each activity so that it is done efficiently.
7. Chapter Summary
- Mathematics comes from the Greek mathema, “which is learnt”. It is the science of structures, patterns and relations and the language of science.
- Main branches: arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
- Mathematical models are formulas that describe situations in other subjects.
- Mathematics supports agriculture, biology, chemistry, physics, ICT, business, geography, history, literature, music and sports.
- It is important for financial management, problem solving and time management.
📝 End-of-Chapter Assessment — Suggested Answers
Complete the questions, then click the buttons to check your answers.
Part A — Multiple Choice (10)
1. Arithmetic uses which basic operations?
2. The word geometry comes from Greek words meaning:
3. A quaver in music has:
4. The speed of a moving object is the ratio of:
5. A football team has how many players on the field?
6. Mathematics helps farmers to:
7. Colour codes like #008000 in web design show:
8. A formula used to describe a situation in another field is called a:
9. Which skill is improved by budgeting?
10. If buying price is TSh 5,000 and selling price is TSh 4,000, the business makes a:
Part B — Short Answer (7)
1. What does the Greek word mathema mean?
2. Name three branches of mathematics.
3. What are the letters used in algebra called, and what do they represent?
4. When does a business make a profit?
5. How do you find the speed of a moving object?
6. Give two ways mathematics is used in agriculture.
7. State three benefits of learning mathematics.
Ready for Chapter 2: Numbers?
Continue Form One Mathematics in the Click Online Academy app, with all six chapters in your pocket.
Click here to continue learning on our app