Mathematics (Senior) Charts, School Education

Quick Answer: Mathematics (Senior) Charts are senior mathematics charts for secondary and senior secondary classes, setting out formulae and diagrams for algebra, trigonometry, coordinate geometry, mensuration and introductory calculus. Students use them as a reference for revision and problem solving.

Formulae and Graphs for the Senior Classes

At senior level, senior mathematics charts turn from pictures into reference sheets. Typical content includes algebraic identities such as (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b² and a² – b² = (a + b)(a – b), the quadratic formula with the meaning of the discriminant, and the laws of indices and logarithms.

Trigonometry sheets show sine, cosine and tangent in a right-angled triangle, a table of values for 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°, and identities such as sin²θ + cos²θ = 1. Coordinate geometry panels give the distance and section formulae and the slope of a line, and mensuration sheets list the surface areas and volumes of the cylinder, cone, sphere and frustum. Senior sets may add graphs of standard functions and the basic rules of differentiation.

Having these on the wall saves students from leafing through a textbook while they practise, and a diagram beside each formula keeps the reasoning in view.

Specifications

Applications

• Quick reference while solving problems in class
• Revision before board and entrance examinations
• Explaining where an identity comes from with the diagram beside it
• Setting up a mathematics laboratory or maths corner

Care & Handling

• Hang the senior formula sheets within reading distance at the front or side of the room; exponents and symbols such as θ are hard to read from the back row.
• Group the sheets by topic and change them with the syllabus, for example trigonometry in one term and calculus in the next.
• Check any replacement chart against the notation your board’s textbooks use, so students are not confused by different symbols.

Why Choose LabEquip

Schools setting up a maths lab often combine these charts with apparatus from the Mathematics School Lab Products range for activities such as verifying identities with cut-outs. Other titles are in Educational Charts, and orders go through the LabEquip contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b² be shown visually?

Draw a square with side a + b and divide it into a square of side a, a square of side b and two rectangles measuring a by b. The four areas add up to a² + 2ab + b².

What does the discriminant of a quadratic equation tell us?

For ax² + bx + c = 0 the discriminant is b² – 4ac. If it is positive there are two distinct real roots, if it is zero the two roots are equal, and if it is negative there are no real roots.

How are the trigonometric ratios defined?

In a right-angled triangle, sine is the opposite side over the hypotenuse, cosine is the adjacent side over the hypotenuse, and tangent is the opposite side over the adjacent side. A table of values for the standard angles is one of the most used senior charts.

Why is sin²θ + cos²θ = 1?

In a right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse of length 1, the other two sides are sinθ and cosθ. By Pythagoras’ theorem the squares of those two sides add up to the square of the hypotenuse, which is 1.

What is the slope of a line?

It measures steepness: the change in y divided by the change in x between two points, (y2 – y1)/(x2 – x1). Parallel lines have equal slopes, and perpendicular lines have slopes whose product is -1.

Should formula charts replace understanding?

No. They are most useful as a reference while students practise, with the teacher explaining where each formula comes from. Over time students should need to look at the chart less.

Last Updated: September 2026