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WACE Mathematics Applications ATAR formula sheet: the short list, and what is missing

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Formula sheet

The card below opens today's Year 12 Statistics paper with the sheet in a drawer. The contents follow in our own layout. SCSA publishes the 2026 sheet on the Mathematics Applications course page, so check any line against it before you rely on it.

Formula sheet

Year 12 Statistics (Standard & General Maths)

Open formula sheet

Statistics: bivariate data

\text{residual}=\text{observed value}-\text{predicted value}=y-\hat{y}residual value
\hat{y}=a+bxleast-squares line, explanatory variable x
\hat{y}=a+btleast-squares line, explanatory variable time t

Statistics: periodic time series

\text{deseasonalised value}=\frac{\text{actual value}}{\text{seasonal index}}deseasonalised value

Growth and decay in sequences

T_1=a,\quad T_n=a+(n-1)d,\quad d=T_{n+1}-T_narithmetic sequence
T_1=a,\quad T_n=ar^{(n-1)},\quad r=\frac{T_{n+1}}{T_n}geometric sequence
T_1=a,\quad T_{n+1}=bT_n+c\ \ \text{for}\ n\ge1first-order linear recurrence relation

Graphs, networks and decision mathematics

v+f-e=2Euler's formula

Loans, investments and annuities

I=Prtsimple interest
A=P(1+r)^tcompound interest, compounded annually
A=P\left(1+\frac{r}{n}\right)^{nt}compound interest, compounded n times a year
i_{effective}=\left(1+\frac{i}{n}\right)^n-1effective annual rate of interest

How the exam works with the sheet

The Mathematics Applications ATAR examination has two sections, set out in the syllabus design brief:

SectionShareReadingWorkingWhat you may use
One: calculator-free35%5 minutes50 minutesPens, pencils, ruler and the formula sheet. No special items.
Two: calculator-assumed65%10 minutes100 minutesThe formula sheet from Section One, drawing instruments, notes on two unfolded A4 sheets, and up to three calculators including CAS

Section Two is 100 marks and the exam instructions say that any question worth more than two marks needs valid working. The sheet is the same in both sections, and you keep it. See our VCE General Maths sheet guide and the QCE General Maths sheet guide for how the other states differ.

What is not on the WACE Applications formula sheet

  • Anything in geometry. No area, volume, perimeter or Pythagoras. Learn these.
  • Trigonometry. No sine rule, cosine rule or triangle area formula.
  • Statistics beyond bivariate data. No mean, standard deviation, quartile or correlation coefficient formula, and no normal distribution rule.
  • Annuity and loan formulas. The sheet covers simple and compound interest only. Reducing balance loans and annuities need the recurrence relation or your calculator's finance solver.
  • Sequence sums. The sheet gives the nth term of arithmetic and geometric sequences, not the sum of n terms.
  • Network algorithms. Euler's formula is there, but nothing for shortest path or minimum spanning tree.
  • Linear programming and matrices. Not included.

How to use the sheet in the exam

  1. During reading time, find the finance and statistics lines, because they are the most-used and the easiest to mix up.
  2. Write the formula first, with the symbols matched to the question, then your calculator can do the arithmetic in Section Two.
  3. Put your own notes in the two A4 sheets for Section Two: the area and volume formulas and the finance solver steps.
  4. State what each symbol is, such as n = 4 for quarterly, before you substitute.

Example 1: compounding more than once a year

$8,000 is invested at 5% a year, compounded quarterly, for 3 years. With r = 0.05, n = 4 and t = 3, the compound interest line gives:

A=P\left(1+\frac{r}{n}\right)^{nt}=8000\left(1+\frac{0.05}{4}\right)^{12}=9286.04\ \text{dollars}

That is $1,286.04 of interest. Compounding annually would give $9,261.00, so the quarterly compounding earns $25.04 more.

Example 2: removing a seasonal effect

Sales in a quarter were 450 units, and the seasonal index for that quarter is 1.25. The deseasonalised value line gives:

\text{deseasonalised value}=\frac{450}{1.25}=360

The index says the quarter is typically 25% above average, so 360 is the sales level with the seasonal lift taken out.

Example 3: a recurrence relation

A savings balance follows T₁ = 1000 and T_(n+1) = 1.02T_n + 50. With b = 1.02 and c = 50, the first terms are:

T_2=1.02\times1000+50=1070,\qquad T_3=1.02\times1070+50=1141.4

The same line covers decay when b is below 1.

Practise with the sheet open

Our Year 12 Statistics (Standard and General Maths) daily paper is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks. It is not a SCSA paper. Use it as a short mock with your calculator, and check how marks and examiners work in the HSC Maths guide for another state.

Exam answers

The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. They show which line of the sheet each question wanted. We do not publish official answers, past paper answers or leaked papers.

Common questions

Do you get a formula sheet in WACE Maths Applications?
Yes. The supervisor provides a formula sheet in Section One and you keep it for Section Two.
Can I bring notes into the WACE Applications exam?
In Section Two, notes on two unfolded A4 sheets are permitted, with up to three calculators including CAS.
Are area and volume formulas on the sheet?
No. The Applications sheet has no geometry or trigonometry formulas.
How many formulas are on the sheet?
Twelve lines across statistics, sequences, networks and finance.
How is the exam split?
Section One is 35% and Section Two is 65%, with 50 and 100 minutes of working time.

Revision cards

Say the answer first, then flip the card to check it.

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