Grade 10 Mathematical Literacy develops the ability to use mathematical knowledge and skills in everyday life, work and civic contexts. The CAPS curriculum covers four topics — Numbers and Operations, Patterns and Relationships, Space and Shape, and Data Handling — all anchored in realistic South African contexts. Mathematical Literacy is not 'easy Maths' — it demands accurate calculation, logical reasoning and the ability to interpret and communicate mathematical results in context.
- Rational and irrational numbers: classify, round, estimate
- Percentages in context: percentage increase/decrease, VAT (15%), discount, profit, loss
- Ratio and proportion: simplify, use in recipes, maps, scale drawings
- Rate: unit rate, best buy comparisons, speed-distance-time
- Personal finance: income, expenditure, budget surplus and deficit
- Simple and compound interest: calculate interest earned or paid
- Hire purchase: total cost including interest — compare with cash price
- Tax: income tax (SARS), PAYE — interpret a payslip
- Numeric patterns: constant difference and ratio patterns in context
- Input-output tables: identify rule, complete table, write equation in words
- Draw graphs from tables: straight-line graphs from real data
- Interpret graphs: identify trends, read off values, describe relationships
- Break-even: fixed costs, variable costs, revenue — find break-even point graphically
- Distance-time graphs: interpret speed, rest, return journey
- Mobile phone tariffs, electricity tariffs: tiered pricing — calculate and compare
- Cooking and building quantities: scale up and down using ratio
- Measuring accurately: reading instruments — ruler, tape, scale, thermometer, measuring jug
- Converting units: length (mm, cm, m, km), mass (g, kg, ton), capacity (ml, l)
- Perimeter and area: rectangles, triangles, circles, composite shapes
- Volume and surface area: rectangular prisms, cylinders — apply in packaging and construction contexts
- Scale drawings: read and draw to scale — floor plans, maps
- Maps and directions: read a road map, calculate distance using scale
- Plans: interpret floor plans — identify dimensions, calculate floor area
- Time calculations: timetables, time zones, scheduling
- Data collection: questionnaires, sampling methods — random, systematic, stratified
- Organise data: frequency tables, grouped data
- Represent data: bar graphs, histograms, pie charts, line graphs — draw and interpret
- Measures of central tendency: mean, median, mode from raw and grouped data
- Measures of spread: range, quartiles — box-and-whisker plots
- Misleading graphs: identify how graphs can distort data
- Probability: theoretical probability — equally likely outcomes
- Probability in context: weather forecasts, insurance, gambling — interpret probability statements
Always show units in your answer. 'R450' not just '450'. '12.5 m²' not just '12.5'. Missing units costs marks every time.
Draw a diagram for every measurement question. Sketching the shape before calculating helps you choose the right formula and avoid errors.
Graphs must be fully labelled. Title, axes labels with units, scale, data points. An unlabelled graph loses marks even if the numbers are correct.
Formula sheet is given — but you must know how to use it. The formula means nothing if you don't know what to substitute. Practise applying formulas to real data.
Mathematical Literacy is about context. Always read what the question is asking in real-world terms. Your answer must make sense in the given situation.