Grade 11 Mathematical Literacy extends the real-world mathematical contexts of Grade 10 to more complex and multi-step problems. Learners apply mathematics to taxation, insurance, investment, maps, scale drawings, probability and data analysis. The emphasis is on accuracy, interpretation and communication — Mathematical Literacy is assessed in context at all times, and learners must be able to explain their reasoning in writing.
- Income tax: SARS tax tables — calculate tax payable, tax rebate, net tax
- PAYE: calculate from salary — understand payslip deductions fully
- UIF: contribution rates, when it applies, how to claim
- Medical aid: contribution types, savings account, risk pool — compare plans
- Retirement planning: pension, provident fund, retirement annuity — concept and calculation
- Hire purchase vs bank loan: compare total cost over the full term
- Exchange rates: convert currency, interpret fluctuations — SA rand context
- Inflation: calculate real purchasing power — effect on savings and income
- Non-linear graphs in context: parabola (projectile), hyperbola (inverse proportion) — interpret
- Cost, revenue and profit functions: draw on same axes — identify break-even graphically
- Tariff systems: electricity, water, mobile data — tiered pricing, calculate bills
- Loan repayment graphs: outstanding balance over time — read and interpret
- Rates of change: interpret gradient as rate in real contexts — speed, fuel consumption
- Proportional reasoning: direct and inverse proportion in complex multi-step problems
- Scale: maps, architectural plans — calculate actual dimensions, draw to scale
- Graph critique: identify misleading features — truncated axes, inconsistent scale
- Pythagoras theorem: apply in practical 2D contexts — building, navigation
- Area and perimeter: complex composite shapes — irregular polygons, combined circles
- Volume and surface area: cone, pyramid, sphere — apply in packaging and construction
- Unit conversions: combined — e.g. km/h to m/s, litres to cubic centimetres
- Floor plans and elevations: draw from description; calculate costs from floor plan
- Tiling and paving: calculate number of tiles/pavers, allow for wastage, cost
- Fuel and distance: calculate fuel cost for a road trip using consumption rates
- Time and scheduling: project timelines — Gantt charts, critical path (introduction)
- Sampling: types — random, systematic, stratified, cluster — when each is appropriate
- Questionnaire design: bias, leading questions, response options — critique and improve
- Represent data: all chart types — choose the most appropriate for the data
- Ogive: cumulative frequency curve — draw, read off median and quartiles
- Box-and-whisker: draw, compare two data sets, identify outliers
- Standard deviation: concept — what it measures, interpret in context (no calculation required)
- Probability: combined events — addition rule, complementary, mutually exclusive
- Probability in real contexts: risk assessment, insurance premiums, weather probability
Tax tables are given — but you must know how to use them. Find the correct bracket, calculate the base tax, add the percentage of the excess. Practise this until it is automatic.
Always show units. 'R 4 320' not '4320'. '14.5 m²' not '14.5'. Missing units costs marks in every question.
Choose the right graph type. Bar graph = comparing categories. Line graph = change over time. Pie chart = proportions of a whole. Histogram = frequency distribution.
Multi-step problems: write each step clearly. ML examiners mark each step. Even if your final answer is wrong, correct steps earn marks.
Context is everything in ML. After calculating, re-read the question. Does your answer make sense in the real-world situation? If not, check your working.