Every year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducts an IAF Group X and Y exam to recruit young students to serve the country. Candidates for these roles are chosen based on a written exam, followed by a physical fitness test and an adaptability test. It is regarded as one of the greatest entry-level jobs for applicants who aspire to serve their country by joining the military.
The math section is compulsory for those who wish to sit for Group X. The maths syllabus is of class 12th level. If prepared with the right approach, this section can be extremely beneficial for you.
On that note, let’s discuss topic wise preparation strategy to score well in the mathematics section of the Indian Airforce Group X and Y Exam
Important Mathematics Topics to Focus
Algebra
The maximum number of questions are asked from Algebra. Set theory, quadratic equations, functions, permutation and combination are four sub-topics from which you can expect most questions out of the total number of algebra questions in the exam.
Complex numbers, logarithms, sequences, and series are then moderately important topics. These might be asked as questions that require the concepts from these topics to be tested.
Remaining sub-topics like Binomial theorem, Relations, and Binary number which are only referenced conceptually in a few questions and hence are less crucial if you are cramming at the last minute.
Trigonometry
Trigonometry is divided into four subtopics: Trigonometric Ratios, Inverse Trigonometry, Heights and Distances, and Triangle Properties. Trigonometric ratios, as well as heights and distances, are the most significant of them. Inverse trigonometric formulas, on the other hand, are quite useful in issues involving differential integral calculus, and a few questions could be derived from them.
The properties of triangles, on the other hand, can be categorised as the least relevant subtopic in terms of exam preparation.
Analytic Geometry
Coordinate geometry, straight lines, circles, conic sections, 3-D geometry, Line, Plane, and Sphere are all included in this topic. As you can see, each sub-topic has some, if not significant, value. Questions from straight lines, conic section, line and plane are the most commonly and frequently asked in the exam.
Talking of Conic sections, be thorough with different types of conic sections including Circle, Ellipse, Parabola, Hyperbola with their equations and formulas like the equation of hyperbola, parabola, circle ellipse to name a few.
Probability and Statistics
This is one of the most important topics. One must develop an ability to calculate fast to solve numerical problems in this topic. Understand the key concepts well which include finding measures of central tendency (mean, median and mode), standard deviation, distribution, dependent and independent events, and more.
Vector Algebra
You can expect less questions from vector algebra in Airforce and other defence exam. So, if you're cramming for your exam in the final days, you can miss it. This is not a tough subject, and it is also employed in physics. However, if you are a typical student, you should also prepare for this.
Differential Calculus
Limits, continuity, and differentiability are some of the most significant issues in differential calculus. From these sub-topics, a few questions are answered, followed by differentiation, with differentiation applications taking precedence.
Integral Calculus
We have Indefinite Integration, Definite Integration, Areas Bounded by Region, and Differential Equations in integral calculus. This topic takes more time to prepare, however, there aren't as many questions as you might think given the amount of time it takes to prepare. The formulas for indefinite and definite integration are the most significant in integral calculus.