Nova Scotia · Grade 10
Mathematics 10
Nova Scotia’s Grade 10 math course, from Measurement to Financial Mathematics.
- Units
- 4
- Lessons
- 19
- Skills
- 38
- Provincial exam
- 20% of the final mark
- Official curriculum
- Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, with its official code.
Unit 1 · 9 skills
Measurement
Linear measurement in SI and imperial units
Referents and estimation for linear measure
I can estimate a length with a referent and pick a sensible SI or imperial unit.
Official code: M01
Measuring and solving linear problems with instruments
I can measure lengths with real instruments and solve linear-measurement problems.
Official code: M01
Converting between SI and imperial
Converting units with proportional reasoning
I can convert a measurement between SI and imperial using proportional reasoning.
Official code: M02
Verifying conversions with unit analysis
I can check a unit conversion with unit analysis and judge if it is reasonable.
Official code: M02
Surface area and volume of 3-D objects
Surface area and volume of prisms and cylinders
I can find the surface area and volume of right prisms and cylinders.
Official code: M03
Surface area and volume of cones, pyramids, and spheres
I can find the surface area and volume of cones, pyramids, and spheres.
Official code: M03
Composite objects and unknown dimensions
I can solve composite-object problems and find a missing dimension from a given surface area or volume.
Official code: M03
Primary trigonometric ratios
Defining and setting up the primary trig ratios
I can identify opposite, adjacent, and hypotenuse and write the correct trig ratio.
Official code: M04
Solving right triangles and indirect measurement
I can solve right triangles and use trig for indirect measurement.
Official code: M04
The official wording · 9 outcomes
- M01
- solve problems that involve linear measurement, using SI and imperial units of measure, estimation strategies
- M01
- solve problems that involve linear measurement, using SI and imperial units of measure, estimation strategies, and measurement strategies
- M02
- apply proportional reasoning to problems that involve conversions between SI and imperial units of measure
- M02
- problems that involve conversions between SI and imperial units of measure
- M03
- solve problems, using SI and imperial units, that involve the surface area and volume of 3-D objects, including right cones, right cylinders, right prisms
- M03
- surface area and volume of 3-D objects, including right cones, right cylinders, right prisms, right pyramids, and spheres
- M03
- solve problems, using SI and imperial units, that involve the surface area and volume of 3-D objects
- M04
- develop and apply the primary trigonometric ratios (sine, cosine, tangent)
- M04
- the primary trigonometric ratios (sine, cosine, tangent) to solve problems that involve right triangles
Key ideas
A referent is a known personal benchmark (a fingernail ≈ 1 cm, a doorknob ≈ 1 m high).
A conversion factor is a ratio equal to 1 (1 in = 2.54 cm), so multiplying by it keeps the amount the same.
Volume of a prism or cylinder is base area times height.
In similar right triangles the side ratios stay constant, which is why each angle has fixed sine, cosine, tangent.
The right unit keeps the number manageable — millimetres for a bolt, metres for a room.
Watch out for
- Choosing a unit that makes the number awkwardly large or small.
- Multiplying when you should divide (getting a larger number when converting to a bigger unit).
- Confusing radius with diameter in the cylinder formulas.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 8 skills
Algebra and Number
Irrational numbers and simplifying radicals
Identifying and ordering irrational numbers
I can identify irrational numbers and place them in order.
Official code: AN02
Simplifying and converting radicals
I can convert between mixed and entire radicals and simplify.
Official code: AN02
Powers with integral and rational exponents
Applying exponent laws with rational exponents
I can simplify expressions using the exponent laws, including rational exponents.
Official code: AN03
Converting between powers and radicals
I can rewrite a rational-exponent power as a radical and back, and solve related problems.
Official code: AN03
Multiplying polynomials
Multiplying binomials with an area model
I can multiply two binomials using an area model.
Official code: AN04
Multiplying polynomials symbolically
I can multiply polynomials symbolically and combine like terms.
Official code: AN04
Common factors and trinomial factoring
Removing common factors
I can factor out the greatest common factor of a polynomial.
Official code: AN05
Factoring trinomials and differences of squares
I can factor a trinomial and recognize a difference of squares.
Official code: AN05
The official wording · 8 outcomes
- AN02
- demonstrate an understanding of irrational numbers by representing, identifying, simplifying, and ordering irrational numbers
- AN02
- simplifying, and ordering irrational numbers. (Focus on simplifying radicals)
- AN03
- demonstrate an understanding of powers with integral and rational exponents
- AN03
- powers with integral and rational exponents
- AN04
- understanding of the multiplication of polynomial expressions (limited to monomials, binomials, and trinomials), concretely, pictorially
- AN04
- understanding of the multiplication of polynomial expressions (limited to monomials, binomials, and trinomials)
- AN05
- demonstrate an understanding of common factors and trinomial factoring
- AN05
- trinomial factoring, concretely, pictorially, and symbolically
Key ideas
An irrational number cannot be written as a fraction of integers; its decimal never terminates or repeats.
Multiplying powers with the same base adds exponents; dividing subtracts them.
An area model splits each binomial along the sides of a rectangle; each cell is a partial product.
The greatest common factor is the largest monomial dividing every term.
Approximating a radical (√7 ≈ 2.6) lets you locate it between whole numbers.
Watch out for
- Thinking every square root is irrational (√9 = 3 is rational).
- Multiplying exponents when the operation calls for adding them.
- Multiplying only the first terms and last terms and skipping the middle products.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 16 skills
Relations and Functions
Data, graphs, and situations
Interpreting graphs and situations
I can read a graph as a story and sketch a graph for a situation.
Official code: RF01
Domain and range from data
I can state the domain and range of a relation, including real-world restrictions.
Official code: RF01
Relations and functions
Distinguishing relations and functions
I can decide whether a relation is a function.
Official code: RF02
Slope
Slope as rise over run and rate of change
I can find a slope from rise over run and read it as a rate of change.
Official code: RF03
Parallel and perpendicular slopes
I can use slope to test whether lines are parallel or perpendicular.
Official code: RF03
Representing linear relations
Representing linear relations many ways
I can represent a linear relation as words, a table, a graph, and an equation.
Official code: RF04
Characteristics of a linear graph
I can find the intercepts, slope, domain, and range of a linear graph.
Official code: RF05
Forms of linear equations
Slope-intercept form
I can graph and write a line in slope-intercept form.
Official code: RF06
General form and rewriting between forms
I can write a line in general form and convert between forms.
Official code: RF06
Slope-point form
I can write a line in slope-point form from a slope and a point.
Official code: RF06
Determining the equation of a line
Equation from a graph or a point and slope
I can write a line's equation from a graph or from a point and slope.
Official code: RF07
Equation from two points
I can write a line's equation from two points.
Official code: RF07
Equation from a parallel or perpendicular line
I can write a line's equation through a point parallel or perpendicular to a given line.
Official code: RF07
Function notation
Representing a linear function with function notation
I can write and evaluate a linear function in function notation.
Official code: RF09
Systems of linear equations
Solving systems graphically
I can solve a system of linear equations by graphing and interpret the intersection.
Official code: RF10
Solving systems algebraically
I can solve a system of linear equations algebraically.
Official code: RF10
The official wording · 16 outcomes
- RF01
- interpret and explain the relationships among data, graphs, and situations
- RF01
- interpret and explain the relationships among data, graphs, and situations
- RF02
- demonstrate an understanding of relations and functions
- RF03
- demonstrate an understanding of slope with respect to rise and run, line segments and lines, rate of change
- RF03
- rate of change, parallel lines, and perpendicular lines
- RF04
- describe and represent linear relations, using words, ordered pairs, tables of values, graphs, and equations
- RF05
- determine the characteristics of the graphs of linear relations, including the intercepts, slope, domain, and range
- RF06
- slope-intercept form (y = mx + b)
- RF06
- general form (Ax + By + C = 0)
- RF06
- slope-point form (y – y1 ) = m(x – x1 )
- RF07
- determine the equation of a linear relation to solve problems, given a graph, a point and the slope
- RF07
- determine the equation of a linear relation to solve problems, given a graph, a point and the slope, two points
- RF07
- a point and the equation of a parallel or perpendicular line
- RF09
- represent a linear function, using function notation
- RF10
- solve problems that involve systems of linear equations in two variables, graphically
- RF10
- solve problems that involve systems of linear equations in two variables, graphically and algebraically
Key ideas
The shape of a graph encodes the situation — steep means fast change, flat means no change.
A function assigns exactly one output to each input.
Slope = rise over run = change in y over change in x.
A relation is linear when equal steps in x give equal steps in y (constant first differences).
In y = mx + b, m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
Watch out for
- Reading a distance-time graph as if the line's slope were the path's slope.
- Thinking repeated outputs (not inputs) disqualify a function.
- Computing run over rise instead of rise over run.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 5 skills
Financial Mathematics
Unit pricing and currency exchange
Best buys with unit pricing
I can compare unit prices and find a percent change to choose a best buy.
Official code: FM01
Currency exchange
I can convert between currencies and read exchange rates.
Official code: FM01
Gross and net pay
Calculating gross pay
I can calculate gross pay from different income methods.
Official code: FM02
Calculating net pay after deductions
I can calculate net pay after deductions.
Official code: FM02
Personal budgets
Building a personal budget
I can create and adjust a personal budget.
Official code: FM03
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- FM01
- solve problems that involve unit pricing and currency exchange, using proportional reasoning
- FM01
- currency exchange, using proportional reasoning
- FM02
- understanding of income to calculate gross pay and net pay, including wages, salary, contracts, commissions, and piecework
- FM02
- calculate gross pay and net pay
- FM03
- investigate personal budgets
Key ideas
Unit price is total cost divided by quantity, giving a per-item or per-gram cost.
Gross pay is total earnings before any deductions.
A budget balances income against fixed and variable expenses.
The lowest unit price is the best buy, but quality and quantity may still matter.
Overtime is often paid at time-and-a-half or double time beyond a set number of hours.
Watch out for
- Comparing total prices instead of unit prices.
- Paying all hours at the overtime rate instead of only the extra hours.
- Leaving out irregular or unexpected expenses.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The mark you need
Your class mark counts for 80% of the final mark, the exam for 20%.
You need
50% on the exam
With 75% in class, your final mark lands between 60% (0 on the exam) and 80% (100% on it).
Which course?
Nova Scotia has 2 math courses for Grade 10. Here they are side by side.
- Mathematics 10This course4 units · 38 skillsNova Scotia Exam: Mathematics 10What it coversMeasurement · Algebra and Number · Relations and Functions · Financial Mathematics
- Mathematics at Work 104 units · 24 skillsNo provincial examWhat it coversMeasurement · Geometry · Number · Algebra
What a university, college or program asks for is theirs to say: check its admission page, and your school’s course guide.
The official curriculum
This page follows Nova Scotia’s own curriculum for Mathematics 10.
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches Mathematics 10 one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.


Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep Mathematics 10 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 33
- Fillable fields
- 1,551
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about Mathematics 10
What is Mathematics 10?
Nova Scotia’s Grade 10 math course: 4 units and 38 skills, from Measurement to Financial Mathematics.
What units are in Mathematics 10?
1. Measurement, 2. Algebra and Number, 3. Relations and Functions and 4. Financial Mathematics.
Is there a provincial exam for Mathematics 10?
Yes. The Nova Scotia Exam: Mathematics 10 counts for 20% of the final mark. Next sitting: June 23, 2027.
What comes after Mathematics 10?
Mathematics 11, Pre-Calculus 11 and Mathematics at Work 11.
Can MapleMind help with Mathematics 10?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of Mathematics 10, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.