Lesson 1 - What is the MYP Investigation?

What is an investigation?

A mathematical investigation is a special type of task where you act like a mathematician on a journey of discovery, searching for concepts and relationships rather than just looking for a single answer in a textbook. It is defined by the IB as an activity where you are given the opportunity to pose questions, select your own problem-solving techniques, discover patterns, make generalisations, and communicate your findings.

In the context of your eAssessment, the investigation is the third and final task of the examination. It is a high-stakes part of the test, carrying a weight of approximately 30% of your total marks. While a standard maths "problem" often asks you to find one specific value, an investigation requires you to reason from the specific to the general by turning observed patterns into universal rules.

The eAssessment investigation is scaffolded (guided) to help you succeed, and it usually follows a specific path. It is split into two sections: the Structured Investigation (about 10 marks) and the Unstructured Investigation (about 20 marks).

The difference is that the Structured Investigation is split into parts a) to e) where you do a stage of the investigation in each. In the Unstructured Investigation you are given a list of bullet points covering the steps, but have to answer them in a single answer box, structuring your answer yourself.

In both cases you go through a similar set of stages:

• Exploring Specific Cases: You will often start with a "Show that" step to prove a value for a simple stage.

• Predictions: You will complete a table of values to see how numbers change across different stages.

• Describing Patterns: You must describe patterns in words using correct mathematical terminology.

• Finding a General Rule: You will move from numbers to algebra by writing a general rule (the nth term) that works for any stage of the pattern.

• Proving Your Results: To earn the highest marks, you must test your rule against known values, verify it for new values, and justify or prove why the rule works based on the visual or geometric structure of the task.

Throughout this process, you are marked on Criterion B (Investigating Patterns) for your ability to find and justify rules, and Criterion C (Communicating) for how clearly you explain your reasoning and use correct mathematical notation.