Maths paper 1 - Pointers + book list

Paper 1 

(updated with chapter details)

Points to ponder : 

1. The syllabus of Paper 1 of Mathematics is easier to tackle as compared to Paper 2. 
2. Topics like Linear Algebra, Vector Analysis, ODE are easier to handle while others like Statics and Dynamics, Analytic Geometry require a greater degree of practise and effort. So, one can plan accordingly while preparing the topics.
3. The main issue in this paper is that of accuracy, as a lot of questions of Paper 1 require calculations which are prone to errors. 
4. There have been instances in the exam where I had to skip the optional questions of my favoured topics like statics-dynamics, calculus and opt for questions on analytic geometry (which I always felt I was not good at), hence a decent practise of all the topics is desirable in this paper.
5. One should try to select familiar questions in the exam as far as possible. This reduces the chances of having to switch questions midway (I paid a price for switching a question mid-way in my Paper 1 in my 1st attempt.) 

So one should ideally aim at covering all the topics in Paper 1 thoroughly, prepare notebooks of important as well as difficult questions and practise them well. 

Book list : 

The following were my topic wise sources and strategy for covering the topics of Paper 1 :

(Chapters of the books mentioned are on the lines suggested by Prakash Rajpurohit sir on his blog, will try to update with list of chapters in a week's time)

1. Linear Algebra : 
• Sources : Krishna series books on Linear Algebra (Black cover) and Matrices
• The last couple of years' questions seem to have been from Schaum’s series on Linear Algebra so would have given it a look as well in subsequent attempts
• Book Solving strategy :  Did all the solved examples of relevant chapters, focussed on proofs as well
• Chapter details : Vector spaces, Linear Transformations (Left linear functionals, dual spaces, annihilators), other topics based on syllabus
2. Analytic Geometry : 
• Sources : Analytical Solid Geometry by Shanti Narayan + Previous years questions (since 2000)
• Book Solving strategy : Did all the solved examples (selectively for the chapter on  generating lines - only the slight easier ones or those asked previously)
• Note : Did not do the chapter on plane sections of conicoids. 
• Chapter details : 
• Did the chapters on Locii, Transformation of co-ordinates
• Left : Plane sections of conicoids, Confocal conicoids, polar planes-poles, Central points-line of striction in Generating lines of conicoids
3.  Calculus : 
• Source : A course of Mathematical Analysis by Shanti Narayan, P.K. Mittal
• Did Malik and Arora partially {This is a better book for calculus in retrospect}
•  Book Solving strategy : Did all the solved examples
• Chapter details : 
• Malik and Arora : Chapters 1-7, 9, 11,12, 14-18 (includes chapter of real analysis)
4.  ODE : 
• Sources : Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations by MD Raisinghania + Laplace transforms { by online searches, googling}
• Book Solving strategy : Did all the solved examples of relevant chapters, focussed on a few proofs of the section on exact D.E.
• Chapter details : 
• MD Raisinghania : Chapters 1-8 (excluding extraneous locii), 10
5.  Dynamics and Statics : 
• Sources : Krishna series books on the two topics (Dynamics, Statics)
• Book Solving strategy :  Tried to do the standard problems, as well as the problem types asked previously 
• Note : In chapters of statics the last 5-10 questions of concerned chapters tend to get very complicated and difficult to remember. So, one may choose to leave such questions - do try to solve/memorise those asked in previous years
• Chapter details : 
• Dynamics : Left chapters on motion in a resisting medium, motion of a particle in 3-D
• Statics : Chapters 1-4, 6, 8 
6.   Vector Analysis : 
• Sources : Krishna Series' Vector Calculus + A textbook of vector calculus by Shanti Narayan {only 1 chapter for Frenet’s formulae}
• Book Solving strategy :  Did all the solved examples
• Chapter details : 
• All the 4 chapters of Krishna series book + Chapter 2 of Shanti Narayan's book {till 2.7 and the associated solved examples given afterwards}

Any doubts which one may have after reading this may be put in the comments section below. I will try to answer them as much as I can. 

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