ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Mathematical Methods CAS => Topic started by: I_I on September 23, 2015, 02:29:50 pm

Title: Let's help one another!
Post by: I_I on September 23, 2015, 02:29:50 pm
Hi guys,
I thought today that it would be a good idea to do the exam, analyse how this could've been avoided, type it up and post it on atarnotes.
Since everyone is in the same boat, I thought others could learn from my mistakes. Even if some may laugh at my silliness, at least this would serve as a reminder of what not to do in the actual exam and/or in the practice exams for others. I learn too along the way so it's a win-win!
If others could do this as well, we could have a large database of common mistakes and errors for methods and this would help all of us immensely.
This is just a thought.

P.S it's only a page long so it's pretty short ;)
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: Bruzzix on September 23, 2015, 10:38:04 pm
When I antidifferentiate I always forget the +c
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: TheAspiringDoc on September 23, 2015, 10:39:49 pm
And when differentiating I forget the brackets around the part being differentiated (they are required yus?)
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: appleandbee on September 23, 2015, 10:53:54 pm
With general solutions, I used to forget to mention the factor of pi (n or k) as an element of z (integers/whole numbers)
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: cosine on September 23, 2015, 11:03:47 pm
With general solutions, I used to forget to mention the factor of pi (n or k) as an element of z (integers/whole numbers)

When we have f(x/2), this is a dilation of a factor of 2 from the y-axis, but if we transform the function, we actually substitute 1/2 into it, despite being a dilation by 2.
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: IndefatigableLover on September 23, 2015, 11:34:55 pm
Dishing out what was in my bound reference last year when it came to things I got stuck with:

1. Completing the Square (by hand if calculator gives dodgy answer)
2. Similar Triangles
3. Writing out Chain Rule
4. Divide by 60 (instead of using DMS if answers don't make sense)

Common things I forgot:
1. Strictly Increasing/Decreasing includes turning point
2. Range of 'G' is a subset of the domain of 'F' hence F(g(x)) exists (for Composite functions)
3. Odd Function: f(-x) = -f(x) and Even Function: f(-x)= f(x)
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: cosine on September 23, 2015, 11:37:59 pm
Something I learnt today -.-

Cubic graphs can actually have no turning points, the point of inflection does not necessarily have to be stationary, hence cubic graphs can have 0, 1 or 2 turning points.
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: pi on September 23, 2015, 11:39:02 pm
Something I learnt today -.-

Cubic graphs can actually have no turning points, the point of inflection does not necessarily have to be stationary, hence cubic graphs can have 0, 1 or 2 turning points.

I learnt that during my actual VCAA exam (exam 2 I think?) haha, good times :P
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: cosine on September 23, 2015, 11:42:25 pm
I learnt that during my actual VCAA exam (exam 2 I think?) haha, good times :P

Yep, it was the 2011 exam 2, did it today. I got 69/80, do you remember what you got for it?

Also, does anyone have some advice for those a b c d e f g i) ii) iii) iv) probability questions that typically only <5% get right? Cheers.
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: TheAspiringDoc on September 23, 2015, 11:44:41 pm
Yep, it was the 2011 exam 2, did it today. I got 69/80, do you remember what you got for it?

Also, does anyone have some advice for those a b c d e f g i) ii) iii) iv) probability questions that typically only <5% get right? Cheers.
Can you give us a typical example?  ::)
Title: Re: Let's help one another!
Post by: pi on September 23, 2015, 11:45:05 pm
Yep, it was the 2011 exam 2, did it today. I got 69/80, do you remember what you got for it?

No idea because I didn't get my statement, but I got a 46 and I think I did pretty well on exam 1 (full marked I think) so not sure what that means. Pretty sure I fucked up some conditional probability question (among others), haunts me to this day.