ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Mathematical Methods CAS => Topic started by: Darren on February 21, 2011, 09:48:55 pm

Title: Darren's methods question thread
Post by: Darren on February 21, 2011, 09:48:55 pm

EDIT: my new question thread for my nooby problems. Thanks guys, much appreciated

Title: Re: Quick question
Post by: Martoman on February 21, 2011, 11:42:51 pm

Let your teacher know you're struggling and ask for extra help one on one. Teachers espech at year 12 level actually want to help you, take advantage of that.

Get a visual understanding of things (I did it through youtube)

Know the question types, once you do they become routine. Things like "Find the gradient of curve y=x^2 at x = 3" you know instantly to do a derivative and sub in points.

This should get you above 25.

Title: Re: Quick question
Post by: taiga on February 22, 2011, 12:08:25 am

I think you should be okay, just keep on asking questions, don't leave any unasked, and just repeat questions until you understand the process behind doing them. That should get you the method you are looking for, and hence a large bulk of the marks, more than enough to get you a score of around 30 :)

If you understand the method, attempt to apply it on all questions, and end up getting most right, there is no reason why you can't get 35+ which will scale to 41+ :)

Title: Re: Quick question
Post by: Halil on February 23, 2011, 10:20:59 pm

Get a tutor. Methods is a subject worth spending money on. It can get you into about 85% of courses in university. Really depends on what you want to get into.

Title: Re: Quick question
Post by: Darren on February 27, 2011, 11:43:11 pm

Thanks guys.
So I'm guessing I should tell my teacher i'm struggling and I just got a tutor so yeah. Hopefully I can get 30+ .. I used to be so good at math before I did methods.
I'll turn this into a Darren's q and answer thread, I have alot of questions!


First question: Understanding modulus.. is this it? Basically I understand that a modulus equation is just an equation which is turned positive for all possible negative y-values.

Like for example : |2x+5| x = 0 at -5/2 so therefore the modulus is the hybrid of 2x+5 when x is greater or equal than -5/2 and -2x+5 when x is less or equal than -5/2.. is this correct?

Title: Re: Darren's methods question thread
Post by: Water on February 27, 2011, 11:51:56 pm

hey darren,

it'd be 2x + 5 for when x > or equal to -5/2


To find the other equation, you just times it with the negative sign.

So it'd be


-2x -5  for when x < -5/2 


It'd make sense, cause both their y values would both equate to 0 :)

Title: Re: Darren's methods question thread
Post by: Darren on February 28, 2011, 12:08:38 am

Umm when you times it by the (-'ve) sign do you mean -(2x+5) for it to equal (-2x-5)?

Title: Re: Darren's methods question thread
Post by: Water on February 28, 2011, 12:13:27 am

Yup, because the other equation would be be a reflection in the y axis ^^

Title: Re: Darren's methods question thread
Post by: Darren on March 02, 2011, 05:43:13 pm

Thanks water (:
Something I'm also really unclear about is binomial expansion.. could someone please explain that step by step please? Much appreciated
So for example expanding (x+2)^4 using binomials or pascals triangle?

Title: Re: Darren's methods question thread
Post by: schnappy on March 02, 2011, 05:54:34 pm

If you're really struggling it might be best to avoid niche things like binomial theorem and just stick to the main things...

That said, I've got no clue.

Title: Re: Darren's methods question thread
Post by: Darren on March 02, 2011, 08:10:42 pm

Do you do methods? Is it empirical that we must know it? :|

Title: Re: Darren's methods question thread
Post by: dooodyo on March 02, 2011, 08:15:17 pm

Oh nah not really but it wouldn't hurt to know it anyway  ;D