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VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Mathematical Methods CAS => Topic started by: Greatness on December 04, 2010, 07:00:00 pm

Title: methods...
Post by: Greatness on December 04, 2010, 07:00:00 pm
Ive had a read of the methods textbook both the essentials and heinamann, and to me personally it doesnt seem that it would be that difficult...
From what ive seen a lot of the content is just extension on what we have learnt in 1/2, but there are some new concepts - which dont seem that difficult to learn

Do you think that i am underestimating the content? I know that i do sound a bit arrogant and cocky but overall it doesnt seem too bad...
And what are some of the new concepts that you think i shuold be careful of when learning it?

Thanks
Title: Re: methods...
Post by: Romperait on December 04, 2010, 07:05:16 pm
None of the stuff in methods is excessively hard to understand, but sometimes applying it can be a bit of a struggle.

(I can't help with the new concepts cause I don't know what was covered in 1/2.)
Title: Re: methods...
Post by: taiga on December 04, 2010, 07:43:30 pm
I think you're fine :)

Title: Re: methods...
Post by: pi on December 04, 2010, 09:36:39 pm
My understanding is that methods 3+4 is simply an extension of 1+2, I don't think you are being arrogant at all.
Title: Re: methods...
Post by: Greatness on December 04, 2010, 09:57:37 pm
thnks for the replies guys, i was worried i was getting a bit ahead of myself.

well we pretty much learnt everything with the exception of probablity... we did almost every chapter/exercise in the heinamann book - we didnt finish probabilty.
Title: Re: methods...
Post by: dptjandra on December 05, 2010, 12:13:28 am
Yeh - that's why it's so easy to lose marks in methods unfortunately :(
Title: Re: methods...
Post by: luffy on December 05, 2010, 10:31:31 am
These are the extra stuff in units 3/4:

Functions - Exactly the same as Units 1/2 (except now theres 'Composite Functions')
              - Addition of Ordinates (which I have yet to actually see in an exam, even practise exams never have them)
              - Trigonometry now has Compound/Double Angle formulas, but Exponential/Logarithmic functions are the same.

In general, Unit 3 is revision of Units 1/2.

Calculus         - Chain/Product/Quotient Rule
                    - Differentiating Exp/Log/Trig functions
                    - Integrating Exp/Trig/(1/x)
                    - Integrating by Recognition
                    - Areas under curves

Probability      - Completely new area (much easier than Combinatorics for me)
                    - Probability Density Functions
                    - Binomial Theorem/ Distributions
                    - Normal Distributions

I might have missed a few minor details, but I think thats it.
Title: Re: methods...
Post by: chansthename on December 05, 2010, 10:52:46 am
In all honesty, I found methods to be super easy, sure exam 2 was a bitch but the content as many has said is just an extension. infact it was more difficult going from year 10 to 11 than 11 to 12.

Title: Re: methods...
Post by: Greatness on December 05, 2010, 01:31:03 pm
These are the extra stuff in units 3/4:

Functions - Exactly the same as Units 1/2 (except now theres 'Composite Functions')
              - Addition of Ordinates (which I have yet to actually see in an exam, even practise exams never have them)
              - Trigonometry now has Compound/Double Angle formulas, but Exponential/Logarithmic functions are the same.

In general, Unit 3 is revision of Units 1/2.

Calculus         - Chain/Product/Quotient Rule
                    - Differentiating Exp/Log/Trig functions
                    - Integrating Exp/Trig/(1/x)
                    - Integrating by Recognition
                    - Areas under curves

Probability      - Completely new area (much easier than Combinatorics for me)
                    - Probability Density Functions
                    - Binomial Theorem/ Distributions
                    - Normal Distributions

I might have missed a few minor details, but I think thats it.

thanks for that :) now i know when i have to pay extra attention.
Title: Re: methods...
Post by: luffy on December 05, 2010, 08:19:47 pm
In all honesty, I found methods to be super easy, sure exam 2 was a bitch but the content as many has said is just an extension. infact it was more difficult going from year 10 to 11 than 11 to 12.



Yeah, I completely agree with you there. In fact, many students constantly like to say Unit 3/4 Methods is easier than 1/2. That probably isn't true, but the transition from yr 11-12 is simpler than 10-11 for sure.