How do Vcaa like their answers for exam 2?

[skybluemaniac]

Hi all. I've been doing practice exams and I am not sure how vcaa like people to answer their questions.
1. when you're finding the bearing, do you have to put the 'T' sign to make it a true bearing?
2. In trigonometry when you have to go through several steps to figure out the length of say a 3d triangle (you have to figure out one length so you can find the next), should you use the exact value to carry on calculation after calculation? or would the 'drag and drop' feature of 8 decimel places on the casio classpad be suffiencient.
3. I read on the exam paper that when they do not specify a certain amount of decimel places, you write the exact value?

Thank you all in advance!

[Stevensmay]

2 and 3, you should always be using exact values unless the question specifically asks for an approximate answer.
Even though the difference between an exact and 8 decimal long answer is minimal, it may result in an approximate answer when an exact one could have been found.

[skybluemaniac]

2 and 3, you should always be using exact values unless the question specifically asks for an approximate answer.
Even though the difference between an exact and 8 decimal long answer is minimal, it may result in an approximate answer when an exact one could have been found.

Thank you! so you don't have to write the 'T' if true bearing is not specified? also, I did a vcaa paper and when no decimal places were stated, the answers on the website assumed one decimal place. I wouldn't be marked wrong for an exact value in this case would i?

[Stevensmay]

I don't do further so cannot comment on true bearings.

With regards to decimals.
'You need not give numerical answers as decimals unless instructed to do so. Alternative forms may
involve, for example, pi, surds or fractions' (VCAA exam paper) so it looks like an approximate answer is okay, but in your calculations you should always be using exact.

I fail to see how you could be penalized for going with exact if they do not specify.

[skybluemaniac]

I don't do further so cannot comment on true bearings.

With regards to decimals.
'You need not give numerical answers as decimals unless instructed to do so. Alternative forms may
involve, for example, pi, surds or fractions' so it looks like an approximate answer is okay, but in your calculations you should always be using exact.

I fail to see how you could be penalized for going with exact if they do not specify.

Thank you! Much appreciated

[lala1911]

Bearing are 3 digits, so 360 degrees, 067 degrees and 007 degrees. I did my SAC and wrote 31, initially it wasn't rewarded a mark because they are "3 digit bearings" but the teachers decided to honour the answer.

[Stevensmay]

Just to add to Lala's reply. Three digits are always needed but it appears T is not.
Question 2.c in http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/exams/mathematics/furthermaths2_assessrep_11.pdf