How picky are examiners?

[whichkim]

Doing my practice exams, I realized that I'm a lot more into using fractions than decimals (in Exam 1). I find fractions a lot more easier to work with in terms of multiplying, dividing, etc, etc. However, when it comes to the answers, most of the papers have their answers in decimals instead! Does it really matter? If it does matter then, when do I know when to use fractions/decimals?

Thanks in advance!

[Damoz.G]

If you're used to using fractions as opposed to decimals, then that's great! All answers should always be in exact values (fractions) for both Exam 1 and 2. If it states in the question to give your answer as a decimal, then that's the only time that you use decimals. If nothing is stated in the question, then exact values are required to get the full marks.

Well done!

[Zealous]

Fractions are usually safer, but of course something like 1/40 can be expressed as 0.025 which will still be marked correct (you might end up with decimals like this on exam 1). For exam 2, only give a decimal approximation when asked to (for irrational numbers etc.).

[Professor Polonsky]

As long as it's an exact answer, it can be given as a decimal. For example, 0.25 and are exactly the same. On the other hand though, please don't write 0.33 if the answer is a third. Given that you're used to fractions, you shouldn't have any trouble in exam 1. It might be easier to work with decimals in some cases, but that's completely a matter of personal preference.

As others have mentioned, in exam two, you may be asked to give a decimal approximation in place of an exact answer. In that case, you should of course give your final answer as a decimal.

[Twanny666]

My teacher, the head of Methods, says that in Exam 1 they are very picky...
Whilst in exam 2 they are extremely lenient.

[Damoz.G]

As I mentioned in my previous, this is what the instructions say for Exam 1:

In all questions where a numerical answer is required an exact value must be given unless otherwise
specified.

So never leave your answer as a decimal (Even for probability). I have gone through the Examiner's Reports, and they do pin students who don't give exact values.

If you want to use decimals when nothing is stated in the question, then do so but your running at a risk of losing absolutely stupid marks for not reading the instructions. Always simplify your answer until you can't simplify any further.

[Lejn]

Is that last part about simplification really right? I mean I've read in various examination reports that the answer is for example:

1/2*ln(4) or ln(2) or other equivalent answers.

[Damoz.G]

Is that last part about simplification really right? I mean I've read in various examination reports that the answer is for example:

1/2*ln(4) or ln(2) or other equivalent answers.

Sorry, that bit was supposed to be for an Exam 2 situation (Probably should have made that clearer).

But for an Exam 1 situation, always simply the obvious. e.g. 2/4=1/2
For something a bit more complex like that, in an Exam 1 situation, just leave it, otherwise you run the risk of making a mistake.

I don't want to sound rude (so please don't take it that way), but you should know when to simplify an answer or to leave it as it is.

[Professor Polonsky]

As I mentioned in my previous, this is what the instructions say for Exam 1:

So never leave your answer as a decimal (Even for probability). I have gone through the Examiner's Reports, and they do pin students who don't give exact values.

If you want to use decimals when nothing is stated in the question, then do so but your running at a risk of losing absolutely stupid marks for not reading the instructions. Always simplify your answer until you can't simplify any further.

But 0.5 and 0.25 are exact answers.

[BigAl]

Use fractions unless otherwise stated...Mathematicians love fractions although engineers love up to 3-4 decimal places...

[Damoz.G]

Use fractions unless otherwise stated...Mathematicians love fractions although engineers love up to 3-4 decimal places...

Yeah exactly, its the safest way to go.

[whichkim]

Cool. Thank you everyone for the great answers! I guess I'll stick with using fractions in all my answers for Exam 1. I'm quite worried about losing marks for small things, seeing that an A+ means only losing 1-2 marks in the exam. Eeek.

Good luck to all those doing the Methods exam!

[Damoz.G]

Cool. Thank you everyone for the great answers! I guess I'll stick with using fractions in all my answers for Exam 1. I'm quite worried about losing marks for small things, seeing that an A+ means only losing 1-2 marks in the exam. Eeek.

Good luck to all those doing the Methods exam!

Exactly, I've got the same mentality as you. You can never get marked down for using fractions as an answer, unless it states "Give your answer to _ decimal places".

[Tasmania Jones]

I'm not doing 3/4 methods this year, but just out of interest, if you wrote BOTH the exact answer and the decimal approximation, you will not get any marks taken off right?

e.g
*random working*
=1/3
=0.33

Thanks 

[Scooby]

I'm not doing 3/4 methods this year, but just out of interest, if you wrote BOTH the exact answer and the decimal approximation, you will not get any marks taken off right?

e.g
*random working*
=1/3
=0.33

Thanks 

Nah, in this case, if the exact value is required, you'd lose the mark. If you've got both down chances are you're not gonna get the mark. Just follow what the question says. If it doesn't specify an accuracy in terms of decimal places, give an exact answer