Methods Exams 2014: Predictions

[speedy]

Sorry BlackCatt - it's on the exam EVERY year. Normally it's on multi-choice, though, if you want to risk it - but you still got plenty of time until exam 1, so.

Let's say they have "find the derivative of f(x)=x^2 + 2x - 3 using first principles", here's what you do:

Write the initial statement,


Then, draw a line to the right, and then write:



Then, you evaluate this. After this is evaluated, then you write:

Is this what you mean?

Spoiler

[keltingmeith]

None thus far (even before 2006) have had any first principles questions. Its not really possible to examine it in MC since all the marks stem from doing the algebra by hand.

Since its in the same level as 1/2 probability, there is no reason why they can't pull it out now.

This is awkward... I swear I've seen them before, and now I can't find them. :| I must be going mad...


And that's the way, speedy! Just split up the evaluation of the fraction from the limit, then take it back to the limit.

[speedy]

This is awkward... I swear I've seen them before, and now I can't find them. :| I must be going mad...


And that's the way, speedy! Just split up the evaluation of the fraction from the limit, then take it back to the limit.

Maybe you were thinking of linear approximation?

[keltingmeith]

Nah - I distinctly remember them writing the questions in weird ways so people didn't know they were doing first principles, and so tricked them into doing it the long way...

[BLACKCATT]

So... is it examinable or not? making me nervous

[keltingmeith]

Oh - still examinable, just not in past years like I thought. (unless I somehow find them...)

[Valyria]

I've never seen a qn on permutations either, I don't think VCAA would incorporate questions from the 1,2 syllabus when they have a vast number of 3,4 concepts at their disposal.

[cwiddicombe]

I reckon linear approximation will be on the exam.

[Yacoubb]

I reckon linear approximation will be on the exam.

Yeah me too. It hasn't been asked in a while, and perhaps VCAA will also add an "explain why the calculated value is greater than the exact value", where you'd have to talk about how we use the y-value of the tangent which is greater than y-value of the original graph at that x-value, leading to an overestimation, etc. 2009 VCAA exam 1 had this iirc.

[vcestudent123]

Probably a transformation question because they seem to be always done poorly or.. they may save that for the 2015 Exam..

[Yacoubb]

Probably a transformation question because they seem to be always done poorly or.. they may save that for the 2015 Exam..

Last year's VCAA exam 1 had a transformation question didn't it?
But yeah I'm going to read through the assessment reports and see which bits students struggled with last year, because they're likely to assess those in the upcoming exams.

[vididid]

with the linear approximation questions and the over stated thing.. what exactly should you be writing to get full marks?

[Yacoubb]

with the linear approximation questions and the over stated thing.. what exactly should you be writing to get full marks?

It's usually actually only a one mark question. I always state the equation:

f(x+h) = f(x) + hf'(x). The equation indicates that the value of the tangent at x (state the x-value) is used. Since the value of f'(x) at x is greater than the value of f(x) at the same x-value, the approximated value of f(x+h) is greater than the exact value.

If you check up the assessor's report for 2009 I'm pretty sure they've got an answer. But in my opinion, that would suffice ^.

Oh - still examinable, just not in past years like I thought. (unless I somehow find them...)

So first principles could be assessed? I know it, it's just such a pain in the ass! -.-

[vididid]

Any other predictions guys?

did they do a 'hence differentiate' question last year?

[vcestudent123]

Last year's VCAA exam 1 had a transformation question didn't it?
But yeah I'm going to read through the assessment reports and see which bits students struggled with last year, because they're likely to assess those in the upcoming exams.

Yeah, you're right. It will probably end up in the 2015 exam
I should probably check out Exam1 2012 + 2011 and see what they could add on for this year's Exam 1 and 2.