Methods Exam 1

[thushan]

I'm thinking the A+ cut will be about 36.5-37/40.

[99.90 pls]

You raise a very good point, actually. However, this is a MASSIVE subtlety, and I can't see them refusing to award it, because you would not know this unless you did specialist or chose not to use 1/tan(t). If they do choose to be exclusive like that, methods teachers will put them in so much strife that this question will NEVER appear again.

I'm very interested to see the examiners report for this question, now - because it actually looks like theta=pi/2 would give the /true/ maximum.

You don't have to do Specialist to know that 1/tan(t) isn't defined for t = pi/2, tan(t) is a function studied in Methods and students should be aware of its domain. tan(t) = sin(t)/cos(t) is also taught in Methods, so students could easily have re-arranged it to = cos(t)/sin(t); it's a subtlety but they shouldn't just delete a hard question/trick because not enough people managed to see it. Surely Methods teachers would be applauding VCAA for rigorously testing knowledge of domains (i.e. the concept that re-arranging functions can actually affect domains, despite being graphically identical)

The only advantage a Spesh student would get is being able to write cot(t) instead of cos(t)/sin(t), saving them a second or two of precious exam time.

[Orb]

You don't have to do Specialist to know that 1/tan(t) isn't defined for t = pi/2, tan(t) is a function studied in Methods and students should be aware of its domain. tan(t) = sin(t)/cos(t) is also taught in Methods, so students could easily have re-arranged it to = cos(t)/sin(t); it's a subtlety but they shouldn't just delete a hard question/trick because not enough people managed to see it. Surely Methods teachers would be applauding VCAA for rigorously testing knowledge of domains (i.e. the concept that re-arranging functions can actually affect domains, despite being graphically identical)

The only advantage a Spesh student would get is being able to write cot(t) instead of cos(t)/sin(t), saving them a second or two of precious exam time.

Well fuck me if they rule -1/tan(t) wrong haha, i'll be ending up with 38 -_____-

[keltingmeith]

You don't have to do Specialist to know that 1/tan(t) isn't defined for t = pi/2, tan(t) is a function studied in Methods and students should be aware of its domain. tan(t) = sin(t)/cos(t) is also taught in Methods, so students could easily have re-arranged it to = cos(t)/sin(t); it's a subtlety but they shouldn't just delete a hard question/trick because not enough people managed to see it. Surely Methods teachers would be applauding VCAA for rigorously testing knowledge of domains (i.e. the concept that re-arranging functions can actually affect domains, despite being graphically identical)

The only advantage a Spesh student would get is being able to write cot(t) instead of cos(t)/sin(t), saving them a second or two of precious exam time.

Not quite true - a spec student would be able to recognize that 1/tan = cot, and from there know that it's defined for t=pi/2, unlike the usual methods student who will see "tan(pi/2) is undefined, so it's not pi/2".

As I said - it's a subtlety, and one that I'm unsure that VCAA will follow through on. The overall question itself was quite tricky, so it's not like not acknowledging it will make it any less worthy, and it would keep the teachers happy. (Because, guess what, teachers like to complain when the questions get hard like this. It's a fact)

At the same time, I would perfectly understand if they choose to ignore anyone who says they should ignore t=pi/2. I'm not saying there's a wrong or right way to do this, nor a way I think they should, I'm just saying that at this point it could go either way.

[GeniDoi]

Not quite true - a spec student would be able to recognize that 1/tan = cot, and from there know that it's defined for t=pi/2, unlike the usual methods student who will see "tan(pi/2) is undefined, so it's not pi/2".

As I said - it's a subtlety, and one that I'm unsure that VCAA will follow through on. The overall question itself was quite tricky, so it's not like not acknowledging it will make it any less worthy, and it would keep the teachers happy. (Because, guess what, teachers like to complain when the questions get hard like this. It's a fact)

At the same time, I would perfectly understand if they choose to ignore anyone who says they should ignore t=pi/2. I'm not saying there's a wrong or right way to do this, nor a way I think they should, I'm just saying that at this point it could go either way.

As x-> pi/2 for 1/tan(x), tan(x) -> infinity so 1/tan(x) -> 0? What part about it doesn't work?

EDIT: Nvm, forgot that even with limits tan still isn't defined at x = Pi/2 while a gradient of 0 should still work.