Changing from Math Methods 1&2 to Further 3&4

[Christiano]

I'm starting year 11, and as the title suggests, I know it is possible to change, but in regards to actually coping with the subject change, do you think it's possible to succeed Further Math 3&4 when you have dropped Math Methods 1&2 CAS for it? The reason for asking is, I don't think I will be able to do well in Methods, and I'm thinking about changing it to Further math in year 12 if it comes to the worst. Is the material learned in methods 1&2 applicable to further math? Or would it just be deemed pointless to change?

[harmony]

furthur is very different to methods. i think its similar to my cousin's advanced year 7 stuff

[brightsky]

I'm starting year 11, and as the title suggests, I know it is possible to change, but in regards to actually coping with the subject change, do you think it's possible to succeed Further Math 3&4 when you have dropped Math Methods 1&2 CAS for it? The reason for asking is, I don't think I will be able to do well in Methods, and I'm thinking about changing it to Further math in year 12 if it comes to the worst. Is the material learned in methods 1&2 applicable to further math? Or would it just be deemed pointless to change?

Yeah, what Methods and Further entail are very different.

Have a look at the past exams for Further and Methods on this site: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/exams/examsassessreports.html

[superflya]

furthur is very different to methods. i think its similar to my cousin's advanced year 7 stuff

lol, so true. even though the same topics arent covered in further and methods, further is generally a lot easier.

[m@tty]

Further mathematics is regarded as being 'easy' to pick up by many students.
Methods is not really very relevant, except to a few of the modules, these being matricies and graphs and relations. (I think that's all)
The focus of Further mathematics is statistics, where in Methods there is no statistics.
I have looked over the Further textbook, and, it seems a solid understanding of year 7-10 maths is all that is required.

[chickenpop]

I wouldn't recommend it, it's important absolutely get everything correct in Further to get a high score in it since everyone finds it so easy. People often think it's much easier and would be less work, which is where they go wrong. This is because to actually do well, you need to practice over and over, until you spend about the same time as other subjects. If you don't, you'll lose small marks in the exam/sacs that would have a huge effect on your study score. You have to be at the very top since it gets scaled down, and I know a whole bunch of people who dropped from Specialist 1/2 to Further in my school, and they are bloody smart and spend 5 hours a day studying on weekdays. These are the type of people you're going to have to beat, if you think you can, be my guest

If you've already done Methods 1/2, just continue to 3/4. Even if you didn't do too well in it last year, about 70% of the course is the same, so you can just relearn it. Plus, you get a nice scaling up even if you get middle band. You don't want to be regretting taking the easier subject at the end of the year

[Christiano]

Thanks peeps, these answers have warped my misguided perception about these 2 subjects. I would also like to know of there is any other practical use of math methods in chemistry or biology, and in the courses of medicine and law.

[superflya]

u do use logarithms to find concentrations in chem but there really basic.
med is all about bio n chem

[brightsky]

Yeah Maths Methods is a prereq for Biomedicine, though you can escape doing the subject if you do either Biology, Spesh or Physics. The entry requirements at Melbourne University are as follows (for Bachelor of Biomedicine):

"A study score of at least 25 in English/English Language/Literature or at least 30 in ESL, at least 35 in Chemistry and at least 25 in one of Biology, Mathematical Methods (either), Specialist Mathematics or Physics."

Not too sure about Law.


EDIT: Oh right, missed interpreted your post. :p

[Akirus]

I think you should also remember that Methods actually has very good scaling relative to its difficulty and other subjects.

[harmony]

yeh^

[superflya]

I think you should also remember that Methods actually has very good scaling relative to its difficulty and other subjects.

the scaling is decreasing however and if u get 45+ scaling is minimal.

[Akirus]

I think you should also remember that Methods actually has very good scaling relative to its difficulty and other subjects.

the scaling is decreasing however and if u get 45+ scaling is minimal.

True, although if you have the capacity to get 45+ in methods, why would you pass it up for further?

[mba]

I would also like to know of there is any other practical use of math methods in chemistry or biology, and in the courses of medicine and law.

I would think Methods would have no effect on the possibility of doing well in a Law course. Law is a humanities subject not a maths/science one. I.e.: you have to be able to express yourself well, not know how to solve an algebric equiation to succeed.

[kyzoo]

I think you should also remember that Methods actually has very good scaling relative to its difficulty and other subjects.

the scaling is decreasing however and if u get 45+ scaling is minimal.

45-48 is still good scaling 0.o. You can't really call that minimal