Maths assignment problem

[crappy]

hi guys, just wanted to see the correct way of answering a problem in a maths assignment.

Just say I have two ways to answer one question, one extremely long way, and another extremely short way. Which way would I present the answer? Would I lose marks if I used the short way, even though it arrived at the same answer?

[brightsky]

I wouldn't think so. Whichever one you choose, just make sure that the working out is formal and presented in a logical manner, but otherwise I see no reason why they should take marks off you (except unless there is a criteria that indicates what parts you need to show and you omit that in your answer).

[/0]

It wouldn't hurt to show both methods, they like seeing different approaches

[crappy]

ahh k guys, thanks.

[kamil9876]

I remember copping shit from our lecturer not so long ago about how almost all of us took a slightly longer path on an assignment, saying that "mathematicians are lazy by nature, to be a good mathematician you guys have to start trying to try to find the lazy way to do things" or something along those lines.

[crappy]

lol kamil, thanks

Im only asking this question because the assignment has to be done on word( with vectors!!!!grrr). So if I did the long way, it would take me 100 years lol

[dekoyl]

How many marks is the question work, Crappy?

Naaw, that's VCE stuff.

Just remember to explain each like in the assignment and you should be fine.. but yeah it definitely wouldn't hurt to put both methods.

[/0]

If you're doing the long way and it's taking you 100 years to write it all down, then by Occam's Razor it's more likely that it's wrong.

(Unless the problem is ridiculously, ridiculously hard)

[crappy]

Lol /0, the longer working is actually right too. It would take me ages to write cos everything has to be done on word, and I'm using shitty equation editor lol

[/0]

lol ouch.

Are you allowed to use LateX? I reckon that's definitely a better way to type out assignments.

[luken93]

on a different note, can you be marked down for jumping straight to the answer

i got 1/2 marks for
Complete the square for:

and I wrote



I mean howw much more detail can you go down to?
You shudve seen what she wrote

[the.watchman]

I think this should suffice:







The DOPS bit isn't really part of the question, right? ('Complete the square' NOT 'Factorise')

[m@tty]

With CAS now implemented, you will have to show many steps. Otherwise your calc may have done it all...

[luken93]

I think this should suffice:







The DOPS bit isn't really part of the question, right? ('Complete the square' NOT 'Factorise')

She told me i shud've written
of the b valuethe difference between of b

[the.watchman]

DON'T USE PRONUMERALS LIKE THAT WHEN THEY AREN'T DEFINED
They don't make sense unless you define them, you can't really invoke 'b' and 'c' out of nowhere
It's like saying...

End rant.