What topics to learn own your own over the holidays?

[vea]

Hey everybody

To ensure that I do my best in spesh next year (and to make up for my poor performance in methods ), I'm going to try learn some of the easier topics myself during these summer holidays but I'm not too sure where to start?

From what I can see, complex numbers in Maths Quest is identical to everything I learnt this year in GMA so I think I have that covered...

Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks

[onerealsmartass]

Good thread. I will also be intrested, as i havent done GMA nor methods 3/4 :p
So this will probably be quite a task.

[vea]

Just waiting for all the geniuses to come here and post, VN is quite dead at this time of the year :p

[onerealsmartass]

yeah it is, all the yr 12s are partying too much they should be on VN giving us advice and helping us xD

[pi]

I'm no genius, but what I am trying to do over the break is complete the functions area (all those new graphs and stuff), mechanics (because it is very easy) and start to get my head around vectors (and vector calculus). Probably best to do the stuff that is not complemented by the yr12 methods course (eg. dynamics, mechanics, vectors), as the stuff that is complemented by methods is much easier to understand at school. For those who have not done GMA, try to work through some of the relevant chapters over the holiday break:
• Vectors
• Algebra
• Quadratics and rates (also in Methods 1+2 textbooks)
• Partial Fractions
• Complex Numbers (i, cis, z, etc.)
• Dynamics (forces, equilibrium, coefficient of friction, etc.)
• Kinematics (displacement, velocity, acceleration, etc.)
• Loci (and associated graphs)
• Trig (rules, identities and graphs)
• Angles (all those rules and circle geometry -none of the 'bisecting a line with a protractor' rubbish though)

Resources for those who have not done GMA or want harder practice as a transition to spesh, are here: http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,31939.0.html

[onerealsmartass]

I'm no genius, but what I am trying to do over the break is complete the functions area (all those new graphs and stuff), mechanics (because it is very easy) and start to get my head around vectors (and vector calculus). Probably best to do the stuff that is not complemented by the yr12 methods course (eg. dynamics, mechanics, vectors), as the stuff that is complemented by methods is much easier to understand at school. For those who have not done GMA, try to work through some of the relevant chapters over the holiday break:
• Vectors
• Algebra
• Quadratics and rates (also in Methods 1+2 textbooks)
• Partial Fractions
• Complex Numbers (i, cis, z, etc.)
• Dynamics (forces, equilibrium, coefficient of friction, etc.)
• Kinematics (displacement, velocity, acceleration, etc.)
• Loci (and associated graphs)
• Trig (rules, identities and graphs)
• Angles (all those rules and circle geometry -none of the 'bisecting a line with a protractor' rubbish though)

Resources for those who have not done GMA or want harder practice as a transition to spesh, are here: http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,31939.0.html

Thanks again pi and i think you are a genius you've gotten prizes most years for AMC!!
my highest was like a mark of HD in yr 7 xD havent tried ever since.

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience

[vea]

Yeah I was actually considering functions and reciprocal trig functions as a start. My school never taught us mechanics  and "Relations and regions of the complex plane" so they are rather foreign topics which I think I will need help with ...

[onerealsmartass]

at least if we have any problems the VNers can give us some help. I wouldnt be surprised if i make a thread for every one of those topics

[pi]

at least if we have any problems the VNers can give us some help. I wouldnt be surprised if i make a thread for every one of those topics

+1 VNers are so generous!

Usually TT, /0, dcc, Ahmad, kyzoo, Mao, Martoman or one of the other VN pros will always lend a hand (sorry if I forgot someone)!

[Souljette_93]

Hmm..I would probably start off with

-coordinate geometry
-circular functions..
-complex No.

And if you have spare time, try calculus..(since you have done methods, you should have a fair bit of idea)

[jimmy999]

I would get all the stuff that isn't Calculus done first. Make sure you understand functions properly. This is why going through Complex Numbers first is good. However if you're using the essentials textbook, follow that book in order. That book sets everything out perfectly.

If you didn't do well in trig in Methods, then you'll be fine with the trig in spesh. It goes over the basics really quickly and then moves onto more advanced stuff.

Just be aware that next year, you'll get up to topics like trig and calculus in Spesh before you do it in Methods. So you'll do more advanced stuff first, and then do easy stuff. Hence it's better to get ahead in Methods, learn that material, and then do it in Spesh

[iNerd]

I would get all the stuff that isn't Calculus done first. Make sure you understand functions properly. This is why going through Complex Numbers first is good. However if you're using the essentials textbook, follow that book in order. That book sets everything out perfectly.

If you didn't do well in trig in Methods, then you'll be fine with the trig in spesh. It goes over the basics really quickly and then moves onto more advanced stuff.

Just be aware that next year, you'll get up to topics like trig and calculus in Spesh before you do it in Methods. So you'll do more advanced stuff first, and then do easy stuff. Hence it's better to get ahead in Methods, learn that material, and then do it in Spesh

Is the same for Y11? Ie. I'll do hard shit in GMA first then easy stuff in Methods?

[pi]

I would get all the stuff that isn't Calculus done first. Make sure you understand functions properly. This is why going through Complex Numbers first is good. However if you're using the essentials textbook, follow that book in order. That book sets everything out perfectly.

If you didn't do well in trig in Methods, then you'll be fine with the trig in spesh. It goes over the basics really quickly and then moves onto more advanced stuff.

Just be aware that next year, you'll get up to topics like trig and calculus in Spesh before you do it in Methods. So you'll do more advanced stuff first, and then do easy stuff. Hence it's better to get ahead in Methods, learn that material, and then do it in Spesh

Is the same for Y11? Ie. I'll do hard shit in GMA first then easy stuff in Methods?

I found methods harder in semester 1 than semester 1 GMA... As did 90% of the cohort! For GMA, don't bother holiday preparation, its pretty straightforward.

[jimmy999]

I can't say the same with GMA. My teacher kinda cheated and made up his own syllabus for year 11 spesh. We ended up doing Number Theory and proofs to start off with, then GMA stuff like trig, vectors, complex numbers, mechanics, but we also did Calculus in year 11. In my opinion it was set up well because we skipped some of the other things that weren't relevant to year 12

[boysenberry]

Usually TT, /0, dcc, Ahmad, kyzoo, Mao, Martoman or one of the other VN pros will always lend a hand (sorry if I forgot someone)!

Yes, but please be aware that many VN members also delete their account, usually a few days after results day, so also be prepared for that. 

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience