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March 28, 2024, 09:34:23 pm

Author Topic: fix fundamentals!  (Read 4497 times)  Share 

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Failingvce

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fix fundamentals!
« on: May 18, 2020, 01:22:31 pm »
0
how can I fix my fundamental maths skills? I find that I struggle with the more complex equations where you solve for a variable. should I go over the unit 1/2 textbook again or find another resource? my methods SAC is approaching soon and I find that while I'm good with doing stuff like logarithms when it gets to solving for a variable, I struggle without a calculator.
2020 subjects:
3/4 English - 3/4 Methods- 3/4 chemistry- 3/4 Biology- 3/4 psychology

Evolio

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Re: fix fundamentals!
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2020, 02:52:47 pm »
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Hello!
Are you able to provide an example of the types of questions that you are struggling with?

Usually, when I have trouble solving complex equations, I look over the worked solutions (of the textbook ) and sometimes they help me understand how they got the answer as they have step by step methods to solve the question. I also like to look at the worked examples from the exercises.



Lilyyyy

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Re: fix fundamentals!
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2020, 03:16:27 pm »
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practice! since you have identified where you struggle, practice! practice may not make perfect but it will make better
2019: Maths Methods [41] | Biology [39]
2020: English | Specialist Maths | Chemistry | Further Maths

Failingvce

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Re: fix fundamentals!
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2020, 08:41:45 pm »
+1
Hello!
Are you able to provide an example of the types of questions that you are struggling with?

Usually, when I have trouble solving complex equations, I look over the worked solutions (of the textbook ) and sometimes they help me understand how they got the answer as they have step by step methods to solve the question. I also like to look at the worked examples from the exercises.

hey! I've provided an example below. I was able to get to the second step but after that, I had to use my calculator because I couldn't solve for T. this is a past paper exam question but yes, generally I am able to look at the worked solutions and understand in the textbook. I think my sac is actually getting postponed so there is a possibility it will be in the last week of term 2. Are there any resources I can use to go over these fundamentals?
 (i just figured out how to do it but I think i still struggle with these types of questions)
thanks in advance!
« Last Edit: May 18, 2020, 08:55:12 pm by Failingvce »
2020 subjects:
3/4 English - 3/4 Methods- 3/4 chemistry- 3/4 Biology- 3/4 psychology

Failingvce

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Re: fix fundamentals!
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2020, 08:49:01 pm »
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practice! since you have identified where you struggle, practice! practice may not make perfect but it will make better

thanks for the advice :)
2020 subjects:
3/4 English - 3/4 Methods- 3/4 chemistry- 3/4 Biology- 3/4 psychology

Evolio

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Re: fix fundamentals!
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2020, 09:59:52 pm »
+3
hey! I've provided an example below. I was able to get to the second step but after that, I had to use my calculator because I couldn't solve for T. this is a past paper exam question but yes, generally I am able to look at the worked solutions and understand in the textbook. I think my sac is actually getting postponed so there is a possibility it will be in the last week of term 2. Are there any resources I can use to go over these fundamentals?
 (i just figured out how to do it but I think i still struggle with these types of questions)
thanks in advance!
Yeah, with these questions it's best to do lots of practise questions so you become familiar with how to work these questions out as Lilyyyy said.
In terms of resources:
-You could do all the questions in the exercise (from the  3 4 textbook) that the specific fundamental topic is concerned with (if you don't already). If you are really struggling, you could go to the 1 2 textbook but there are some simple questions in the 3 4 textbook as well.
- Khan Academy. This is a great resource. In some of their videos, they explain these variable questions quite well, step by step and there are also additional practice questions that they provide which you could try
- You could also ask your teacher for some extra resources to help build these fundamental skills and that way, they can also target it towards your SAC practice.

Lilyyyy

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Re: fix fundamentals!
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2020, 04:13:06 pm »
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I think I can see where you struggle,

1. to 'undo' a log: you raise both sides to the power of whatever the base is

for the question: log3(t/t2-4)=-1

you raise both sides;

3log3(t/t2-4)=3-1

which cancels the log as 3log3(x)=x; then you can proceed to solve the equation

2. and the other point is that remember loge(1/x)=loge(x-1)=-loge(x)

you can bring down the power of the value inside to log to be in front of the whole log (if that makes any sense)

3. also for your second question: for any constant, you can make it a log

-1=-1log3(3)=log3(3-1)

when you have a single log term on both sides with the same base, you can cancel it, then just solve!

just remember xlogx(anything)=anything

logx(x)=1

hope that helps...?
« Last Edit: May 19, 2020, 04:36:41 pm by Lilyyyy »
2019: Maths Methods [41] | Biology [39]
2020: English | Specialist Maths | Chemistry | Further Maths

Sine

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Re: fix fundamentals!
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2020, 04:19:07 pm »
+6
how can I fix my fundamental maths skills? I find that I struggle with the more complex equations where you solve for a variable. should I go over the unit 1/2 textbook again or find another resource? my methods SAC is approaching soon and I find that while I'm good with doing stuff like logarithms when it gets to solving for a variable, I struggle without a calculator.
As generic as it sounds practice is really good advice to recognise problems and to get better by adressing them.

It is relatively late in one's entire mathematical learning in completely revamp someone's fundamentals but you can still do targetted learning. This could be going back to the theoretical components of the 3/4 methods course and seeing what you actually understand. There is a difference between being able to complete a question correctly and actually understanding what you are doing, why you are doing it and why what you are doing will work.

If you have that understanding with the most basic questions once you get to the more advanced stuff it becomes more clear on what you need to do since you are no longer solely answering questions based on the cues the questions gives you. Or what technique seems right based on what the question looks like.

Failingvce

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Re: fix fundamentals!
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2020, 09:34:50 pm »
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I think I can see where you struggle,

1. to 'undo' a log: you raise both sides to the power of whatever the base is

for the question: log3(t/t2-4)=-1

you raise both sides;

3log3(t/t2-4)=3-1

which cancels the log as 3log3(x)=x; then you can proceed to solve the equation

2. and the other point is that remember loge(1/x)=loge(x-1)=-loge(x)

you can bring down the power of the value inside to log to be in front of the whole log (if that makes any sense)

3. also for your second question: for any constant, you can make it a log

-1=-1log3(3)=log3(3-1)

when you have a single log term on both sides with the same base, you can cancel it, then just solve!

just remember xlogx(anything)=anything

logx(x)=1

hope that helps...?

Thank you that helps! 😊
2020 subjects:
3/4 English - 3/4 Methods- 3/4 chemistry- 3/4 Biology- 3/4 psychology

Lilyyyy

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Re: fix fundamentals!
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2020, 04:19:46 pm »
+1
Thank you that helps! 😊

I'm so glad :)
2019: Maths Methods [41] | Biology [39]
2020: English | Specialist Maths | Chemistry | Further Maths