VCE Specialist Maths Exam 1 - 08/11/19 - Discussion/Questions/Solutions

[Alexmaths]

Would I still get the mark if I had n=-6k; k is an element of Z for the real solutions question? It still works right?

[AlphaZero]

Would I still get the mark if I had n=-6k; k is an element of Z for the real solutions question? It still works right?

Yep, it's equivalent. You would get the mark.

[Jackson.Sprigg]

Must say I'm very disappointed with this year's exam.

Likewise. That last question was ridiculous, after the initial implicit diff what even was the point in it? I ended up not even fully simplifying it as there just wasn't enough space, just recognised that I only had 2s and 3s so they must be the values. Half the questions just seemed as though they were there for 'filler' material. Like what was the point in question 2? To see if you knew what a modulus was? Why couldn't they just put it inside another question like an arc-length one where you end up with a modulus and have to choose which sign to use based off restrictions, that is a much better assessment of if someone understands a modulus. Anywho, goodluck on exam 2 everyone!

[Momboom]

Likewise. That last question was ridiculous, after the initial implicit diff what even was the point in it? I ended up not even fully simplifying it as there just wasn't enough space, just recognised that I only had 2s and 3s so they must be the values. Half the questions just seemed as though they were there for 'filler' material. Like what was the point in question 2? To see if you knew what a modulus was? Why couldn't they just put it inside another question like an arc-length one where you end up with a modulus and have to choose which sign to use based off restrictions, that is a much better assessment of if someone understands a modulus. Anywho, goodluck on exam 2 everyone!

that wouldn't be much of an assessment either because it was literally the last question of last year's exam 1. no point differentiating between who did last year's paper and who didn't. this paper imo wasn't as bad as what you make it seem to be. yes, none of the questions were insanely challenging like couple of questions last year, but there were a fair share of marks that will be the differentiating factor and that's how exam 1 is usually. exam 2 is usually where the main differentiating happens. good luck

[Jackson.Sprigg]

this paper imo wasn't as bad as what you make it seem to be.

HuSh, post exam discussion is always for meaningless venting hehe

[MubMurshed]

Hi,

I have a question about the problem involving the complex number having 0 real part.

I answered with n = 12k +- 3, k is an integer.

A more simple expression would have been n= 3 + 6k, k is an integer.

The question didn’t specify a specific form and both expressions list the exact same values of n. Will this receive full marks because it still finds all integer n values?

[Ali Ali]

that wouldn't be much of an assessment either because it was literally the last question of last year's exam 1. no point differentiating between who did last year's paper and who didn't. this paper imo wasn't as bad as what you make it seem to be. yes, none of the questions were insanely challenging like couple of questions last year, but there were a fair share of marks that will be the differentiating factor and that's how exam 1 is usually. exam 2 is usually where the main differentiating happens. good luck

Whilst I don't speak for the person above, personally i believe the problem is that the way they've decided to create deciding marks was literally a wall of year 10 algebra that you're gonna need to get through. It doesn't divide the cohort based on how good they are at mathematical concepts, how good their understanding of the material is or anything, but literally just how lucky you are to not screw up a few algebra questions. On a question like the last one, literally anyone could have screwed it up on a bad day, whilst say the last question of the NHT exam required a bit of thinking and recognition and could actually separate those who understood the concepts and those who studied the night before. Overall separation felt like it was very dependent on people making small mistakes, which doesn't really help separate those truly good at specialist math and those who aren't.

[Momboom]

but literally just how lucky you are to not screw up a few algebra questions. Overall separation felt like it was very dependent on people making small mistakes, which doesn't really help separate those truly good at specialist math and those who aren't.

but my point is, exam 1's always been like that, both for methods and spesh. (jeez, just look at this year's methods even worse than this paper) last year final question was an exception but if you look at past years VCAA and even 2019 NHT, most questions are just about not making algebra error and good number manipulation skills, that's just exam 1. It's always 35-38 marks of not making careless algebra error, and then 2-5 marks of hard earned marks, and we did have a couple of hard marks this year, just like expected. Algebra separates exam 1, deeper knowledge separates exam 2. It's always been like that, and in that regards VCAA did their expected job so far.

[ahatzis]

The answers assume that the tension forces in 9b are equal to each other but since they are different strings at different angles would they have different tension forces?

[S_R_K]

The answers assume that the tension forces in 9b are equal to each other but since they are different strings at different angles would they have different tension forces?

There is only one string, so the tension is constant throughout its entire length. The direction of the string is altered when it passes through a frictionless ring (this is analogous to a pulley system). The different sections of string make different angles with the horizontal due to the force F.