Reply to: cuk mafs quiz

[BigRed]

Reminds me that shortly after finishing my Engineering degree I was working in Aerospace calculating the load on the bolts holding a hydraulic pump together, it was only to move the flaps on an Airbus. It dawned on me that the correct answer was quite important, never mind the working out

[rhubarb]

3.
Because I'm a bell end.

[doodab]

Here's a challenge - Find an algebraic expression for it, involving only whole numbers and square roots

edit: and plus and minus signs of course

108 / 350

of course that's not strictly accurate.

[BrilloPad]

Here's a challenge - Find an algebraic expression for it, involving only whole numbers and square roots

edit: and plus and minus signs of course

JUst waiting for sas to google it and then call us all cretins.

[OwlHoot]

You didn't know the cosine of 72 degrees off the top of your head? cretin

assguru

Here's a challenge - Find an algebraic expression for it, involving only whole numbers and square roots

edit: and plus and minus signs of course

[d000hg]

The exam wouldn't be multiple choice and you would be required to show working.

Showing working doesn't mean you MUST do it by rote though - as long as your working proves you understand AND you get it right. If you try to be clever and get it wrong, you will get no marks for working.

[d000hg]

7. I did use a calculator for the trig one though.

Yeah, though mine told me the answer was 1.05 not 1.08?!

[Zippy]

7. I did use a calculator for the trig one though.

WHS.

In the exam they are given the formulae, so it's a bit easier.

[Halo Jones]

7/7

but I was a bit peeved when on question 5 they discussed 10 sided dice (D10,) but the photo was of 20 sided dice (D20) nerd

[Ticktock]

I think there is a difference between the purpose of the exam, and facing the same question in "real life".
For "real life", if there is a shortcut which will provide the correct answer then I will use it, as the end goal is the requirement, not the process used to get there.
For an exam, it is intended to demonstrate that you understand the process.

You see complaints from students that they "know more than their teacher" because they know a shortcut but the teacher is trying to use a more long-winded process. They don't seem to grasp that the goal is not the answer, but the process. Especially in maths, where each concept being taught builds on an understanding of more basic processes. I stopped maths after A-Levels, and towards the end was beginning to struggle, because I'd been lazy with some of the earlier topics. In some subjects your topics are fairly modular and you can drop into them in almost any order, whereas maths tends to be taught modularly (or was), but each module relies on earlier modules.

[KentPhilip]

I find it interesting that many people are using basic techniques for taking shortcuts on multiple choice exams rather than working the answers out.

That's cos some of us work in support. We love shortcuts

[doodab]

I find it interesting that many people are using basic techniques for taking shortcuts on multiple choice exams rather than working the answers out. Says something about education in this country.

I would do away with multiple choice exams personally.

[KentPhilip]

I don't like cosines, so I did a sine of 18 degrees instead

You can answer 4. just by looking at the answers; only 1. matches left and right of the = sign.

[chef]

6 and no calculator used and so i screwed up on the trig question

[doodab]

The Trig question? No need to work it out at all, remember your rules, or use a calculator, especially if given multiple choice.

The exam wouldn't be multiple choice and you would be required to show working.