Extension Maths textbook for Advanced? (1 Viewer)

[chuuerrydrops_]

So I'm going into Year 11 next year, doing Advanced / 2 unit maths.

Even though I'm not doing Extension Maths 1, should I find (not purchase, just borrow off a friend etc) a copy of the Extension Maths 1 textbook for Year 11?
Would this be beneficial in any way to helping me understand the Advanced content, or would it be a waste of time and confuse me further?
(I don't plan on doing Extension 1 or 2 in Year 12 either, just sticking with Advanced.)

All replies and opinions are appreciated

 

[ExtremelyBoredUser]

So I'm going into Year 11 next year, doing Advanced / 2 unit maths.

Even though I'm not doing Extension Maths 1, should I find (not purchase, just borrow off a friend etc) a copy of the Extension Maths 1 textbook for Year 11?
Would this be beneficial in any way to helping me understand the Advanced content, or would it be a waste of time and confuse me further?
(I don't plan on doing Extension 1 or 2 in Year 12 either, just sticking with Advanced.)

All replies and opinions are appreciated

I doubt you could use Ext 1 methods in advanced unless your teacher is lenient, since the whole purpose of the tests are to test your knowledge exclusive to the adv syllabus. It wouldn't be that useful but it could give you more insight/perspective into maths but if thats your aim, then why not do Ext 1.

Assuming you're content with not doing Extension maths (which is completely fine!), then its just better to use an advanced textbook and learn solely from the syllabus so you don't accidentally use methods out of the syllabus. The Cambridge Advanced textbook is a good one to use and should suffice completely for Advanced.

There might be reasons for studying off an Ext 1 textbook than Adv. but the benefits, at least from how I see it, cater to those doing Ext 1 than advanced. The only difference between Ext 1 and Adv in terms of content is the methods and processes + types of questions they teach you, so it would be a waste of time studying Ext 1 content that might not be assessed in Adv (e.g Combinatorics, Further Graphs, Further Trig). Just study the content needed and you should go by fine, if you're willing to grind maths to a noticeable extent, I highly suggest just trying Ext. maths and if you don't like it, drop it. Thats what a couple of my peers did and it worked fine.

 

[uniqueusername1]

I doubt you could use Ext 1 methods in advanced

Yes do NOT use extension methods in advanced otherwise you will receive no marks

 

[chuuerrydrops_]

I doubt you could use Ext 1 methods in advanced unless your teacher is lenient, since the whole purpose of the tests are to test your knowledge exclusive to the adv syllabus. It wouldn't be that useful but it could give you more insight/perspective into maths but if thats your aim, then why not do Ext 1.

Assuming you're content with not doing Extension maths (which is completely fine!), then its just better to use an advanced textbook and learn solely from the syllabus so you don't accidentally use methods out of the syllabus. The Cambridge Advanced textbook is a good one to use and should suffice completely for Advanced.

There might be reasons for studying off an Ext 1 textbook than Adv. but the benefits, at least from how I see it, cater to those doing Ext 1 than advanced. The only difference between Ext 1 and Adv in terms of content is the methods and processes + types of questions they teach you, so it would be a waste of time studying Ext 1 content that might not be assessed in Adv (e.g Combinatorics, Further Graphs, Further Trig). Just study the content needed and you should go by fine, if you're willing to grind maths to a noticeable extent, I highly suggest just trying Ext. maths and if you don't like it, drop it. Thats what a couple of my peers did and it worked fine.

Thank you so much! I'll keep this in mind for when my booklist comes out

 

[chuuerrydrops_]

Yes do NOT use extension methods in advanced otherwise you will receive no marks

Thank you for the insight, I genuinely had no clue (my maths teacher this year is very vague about next year lol)

 

[jimmysmith560]

Yes do NOT use extension methods in advanced otherwise you will receive no marks

As far as I'm aware this is not true. What normally happens is that the use of Mathematics Extension 1 methods in Mathematics Advanced exams is prevented, which is done by writing Mathematics Advanced exams in a restrictive and sufficiently targeted manner so as to prevent students from being advantaged by knowing Mathematics Extension 1 methods. However, if the use of a Mathematics Extension 1 method in a particular Mathematics Advanced question appears to be possible, then there will most likely be no problem with using it.

 

[chuuerrydrops_]

As far as I'm aware this is not true. What normally happens is that the use of Mathematics Extension 1 methods in Mathematics Advanced exams is prevented, which is done by writing Mathematics Advanced exams in a restrictive and sufficiently targeted manner so as to prevent students from being advantaged by knowing Mathematics Extension 1 methods. However, if the use of a Mathematics Extension 1 method in a particular Mathematics Advanced question appears to be possible, then there will most likely be no problem with using it.

Thanks for the clarification

 

[uniqueusername1]

As far as I'm aware this is not true. What normally happens is that the use of Mathematics Extension 1 methods in Mathematics Advanced exams is prevented, which is done by writing Mathematics Advanced exams in a restrictive and sufficiently targeted manner so as to prevent students from being advantaged by knowing Mathematics Extension 1 methods. However, if the use of a Mathematics Extension 1 method in a particular Mathematics Advanced question appears to be possible, then there will most likely be no problem with using it.

really? Our teacher never gave us marks when we did. He told us not to do it. I guess HSC markers may mark differently then

 

[jimmysmith560]

really? Our teacher never gave us marks when we did. He told us not to do it. I guess HSC marks may mark differently then

Perhaps your teacher is preparing you for your HSC exam in a more effective way, which would make sense because the questions within the Mathematics Advanced HSC exam will most likely be designed in a way that does not allow for the use of Mathematics Extension 1 methods, which therefore means that being familiar and comfortable with using Mathematics Advanced methods becomes a priority.

 

[ExtremelyBoredUser]

My maths advanced teacher was a bit lenient towards the extension cohort in our class, it was mainly advanced students who did not take ext 1 so when we used the double angle formula, he let it pass but he warned us if we were to use a method not in the syllabus, he would only give marks for the correct solution.

The other teacher just straight away deducted marks for those who used MX1 methods and only provided 1 mark if they got the question right.

Clarify with your teacher ofcourse, if they're willing to reward you for MX1 methods then take full advantage (which is really rare but if you have a cohort full of MX1 students then it tends to happen), if not, just stick to the conventional way. Advanced methods unlike MX1 are just more primitive and basic but they are made in a way thats more easy to replicate; more formulaic. So don't waste time trying to wrap your head around MX1 stuff and just focus on mastering the algorithm.

TLDR; don't get mixed up with MX1 methods.

 

[ExtremelyBoredUser]

For maths you can do whatever you like to get the answer. One of my classmates is a math prodigy, and uses university formulas in the trials to easily get the answer to a question that was really hard to get with what’s taught in class.

Interesting... Can't say its the same here or from my other friend's schools. I believe most schools tend to restrict content to syllabus unless teachers are lenient. I presume this is out of preparation for the HSC as its bad practice to be using formulas/methods outside the syllabus since you won't get marks for the "method" whereas if you make a mistake using the method, at least you get the other marks given you follow the process. Some are lenient to those using MX1 methods in Adv given their cohorts mainly MX1.

I can understand schools allowing Adv students to use MX1 methods but I don't really understand why any teacher would allow university formulas/methods or which student would use for adv.... Maybe MX2 would make sense, but all questions are designed for a specific method so most of the times, learning obscure methods for the sake of application in exams is a big waste of time than just perfecting taught methods despite how convenient the other method may be.

Edit:
Exponential Form for 4U complex numbers used to be out of syllabus but its extremely handy so I presume most students learnt it as another way of double checking their answer or for visual questions.

 

[ExtremelyBoredUser]

My teacher said the following: math is an art, and to restrict how one gets to an answer would be foolish. Long ago during schooling teachers would restrict mathematical practices to only their method, which prevented the advancement of math. Many of the maths break throughs we have today are because of bright minds breaking these boundaries and finding better ways to answer questions.
To restrict how someone answer a question is the equivalent of demanding one walks x distance on their hands, when they can get there much faster and better with their legs

yeah well then again the adv syllabus doesn't really cater for that sadly. Its more of, learn this then learn that then exam rather than search new ways to do X problem. Wish I had more open minded teachers like you but I understand they're just being realistic in terms of the HSC examination.

 

[CM_Tutor]

If an exam is well written, it will be structured to preclude the use of more advanced methods if that is the examiner's intent. One simple way is to specify a method, or to create a connection to a prior part with "Hence".

If a method uses theory beyond the syllabus of a particular course, an answer that proves a relevant result before using it to solve the question should gain full credit so long as the question does not preclude its use. For example, the MX2 method of integration by parts is easy to prove using the product rule, so if I wanted to use it in an Advanced exam, I could easily establish that it is valid rather than simply invoking it and asserting it is valid. If I simply assert a more advanced result is true as a way to greatly simplify a problem, I can't expect full marks if I don't establish that my assertion is true.

One related piece of advice... the phrase "Hence, or otherwise" appears in exams regularly. Be aware that this is either a signal of danger or an opportunity. It can mean that you are given the chance to use the preceding result OR to demonstrate that another approach is possible, one that is faster / more elegant but requires insight into the problem - in other words, it is an opportunity for more able students to demonstrate their skills and pick up some time in the process. However, it can also be a warning that an alternative approach might appear superficially attractive but is actually leading to a dead end or a maze of complications that many will not be able to navigate. In essence, if you can see how an "otherwise" approach will be a short-cut, or will lead you to the answer when the "hence" is unclear, go for it... but if you can't, it is generally wiser to stick to the "hence" route as it points out a direction for you.

 

[CM_Tutor]

PS: On the original question, whilst I agree that the Cambridge Advance books are excellent and certainly more than adequate, the Cambridge MX1 books do cover all of the Advanced content and the exercises on that content do include extra questions that further explore the Advanced content. For a highly capable Advanced student, the extra material in the Cambridge Advanced books may be of interest... but skip over the MX1 material (which is generally well-identified) - and just using the Advanced books and doing more challenging past papers should leave any candidate well-prepared for the HSC exam.