I Don't know why I struggle with maths problems and applying formulas. (1 Viewer)

SoakingWet56

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Currently, I am an Year 11 Maths extension student and I have been doing quite alright and average in maths for my school. However ever since I can remember doing high school maths, I have an issue with using word problems to create formulas especially in stuff like quadratics its weird but I just don't know how to make a formula from the question like applying my knowledge to situations or being unable to even solve questions because I just can't even think of how to do them. Is there any tips that could help me with this?
 

Jaros

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could you give an example of this question, what do you mean word problems for quadratics?
 

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Currently, I am an Year 11 Maths extension student and I have been doing quite alright and average in maths for my school. However ever since I can remember doing high school maths, I have an issue with using word problems to create formulas especially in stuff like quadratics its weird but I just don't know how to make a formula from the question like applying my knowledge to situations or being unable to even solve questions because I just can't even think of how to do them. Is there any tips that could help me with this?
Omg yeah I hate those so much. But I’m pretty sure it’s more of a junior thing and it won’t come up in the hsc
 

SoakingWet56

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could you give an example of this question, what do you mean word problems for quadratics?
An example of it is like this one(This question was the one that made me start this thread D: ) 1772100227756.png
I think I struggle with these questions cause I never really give my time to solve it cause when i can't solve a question i get really frustrated and jst ask chat gpt. I just don't why, but I just can't think of how to do it, myself.
 

SoakingWet56

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Omg yeah I hate those so much. But I’m pretty sure it’s more of a junior thing and it won’t come up in the hsc
Yeah same, but I think im gonna have to study it. One of my teachers said that in extension 1 it's a lot about applying your knowledge into situations (which i think is something like this) and I really hate if theres anything I don't know that I should
 

Jaros

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okay firstly make sure your basics are strong I mean like ur fundamentals, pythagoras, area
An example of it is like this one(This question was the one that made me start this thread D: ) View attachment 51725
I think I struggle with these questions cause I never really give my time to solve it cause when i can't solve a question i get really frustrated and jst ask chat gpt. I just don't why, but I just can't think of how to do it, myself.
The best advice I have for you is to just 'toy' with the question for a long time even if it is frustrating. You are in yr 11, dw you have time just sit and just manipulate the question and keep trying multiple approaches. To just reinforce learned concepts, go to THSC and do past papers like a lot, cuz high mark in math = past papers
 

cossine

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An example of it is like this one(This question was the one that made me start this thread D: ) View attachment 51725
I think I struggle with these questions cause I never really give my time to solve it cause when i can't solve a question i get really frustrated and jst ask chat gpt. I just don't why, but I just can't think of how to do it, myself.
There is field of maths called operations research (fancy word for optimisation).

What I would do approach problem is define variables. Let x be one part and y the other part.

A typical set up for an operations research problem would be:

objective: (the function you want to minimise or maximise)

s.t. (s.t. means such that)

constraint_1
constraint_2
etc

Once you have determined the problem, you can investigate ways to solve it. Although the problem may seem scary at first it is not that difficult if you take your time.

I.e. some problem can have small tricks involved. I recommend keeping them in the back of your head.
 

SoakingWet56

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okay firstly make sure your basics are strong I mean like ur fundamentals, pythagoras, area

The best advice I have for you is to just 'toy' with the question for a long time even if it is frustrating. You are in yr 11, dw you have time just sit and just manipulate the question and keep trying multiple approaches. To just reinforce learned concepts, go to THSC and do past papers like a lot, cuz high mark in math = past papers
That actually makes alot of sense, thank you. I'll keep this in mind, I try do this method instead of checking the answers everytime i dont understand
 

SoakingWet56

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There is field of maths called operations research (fancy word for optimisation).

What I would do approach problem is define variables. Let x be one part and y the other part.

A typical set up for an operations research problem would be:

objective: (the function you want to minimise or maximise)

s.t. (s.t. means such that)

constraint_1
constraint_2
etc

Once you have determined the problem, you can investigate ways to solve it. Although the problem may seem scary at first it is not that difficult if you take your time.

I.e. some problem can have small tricks involved. I recommend keeping them in the back of your head.
Alright man, thank you for your advice. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this
 

totally_screwed

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also draw diagrams 🙃
I was alright at maths in my time and I did 99% of worded problems with a drawing first to make sense of the scenario and give a starting point.
and then ofc defining variables and whatnot
 

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