• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

HSC 2012 MX1 Marathon #1 (archive) (1 Viewer)

cutemouse

Account Closed
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
2,250
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

In those days there was no year 12. 1967 was the first year 12.

So it was the equivalent of our year 11 students who did those questions.

lol indeed.
Just a question, if don't mind answering... How did you find the Level 1 (or whatever maths course you did) when you did it? And how did you go in it? Just curious -- that's all.
 

Carrotsticks

Retired
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
9,494
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

I'm flicking through the papers from 1960 onwards, and they have:

- Linear Algebra (including matrices and curve rotations)

- Convergence/Divergence tests

- Number Theory

- Series expansions.

The above are not taught until University nowadays.

HOWEVER, I think from the student's perspective (from that time period), it would have been normal, since they have been learning it for several years.

These topics would seem to be alien to the HSC student nowadays, since they are not taught.

Though I'm quite convinced that if you somehow acquired a time machine and stole a 'last year of highschool' student from the 1950's, then put them up against a 4U student from 2011, the 1950's person would destroy the 2011.
 

tywebb

dangerman
Joined
Dec 7, 2003
Messages
2,206
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

The main thing to remember when comparing leaving certificate to HSC is (regardless of content) it was the equivalent of year 11 students who sat the leaving certificate.

Year 12 was only added in the year of the first HSC exams in 1967 as a result of the Wyndham Report of 1957 and the Education Act 1961.
 

cutemouse

Account Closed
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
2,250
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

The main thing to remember when comparing leaving certificate to HSC is (regardless of content) it was the equivalent of year 11 students who sat the leaving certificate.

Year 12 was only added in the year of the first HSC exams in 1967 as a result of the Wyndham Report of 1957 and the Education Act 1961.
Did you do the Level 1 course? If so, did you find it difficult at the time when you did it?
 

nightweaver066

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
1,585
Gender
Male
HSC
2012
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

Another question in the case that people have not done polynomials or feel intimidated by the nature of those questions..

 

SpiralFlex

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
6,960
Gender
Female
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

Another question in the case that people have not done polynomials or feel intimidated by the nature of those questions..

Agreed, I think lowered key questions will encourage more people to post. :)
 

tywebb

dangerman
Joined
Dec 7, 2003
Messages
2,206
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon







Nope. My Questions are OK for Extension 1 students. Here is the solution to the 1920 one:

 
Last edited:

Carrotsticks

Retired
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
9,494
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

Being within the 3U syllabus does not necessarily equate to being okay for 3U.

For example, the 4U 'Harder 3U' topic. Why else is it put into the Extension 2 course?

Upper and Lower bound approximation for integrals are most surely within the 3U course. In fact, it can even be done using methods from 2U.

However, they are never put into 2U exams because they are simply too difficult. It may be within the scope of the 2U syllabus, but the skill of a person doing 2U is not enough to be able to competently do such questions.
 

tywebb

dangerman
Joined
Dec 7, 2003
Messages
2,206
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

An Extension 1 HSC Question 7 is Harder 3 Unit.

A 2 Unit HSC Question 10 is Harder 2 Unit.

An Extension 2 HSC Question 8 is Harder 4 Unit!

See the pattern?

In fact these are called Component B questions and they are expected of 2 unit, Ext. 1 and Ext. 2 students (but of course much more prevalent in Extension 2.) They should not be ignored by Extension 1 or even 2 Unit students.

Here's a more thorough explanation of Component A and B:

Component A:

This Component is primarily concerned with the student’s knowledge, understanding and skills developed in each Content Area listed in the syllabus. In measuring attainment of this Component, assessment of the student’s ability to recognise which skills are appropriate to the solution of standard problems should be included.


Component B:

This Component is primarily concerned with the student’s reasoning, interpretative, explanatory and communicative abilities. To measure attainment will involve assessing the student’s ability to:

• understand information given verbally or in written, diagrammatic or graphical form, and express information given in one form in other ways;

• analyse and solve unfamiliar problems, construct logically sound solutions and recognise limitations to the validity of solutions;

• explain knowledge, methods or aspects of a solution using written and/or spoken language and diagrams;

• compare various methods of solution in terms of efficiency and breadth of application.
 
Last edited:

Trebla

Administrator
Administrator
Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
8,401
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

This one is slightly challenging, but not hardcore difficult (though it may require you sit there and think carefully) so I think it is more suitable for Ext1 level given that it only uses 2 unit results.

Find the value of the following limiting sum




Alternatively, a relatively easier problem:

 
Last edited:

SpiralFlex

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
6,960
Gender
Female
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon


















Am I correct Treblie? :)
 
Last edited:

Carrotsticks

Retired
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
9,494
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

The trend you demonstrate is undeniable (with a few exceptions such as 2009 HSC, where all of Q8 was just Harder 3U).

What you showed us is what should theoretically be happening in the HSC.

However in practice, it may not be so.

I have done and seen several HSC/Trial papers, but I have very rarely encountered questions of that difficulty in the exam.

Those questions are excellent for any 4U student practising Polynomials (since such questions are everywhere!), but I think they would be too difficult for someone doing purely 3U.

Perhaps they are good for a student who does 3U/4U, but not for 2U/3U.
 

tywebb

dangerman
Joined
Dec 7, 2003
Messages
2,206
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

It's 7/4.
 
Last edited:

tywebb

dangerman
Joined
Dec 7, 2003
Messages
2,206
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

No. You were right the first time. It's 7/4. I made a silly mistake. But here is a different method:

 
Last edited:

tywebb

dangerman
Joined
Dec 7, 2003
Messages
2,206
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

Trick question.

 

Examine

same
Joined
Dec 14, 2011
Messages
2,376
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2013
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

For Cambridge 3u Year 11, should I do the extension part? I'm finding it quite difficult though will the syllabus need me to do it?
 

SpiralFlex

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
6,960
Gender
Female
HSC
N/A
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

For Cambridge 3u Year 11, should I do the extension part? I'm finding it quite difficult though will the syllabus need me to do it?
Though you would never see those questions in your Year 11 examinations, they are quite enjoyable to do!
 

Examine

same
Joined
Dec 14, 2011
Messages
2,376
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2013
Re: 2012 HSC MX1 Marathon

Though you would never see those questions in your Year 11 examinations, they are quite enjoyable to do!
So should I stay with the first 2 and attempt the extension sometimes then?
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top