Maths update, part 1
Went OK but was very annoying.
NST Maths paper 1 (~35 marks)
1A - Simple vector stuff. Trivial proof about scalar triple product, find a plane through three points, volume of a parallelepiped.
2A* - Convergence of infinite series. State the comparison and ratio tests, four easy limits questions. Was quite proud of the reasoning that since sin (x) is roughly equal to x when x is small, sin2 (1/n) must be approximately 1/n2 and hence the sequence trivially converges.
5C - Probability. Easy. First part is entirely continuous, second part is half continuous/half discrete. Easy!
6C - Matrix inversion. Got almost the right method, but not close enough to get anything even approximately correct. Ended up throwing out my working.
8D - Vector calculus. Two easy line integrals, then ten easy marks for a pair of curl calculations and a partial differential.
9E - Complex numbers/hyperbolic trigonometry. Pushed for time and could only do a partial answer. Lost probably 3-4 marks due to time and 8 marks due to being stupid. Was nice spotting that the integral of tanh x is ln(cosh x) but I didn't get a chance to put the range in.
10E - DeMoivre/Loci in the Argand plane. Probably a little over half marks here.
I also ended up flapping like a wet hen and attempting 11 out of the 12 questions (and 6C twice). Grrrr...
Summary
Probably 98 +/- 6 marks out of 120 for this exam, so 28 +/- 2 to go on the total, giving 291 +/- 16 (aka 77.6% +/- 4%). If I do similarly on the next maths paper, I should get to around 85% of the raw marks and "starred first" territory (even though they don't give them out for CST/NST).
Shame I screwed up the matrix question so badly but I guess it doesn't matter too much :(
NST Maths paper 1 (~35 marks)
1A - Simple vector stuff. Trivial proof about scalar triple product, find a plane through three points, volume of a parallelepiped.
2A* - Convergence of infinite series. State the comparison and ratio tests, four easy limits questions. Was quite proud of the reasoning that since sin (x) is roughly equal to x when x is small, sin2 (1/n) must be approximately 1/n2 and hence the sequence trivially converges.
5C - Probability. Easy. First part is entirely continuous, second part is half continuous/half discrete. Easy!
6C - Matrix inversion. Got almost the right method, but not close enough to get anything even approximately correct. Ended up throwing out my working.
8D - Vector calculus. Two easy line integrals, then ten easy marks for a pair of curl calculations and a partial differential.
9E - Complex numbers/hyperbolic trigonometry. Pushed for time and could only do a partial answer. Lost probably 3-4 marks due to time and 8 marks due to being stupid. Was nice spotting that the integral of tanh x is ln(cosh x) but I didn't get a chance to put the range in.
10E - DeMoivre/Loci in the Argand plane. Probably a little over half marks here.
I also ended up flapping like a wet hen and attempting 11 out of the 12 questions (and 6C twice). Grrrr...
Summary
Probably 98 +/- 6 marks out of 120 for this exam, so 28 +/- 2 to go on the total, giving 291 +/- 16 (aka 77.6% +/- 4%). If I do similarly on the next maths paper, I should get to around 85% of the raw marks and "starred first" territory (even though they don't give them out for CST/NST).
Shame I screwed up the matrix question so badly but I guess it doesn't matter too much :(