Not strictly STEP related but me and my maths teacher have discussed the possibility of me sitting two extra exams this year (year 12). This would mean sitting nine maths exams + STEP I + physics AS + economics AS, ostensibly to allow me to focus on STEP. Is this utter insanity or is it worth doing?

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Reply 1182

ETRC

17

Can someone give a hint for second part of Q2 STEP I 2002.
I got f''(x) and if I replace x=m/(m+n) i get something really complicated and can't show much.

Reply 1183

ThatPerson

18

Original post by Krollo

Not strictly STEP related but me and my maths teacher have discussed the possibility of me sitting two extra exams this year (year 12). This would mean sitting nine maths exams + STEP I + physics AS + economics AS, ostensibly to allow me to focus on STEP. Is this utter insanity or is it worth doing?

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In what way do your teachers feel that this would help you focus on STEP? and what modules?

Reply 1184

username1162972

18

Original post by Krollo

Not strictly STEP related but me and my maths teacher have discussed the possibility of me sitting two extra exams this year (year 12). This would mean sitting nine maths exams + STEP I + physics AS + economics AS, ostensibly to allow me to focus on STEP. Is this utter insanity or is it worth doing?

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Yh learn some modules but no point sitting them. Drop a couple maybe.

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Reply 1185

Dalek1099

21

Original post by DomStaff

Can anyone offer a hint for Q3 STEP II 2010, part (iii)? Done the first two parts fine but I'm terrible at these infinite summing series :frown:

What I've done so far, don't think it is much use though...:

F_n=\frac{1}{2^{n-1}} (^n\mathrm{C}_{1} + 5 \times ^n\mathrm{C}_{3} + 25 \times ^n\mathrm{C}_{5} + ... + 5^{\frac{r-1}{2}} \times ^n\mathrm{C}_{r})

,where

r=n

if n is odd and

r=n-1

if n is even...

Dividing by 2^(n+1) gives us the nth term of our infinite sequence...but I can't see how what I've done will help.

Edit: don't worry, sorted it.

You need to use the formula given at the start of the question for Fn(by this point you will have found the constants) that gives you two separate geometric series which when divided by 2^n+1 gives two separate geometric series which do converge as n goes to infinity and you add them together.

Reply 1186

Gawain

6

Original post by Krollo

Not strictly STEP related but me and my maths teacher have discussed the possibility of me sitting two extra exams this year (year 12). This would mean sitting nine maths exams + STEP I + physics AS + economics AS, ostensibly to allow me to focus on STEP. Is this utter insanity or is it worth doing?

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I wouldn't be concerned about the actual number of exams themselves. Unless you are susceptible to exam pressure or anxiety it shouldn't really matter how many papers you sit, they only take 90 minutes each and if you have prepared well you shan't have to worry about cramming or forgetting anything.

The bigger issue is if you feel like you'd be able to devote enough time to each exam to be extremely confident in getting 90+ UMS. If this isn't the case then you probably should drop a couple of modules.

STEP shouldn't also be too much of a concern. Firstly STEP 1 doesn't require extensive preparation to get a 1, you seem to be quite competent so as long as you really secure your AS/A2 maths knowledge then a few past papers should suffice. Secondly I don't think you are required to declare your grade, so long as STEP doesn't detriment your AS levels you having nothing really to lose. Admittedly you don't have that much to gain either unless you gain an S, even then you would need to supplement that with strong UMS. I personally sat STEP early because I enjoyed it, rather than out of impetus to improve my applications. I wasn't even aware what it really was until I was registered.

Another point to consider is what you have to gain by sitting extra modules, how much would it lighten your work load next year? I don't believe Cambridge care if you sit anything early, it is just important you preform well.

All this is assuming you are intending to apply to Cambridge of course.

Reply 1187

DomStaff

2

Original post by Dalek1099

You need to use the formula given at the start of the question for Fn(by this point you will have found the constants) that gives you two separate geometric series which when divided by 2^n+1 gives two separate geometric series which do converge as n goes to infinity and you add them together.

I know, I realised, which is why I put the edit in saying I had done it.

Reply 1188

lllllllllll

13

Original post by ETRC

Can someone give a hint for second part of Q2 STEP I 2002.
I got f''(x) and if I replace x=m/(m+n) i get something really complicated and can't show much.

I think you have to show 4 different examples; when n is odd and m is odd, when n is even and m is odd, when n is odd and m is even, when both n and m are even.

Reply 1189

jjpneed1

2

Say I have an equilateral triangle ABC labelled clockwise in the complex plane. Then to get c I rotate a - b anticlockwise pi/3 radians about b right? So c = (a-b)e^(i(pi)/3) + b. Why is this wrong?

Reply 1190

DFranklin

18

Original post by jjpneed1

Say I have an equilateral triangle ABC labelled clockwise in the complex plane. Then to get c I rotate a - b anticlockwise pi/3 radians about b right? So c = (a-b)e^(i(pi)/3) + b. Why is this wrong?

I don't think it's wrong, but it may not be the right approach, because if you want to keep things symmetrical the "natural angle" to be thinking about is 2pi / 3 (a complete circle equally divided into three parts).

Reply 1191

ETRC

17

Original post by lllllllllll

I think you have to show 4 different examples; when n is odd and m is odd, when n is even and m is odd, when n is odd and m is even, when both n and m are even.

Thanks
I was correct on two of them, I showed when n was odd and m even, and n even and m even.

Reply 1192

ThatPerson

18

Original post by lllllllllll

I think you have to show 4 different examples; when n is odd and m is odd, when n is even and m is odd, when n is odd and m is even, when both n and m are even.

I've only briefly looked at the question, but do the cases n>m & n<m not matter?

Reply 1193

jjpneed1

2

Original post by DFranklin

I don't think it's wrong, but it may not be the right approach, because if you want to keep things symmetrical the "natural angle" to be thinking about is 2pi / 3 (a complete circle equally divided into three parts).

Thank you DFranklin

Reply 1194

Krollo

17

God I'm useless sometimes. I came so close to finishing an inequality question and then balls up in the last line by wrongly sketching a simple graph. Is there any way to avoid silly mistakes or is it simply a matter of diligently checking the working?

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Reply 1195

newblood

19

Original post by Hyperthy

Hi there all. Thinking of sitting step (for fun haha) Just wondering if you knew any websites where I could find the m4pm5, s3-s5 content for maths because not looking forward to having to buy that many books :smile:

you already sat step last year. I dont see the point in sitting it again. Trinity arent going to let you switch to maths with physics..thats why you got summerpooled last time.

Sorry to be harsh, but if you wanted to do that you shouldve just applied for maths again.

Reply 1196

Gawain

6

For STEP 2010, question 12 I managed to do it another way without using the initial result, but I think there must be some fault to my logic.

Spoiler

Now I think I've made a basic error and just gotten lucky, the other method I did was to consider the sum of each turn multiplied by the probability of

A

winning and

A

not winning for the first case and

A,B

losing and

A

winning for the second to get two geometric series. This utilises the initial result so I assume that is the intended method.

Reply 1197

Principia

OP

8

Original post by newblood

you already sat step last year. I dont see the point in sitting it again. Trinity arent going to let you switch to maths with physics..thats why you got summerpooled last time.

Sorry to be harsh, but if you wanted to do that you shouldve just applied for maths again.

I wouldn't rely on it, but it's not unheard of - one of the people at my college got in for straight physnatsci and then switched to maths with physics.

Reply 1198

byday

7

Original post by rachelc142

Yeah phys natsci. About 85ish in phys I think? I'm not bothered anyway you don't have to tell me how stupid I am :lol:

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You should go to Glasgow- much better

Reply 1199

rachelc142

11

Original post by byday

You should go to Glasgow- much better

Already rejected my Glasgow offer, which I am really gutted about but they didn't offer the complete course & french exchange I was after.

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