AQA FP3 - quick question on notations

I've been doing a couple of past papers on FP3 and have noticed in the mark schemes this type of expression o(x^3). Question 7c, in the paper below, uses it and I've seen it in other mark schemes but have never come across it in my studies. I take it that it means "the value of whatever's in the brackets is so small it can be ignored" but should I be using that notation or will leaving out the term be acceptable?

Thanks

http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-MFP3-W-MS-JUN06.PDF

The notes in the right hand column make it clear that you do not need to use the notation in order to get full marks

I've been doing a couple of past papers on FP3 and have noticed in the mark schemes this type of expression o(x^3). Question 7c, in the paper below, uses it and I've seen it in other mark schemes but have never come across it in my studies. I take it that it means "the value of whatever's in the brackets is so small it can be ignored" but should I be using that notation or will leaving out the term be acceptable?

Thanks

http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-MFP3-W-MS-JUN06.PDF

It means "a term which tends to 0 as fast or faster than x^3 does", by the way.

Sorry, I never even looked at that. Presumably that will always be the case then.

It means "a term which tends to 0 as fast or faster than x^3 does", by the way.

Unless I'm having a major brain failure, o(x^3) means "a term that tends to 0 faster than x^3".

O(x^3) would be "as fast or faster".

I am pretty sure I am right about this, but then if I'm right the markscheme is wrong...