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AEA Official Thread Summer 2016

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Reply 80
Original post by A Slice of Pi
No, with respect to x. You want to go from a general term of x^-r to a term of rx^-(r+1). To get the old power in front of the x you need to differentiate and multiply by -1 to remove the negative. See the 2002 specimen paper for a full solution.

Ohhhhhhhhhh so you differentiate section a's answer?! That makes some sense.
The question paper is now available, and attached to this post. The mark scheme will follow on around July 18th.
Original post by Aph
Ohhhhhhhhhh so you differentiate section a's answer?! That makes some sense.


Alternatively, call the sum S, and consider xS. Note that S - xS gives a geometric series which can be summed, and so S = that sum divided by (1-x). Personally I prefer this method as using calculus is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Original post by HapaxOromenon3
The question paper is now available, and attached to this post. The mark scheme will follow on around July 18th.

What did you think of the paper? The nod to Diophantine equations in the final question was interesting.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by HapaxOromenon3
Alternatively, call the sum S, and consider xS. Note that S - xS gives a geometric series which can be summed, and so S = that sum divided by (1-x). Personally I prefer this method as using calculus is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Yes your approach works just as well. That method and the calculus method are the most common ways of dealing with arithmetico-geometric series such as these.
Original post by A Slice of Pi
What did you think of the paper? The nod to Diophantine equations in the final question was interesting.


I didn't sit it but a first look at the PDF file suggests it was probably harder than 2015.
Might write some solutions later for fun.
Will make a thread n try tag u all.


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Original post by HapaxOromenon3
I didn't sit it but a first look at the PDF file suggests it was probably harder than 2015.


I agree, i sat 2015 n it was rather easy, this was harder imho aswell.
I reckon 65 for distinction. I expected last years to be 75 for distinction but turnednout to be 70.


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Reply 88
Original post by HapaxOromenon3
Alternatively, call the sum S, and consider xS. Note that S - xS gives a geometric series which can be summed, and so S = that sum divided by (1-x). Personally I prefer this method as using calculus is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Never come across either methord before unfortunately.
Original post by HapaxOromenon3
The question paper is now available, and attached to this post. The mark scheme will follow on around July 18th.

HHere's you get that from.
Original post by Aph
Never come across either methord before unfortunately.

HHere's you get that from.


If what you're asking is where I got the paper from, the answer is I downloaded it from Edexcel's Maths Emporium, since I was able to convince them I was a teacher.
Original post by physicsmaths
I agree, i sat 2015 n it was rather easy, this was harder imho aswell.
I reckon 65 for distinction. I expected last years to be 75 for distinction but turnednout to be 70.


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That's interesting because I thought last years was harder. Here's my thoughts:
Question 1: Thought this was fairly standard. Function questions seem to be popular with Edexcel and are usually answered pretty well, maybe with some slips being made on domain and range.
Question 2: I think this would've been a non-starter for many, mainly due to the unusual nature of the question.
Question 3: I think most people would've picked up a few marks here, even if finding OE was problematic.
Question 4: I think a lot of able people will have scored near-full marks on this one. It wasn't too difficult.
Question 5: Seems to have caused a few problems, especially parts (b) and (c), although similar questions have been asked before. People should've been able to pick up a few method marks, regardless.
Question 6: Quite straightforward integration by substitution.
Question 7: Part (a) was a little fiddly, the integer solutions may have caught a few out but the rest wasn't too difficult.

Think boundaries will be hard to call. If you look at some of the very early ones they were quite high (e.g. 2003), despite the papers being quite difficult. I think the distinction boundary for 2014 was 69, but I don't think this was more difficult than 2014.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by HapaxOromenon3
If what you're asking is where I got the paper from, the answer is I downloaded it from Edexcel's Maths Emporium, since I was able to convince them I was a teacher.

Can you do the same for me :wink:
Reply 92
Original post by HapaxOromenon3
If what you're asking is where I got the paper from, the answer is I downloaded it from Edexcel's Maths Emporium, since I was able to convince them I was a teacher.


Yeah I am.
I can't help but wonder if that is legal...
Original post by A Slice of Pi
Can you do the same for me :wink:


Original post by Aph
Yeah I am.
I can't help but wonder if that is legal...


To get an account and convince them you are a teacher, all you need is a centre email address, i.e. something ending in .sch.uk or .edu or .org.uk, rather than a private Gmail/Hotmail account. Since my school gives both students and teachers centre email addresses, it was easy.

If you'd like your own account, register at http://s277881626.websitehome.co.uk/emporium/?a=register

Alternatively, use my account:
Username: amrit.lohia
Password: DELLe772p
Original post by Aph
Yeah I am.
I can't help but wonder if that is legal...


Probably isn't.


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Original post by HapaxOromenon3
To get an account and convince them you are a teacher, all you need is a centre email address, i.e. something ending in .sch.uk or .edu or .org.uk, rather than a private Gmail/Hotmail account. Since my school gives both students and teachers centre email addresses, it was easy.

If you'd like your own account, register at http://s277881626.websitehome.co.uk/emporium/?a=register

Alternatively, use my account:
Username: amrit.lohia
Password: DELLe772p


That doesn't seem to work.


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Original post by physicsmaths
That doesn't seem to work.


Posted from TSR Mobile


If you're referring to the username and password I just gave, I checked it and it does work. Try copying and pasting the details, exactly as shown, into the login form on www.edexcelmaths.com
Original post by HapaxOromenon3
To get an account and convince them you are a teacher, all you need is a centre email address, i.e. something ending in .sch.uk or .edu or .org.uk, rather than a private Gmail/Hotmail account. Since my school gives both students and teachers centre email addresses, it was easy.

If you'd like your own account, register at http://s277881626.websitehome.co.uk/emporium/?a=register

Alternatively, use my account:
Username: amrit.lohia
Password: DELLe772p


It'll be interesting when they contact the Head of your centre to confirm whether you actually are a teacher or not.*

Original post by physicsmaths
That doesn't seem to work. *Posted from TSR Mobile


It probably does - you'd need to use Google Chrome...
Grade boundaries:
Distinction 73
Merit 55
Seem fairly reasonable
Reply 99
Original post by A Slice of Pi
Grade boundaries:
Distinction 73
Merit 55
Seem fairly reasonable


I thought they'd be slightly higher

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