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MAT Prep Thread - 2nd November 2016

Reply 840

joodaa

5

Original post by Someboady

I still don't get it, do you mind explaining?

aha i'm not 100% sure so its probably best if the wizard dfranklin explains

Reply 841

DFranklin

18

Original post by Someboady

So theoretically you can use 3^n and a^n where n is any integer bigger than 1?
Because they'd all be a factor right? or am I talking nonsense...

No, because you still need to be able to form a sum that comes to 3^2015 - 2^2015.

E.g. N = 3^6 - 2^6 = 729 - 64 = 665 = 5 * 7 * 19

I can write N = (3^2 - 2^2)((3^2)^2 + 2^2 3^2 + (2^2)^2) = 5 * 133

or I can write N = (3^3 - 2^3)(3^3 + 2^3) = 19 * 35

but if I try to do something similar with N = 3^4 - 2^4 it doesn't work (and it shouldn't, because 65 does NOT divide 665).

Something you should think about (and should be able to answer):

If I'm trying to use (i) to factor a^n - b^n by (a^k - b^k), what condition does k have to satisfy (the condition will involve n)?

Reply 842

Someboady

17

Original post by DFranklin

No, because you still need to be able to form a sum that comes to 3^2015 - 2^2015.

E.g. N = 3^6 - 2^6 = 729 - 64 = 665 = 5 * 7 * 19

I can write N = (3^2 - 2^2)((3^2)^2 + 2^2 3^2 + (2^2)^2) = 5 * 133

or I can write N = (3^3 - 2^3)(3^3 + 2^3) = 19 * 35

but if I try to do something similar with N = 3^4 - 2^4 it doesn't work (and it shouldn't, because 65 does NOT divide 665).

Something you should think about (and should be able to answer):

If I'm trying to use (i) to factor a^n - b^n by (a^k - b^k), what condition does k have to satisfy (the condition will involve n)?

Does n have to be divisible by k?

Reply 843

XxsciencemathsxX

8

Hey!

Can someone help explain 2014 q4 iv please? I dont get how the sine rule becomes the answer and how the angle ABX comes about?

Thanks

Reply 844

Mystery.

21

Original post by theaverage

Did you get the same multiple choice answers as me then?

Posted from TSR Mobile

Hey so sorry, I have been really busy today so never got a chance to reply but I just checked and yup all same.

Reply 845

DFranklin

18

Original post by Someboady

Does n have to be divisible by k?

Yup!

Reply 846

username1162972

18

2015 mat was a great paprr
Hope it is similar this year as oxford do dish out some interesting questions.

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Reply 847

qeyoo

7

Original post by physicsmaths

2015 mat was a great paprr
Hope it is similar this year as oxford do dish out some interesting questions.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Love some subtle bragging about how much smarter people are :wink:

Reply 848

username1162972

18

Original post by qeyoo

Love some subtle bragging about how much smarter people are :wink:

Lol I am at uni. I ain't sitting mat with you guys.

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Reply 849

alfmeister

2

Got 57 in the 2015 paper, it's a decent score relative to the successful applicant score but not quite there. I am still happy with the progress I have made taking into account my circumstances,

Reply 850

theaverage

2

Original post by physicsmaths

Lol I am at uni. I ain't sitting mat with you guys.

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Since you aced the MAT do you have any advice on timing?

I just did a paper in timed conditions but only managed to answer 3 of the 4 long questions. So only got (39/60) for the long questions ://

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Reply 851

DamnDaniel2

18

Original post by theaverage

Since you aced the MAT do you have any advice on timing?

I just did a paper in timed conditions but only managed to answer 3 of the 4 long questions. So only got (39/60) for the long questions ://

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He did STEP and is in Cambridge but you could say he aced the MAT since he did well in STEP lol

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Reply 852

username1162972

18

Original post by DamnDaniel2

He did STEP and is in Cambridge but you could say he aced the MAT since he did well in STEP lol

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I dont want to say my mat score lol

Reply 853

Mystery.

21

Original post by physicsmaths

I dont want to say my mat score lol

I think its in your bio

Reply 854

username1162972

18

Original post by theaverage

Since you aced the MAT do you have any advice on timing?

I just did a paper in timed conditions but only managed to answer 3 of the 4 long questions. So only got (39/60) for the long questions ://

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All I remember is always spending far too long on multiple choic3, i sat mat twice and the best thing i learnt is be very careful with it but always leave time for the rest. I cant remember exact timings but tbh some of the questions really arent 4 marks sometimes worth like 1 as in you can do them instantly and sometimes ridiculously long so do the quick ones quick, don'5 try check it 50 times just to make sure, if you got an answer straight away, check it again quickly and move on.
The worst part of the test is the mutiple choice, it is a lot of pressure and it wasn't even for my first choice!

Reply 855

username1162972

18

Original post by Mystery.

I think its in your bio

I edited it out a few weeks ago.
Bit of dick move on my part tbh as it was showing off so much.
Lol its literally the only exam i completely aced.

Reply 856

qeyoo

7

Original post by physicsmaths

Lol I am at uni. I ain't sitting mat with you guys.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Ik, still bragging though

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Reply 857

username1162972

18

Original post by qeyoo

Ik, still bragging though

Posted from TSR Mobile

Ok. I didnt say the paper was easy cause it wasn't it was hard.I just said it was interesting.

Reply 858

danielhx

2

this may seem like a silly question but is it highly doable to get full marks for the MCQs? my section B rly isn't great.

Reply 859

username1162972

18

Original post by danielhx

this may seem like a silly question but is it highly doable to get full marks for the MCQs? my section B rly isn't great.

Yep it is quite doable.
Just be careful i did maybe once in a past paper I THINK, i would normally make 1 or 2 mistakes and get 1 or 2 wrong sometimes 3/10. 7/10 is really the minimum, as its just worth so much
A very good way is sometimes process of elimination which speeds stuff up sometimes although it isn't intended I think. Not always best way though, you would have tl judge it on question by question.

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MAT Prep Thread - 2nd November 2016

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