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Thread ID: 50227 2004-10-14 08:57:00 [ OT ] Cosine Rule ApeNz (4220) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
281106 2004-10-15 09:03:00 I mean the IGCSE exams. I'm fourth form and doing IGCSE Maths, Combined Science and a couple of English papers. Next year AS and Form 7 A2. Tense stuff. Jaguar (4442)
281107 2004-10-15 09:05:00 We dont have that sort of stuff at our school - you do fourth form in fourth form and so on ApeNz (4220)
281108 2004-10-15 09:09:00 Believe me, you're not missing out on anything. Jaguar (4442)
281109 2004-10-15 09:11:00 a little challenge is always good ApeNz (4220)
281110 2004-10-15 09:34:00 I've been through all this, I will come back tomorrow with a nice little explanation detail for anyone confused about NCEA, Cambridge, etc. ~~~~~ s y ~~~~~ (2054)
281111 2004-10-15 09:36:00 all i know is that NCEA sucks and cambridge is a city with a high school that cheats - any more - well you tell me ApeNz (4220)
281112 2004-10-15 09:38:00 No, Cambridge as in the proper system.

Cambridge International Examinations, set by the Cambridge University in England. World class qualification, Jaguar can explain the start, I'll sum it up when I get back ;-)
~~~~~ s y ~~~~~ (2054)
281113 2004-10-15 09:40:00 i know that - i have been invited into the system myself ApeNz (4220)
281114 2004-10-15 11:07:00 Please don't get me started on NCEA.

It's stupid.

Latest example; you get the highest percentage in the class, the required amount of merit questions correct, the requires amount of achievement questions correct, and the required amount of excellence questions correct.

You don't get the right excellence questions correct. What do you get? Merit. What do the schmuks who managed to get fewer right get? Excellence.

Comes back to the hole 50% Excellence, 99% and Fail scenario.


Although in maths biggest question is interpreting questions, the math is easy. Take for example the question:

"John is building two square decks. He has enough decking to cover 34 square metres. He wants one deck to be longer by 2 metres.

Find the dimensions of each deck."

Now in my panicked state during the exam, I read this to mean that the decks, although orginally intended to be square, are now a square and a rectangle. Meaning that the algebraic equation to solve it would be, if you let x = the size of the width of the smaller deck, x^2 + x(x+2) = 34, which solves to be x = ~3.65 and the longer length about ~5.65. Unfortunately my English interpretation fails me , and be it absence of mind or what not, turns out that the second deck was also square, but each side was longer by 2m, not only one, as the "2 metres longer" suggests.

Therefore the answer would infact be x^2 + (x+2)^2 = 34, which solves to be x = 3 and the longer sides = 5.

That sucks. I can't believe such trivial confusions in language can get me. But, just as a matter of interest, how many people actually interpreted it to mean that the second square was infact 2 metres longer both ways? Now ofcourse most of you will, because I have blatantly pointed it out... but nevertheless?
Growly (6)
281115 2004-10-15 11:10:00 *Edit : interpreting questions is my biggest problem, not my biggest question. Apologies, it's late.

Oh, and at our school you are in no way allowed to sit levels higher than you otherwise the hole school does it. Grrrrr.
Growly (6)
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