### Differentiation Question #1

Given that $y = \frac{8}{x^3} - \frac{6}{x^2} + \frac{5}{2x}$, find the approximate percentage change in $y$ when $x$ increases from 2 by 2%.

### Probability Question #4

A gambler bets on one of the integers from 1 to 6. Three fair dice are then rolled. If the gambler’s number appears $k$ times ($k = 1, 2, 3$), he wins $$k$. If his number fails to appear, he loses$1. Calculate the gambler’s expected winnings

### Vectors Question #4

Another interesting vectors question.

The fixed point $A$ has position vector a relative to a fixed point $O$. A variable point $P$ has position vector r relative to $O$. Find the locus of $P$ if r $\bullet$ (ra) = 0.

### Vectors Question #3

This is a question a student sent me a few days back, and I shared with my class.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus of all points (plane) that is equidistant of the $xy$ plane and $xz$ plane.

The following should aid students to visualise.

Sidenote: I think Vectors is a very important topic for 9758 as its applications are wide. Students should do their best to understand the topic. I will share a few more applied questions next week when I have time.

### A little reminder to students doing Calculus now

When $\frac{dy}{dx} = 0$, it implies we have a stationary point.

To determine the nature of the stationary point, we can do either the first derivative test or the second derivative.

The first derivative test:

Students should write the actual values of $\alpha^-, \alpha, \alpha^+$ and $\frac{dy}{dx}$ in the table.

We use this under these two situations:
1. $\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}$ is difficult to solve for, that is, $\frac{dy}{dx}$ is tough to be differentiated
2. $\frac{d^2y}{dx^2} = 0$

The second derivative test:

Other things students should take note is concavity and drawing of the derivative graph.

### Vectors Question #2

If $c = |a| b + |b| a$, where $a$ , $b$ and $c$ are all non-zero vectors, show that $c$ bisects the angle between $a$ and $b$.

### Post-Results 2016

Let’s face it. Some of us will not get the dream results we want. Don’t give up and let fear conquer you.

For students unsure of the available courses, they can check out the following post. It contains the grade profile for local universities.

Our Team will be here if you need help/ advice. Feel free to text us.

P.S. Today, I saw an image shared by Mr Wee, which said that “You’re the architect of your own life”. So let’s not let the grades define us.

### Things to note for 9758 H2 Mathematics

It has been awhile since the A’levels. We talked and met up with several of our students. Some students are working and some are preparing their Personal Statements for overseas University Applications.

A few of them also remarked that they wish they put more efforts into studying A’levels.  An advice to this year JC2 – Do not wait till it is too late.

Students should also have a clear understanding of their syllabus, especially their scheme of exam. I still have JC2s this year who get stunned by the applications questions I threw at them (P.S. Aside from spending time with family, I wrote many sets of applied questions.). You may read more about your syllabus here. Or see the following images.

How much practice or emphasis your school put on this, is up to them. But it is clear that application takes up 25% of your marks. The entire syllabus can be found here.

PLEASE DON’T WALK INTO THE EXAM HALL BLUR BLUR…

### How to maintain your self discipline to study?

Dear all, this is a general post on how to keep your study momentum up during this december holidays. As you already know, this december holidays is not only a time for you to rejuvenate yourself from the hectic JC life, it is also an important revision time for you! It is a time when you consolidate all that you have learnt in this year, so that you would have a good foundation to start JC2. (For those who didn’t do well in the promos, you should be doing catch up. For those who did well, you could possibly revise your learning and embark on a head-start program.)

So what are the 3 tips for you to have self-discipline?

One of the reason why students do not have self-discipline is because they do not believe in themselves and their abilities to attain academic success. They attach negative talk to themselves such as they are stupid, lazy and not cut out for straight As. Hence, their inner beliefs shape their actions and their revision process. One way to change it would be to change your identity. Start thinking to yourself that you deserve Straight As everyday and you will soon internalize it and manifest these behaviours.

Secondly, you should attach pain to the notion of you not achieving your goals. Each time when you think about how you would not achieve your goals, it will automatically propel you to take action! It could possibly be a lack of self esteem, respect from your parents and society. Regret for not achieving your aims etc.

Finally, you could think about how to reward yourself whenever you achieve your goals and to get a trusted person to be accountable for you. One way to do this is to tell your friends or parents what you desire to achieve for the A levels, and to get them to monitor your revision schedule. I know this sounds unappealing to you, but this could perhaps be the best way to make sure you stay discipline to your goals!!

Have a good break everyone! Of course have a fruitful revision time too!

### Some questions that students ask recently.

I’ve been asked many times recently about what university course to take, and also what university to go too, etc. Some students ask me how does Financial Mathematics work? So I’ve come across an article here. This article illustrates how to be a quant, which is just one of the jobs available to someone who studies financial mathematics.

I should clarify that studying Finance is a far cry from studying Financial Mathematics. They are very different. For the pragmatic students, the latter earns more. Is it easy? I shared some undergraduate reviews that I’ve done previously, here. It is on some simple ideas of Financial Mathematics, its basics.

So I’ll share a bit more in near future on studying Operations Research, Bayesian Methods, Data Mining and Analytics. Hopefully it will give students a better idea of studying Mathematics in university. And please remember, that H2 Mathematics is a far cry from University Mathematics. Students are better off doing Engineering if you fancy H2 Mathematics. And I’m sorry that I can’t share too much on Pure Math, as the above mentioned are my forte.

Thanks! And now let’s all go for holidays!