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Looking for Mathematics past papers from around 1920s onwards

Last post 12/01/11 at 14:02 by Polecat, 245 replies
Post started by intuitionist1 on 02/01/11 at 00:40

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    Posted by: weebecka 09/01/2011 at 15:49
    Joined on 15/09/2010
    Posts 956

    intuitionist1:
    Are you referring to mathematical intuitionism

    Yes.

    What were you referring to?

    I leave you with Dag's thread for now - it goes into things in a very challenging way.

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    Posted by: Karvol 09/01/2011 at 16:03
    Joined on 30/06/2008
    Posts 1,421

    intuitionist1:

    Karvol:

    I would much rather have a student who can plot a curve on a calculator and actually understand what it all means, rather than have a student who can sketch a curve, work out maxima and minima without any real understanding of the mathematics behind it. Naturally a combination of both worlds would be ideal

    As for myself, I would much rather have a student who can sketch a curve, work out maxima and minima and actually understand what it all means, rather than have a student who can plot a curve on a calculator without any real understanding of the mathematics behind it. Naturally, throwing the graphical calculator in the bin would be ideal.

    - Sabbir

     

    er...Did you actually read what I wrote?

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    Posted by: intuitionist1 09/01/2011 at 16:04
    Joined on 10/11/2008
    Posts 42

    DM:

    They should be able to do it if they have studied roots of polynomials in AS further maths david.  The allocation of topics to units has changed, that's all.

    There is a big difference between having the potential to do something and actually being able to do it.

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    Posted by: DM 09/01/2011 at 16:08
    Joined on 12/05/2003
    Posts 5,434

    intuitionist1:

    DM:

    They should be able to do it if they have studied roots of polynomials in AS further maths david.  The allocation of topics to units has changed, that's all.

    There is a big difference between having the potential to do something and actually being able to do it.

    Sabb, that question is easy.   I have just finished teaching roots of polynomials with my Year 12 further mathematicians so I will give it to them on Tuesday and report back on how they get on.   They are not particularly able by the way - more than half did not attain A* at GCSE.

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    Posted by: intuitionist1 09/01/2011 at 16:10
    Joined on 10/11/2008
    Posts 42

    DM:

    They should be able to do it if they have studied roots of polynomials in AS further maths david.  The allocation of topics to units has changed, that's all.

    Actually, I should also ask whether you can provide any examples of questions from a 1957 further maths paper that a present day GCSE student might be expected to be able to do?

    - Sabbir

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    Posted by: curlygirly 09/01/2011 at 16:14
    Joined on 06/02/2004
    Posts 4,920
    DM:

    intuitionist1:

    DM:

    They should be able to do it if they have studied roots of polynomials in AS further maths david.  The allocation of topics to units has changed, that's all.

    There is a big difference between having the potential to do something and actually being able to do it.

    Sabb, that question is easy.   I have just finished teaching roots of polynomials with my Year 12 further mathematicians so I will give it to them on Tuesday and report back on how they get on.   They are not particularly able by the way - more than half did not attain A* at GCSE.

    DM don't you think that's a tad radical? A real teacher testing out the hypothesis? Surely you need someone who doesn't teach to make sure you get it right? Have you considered using a facilitator?
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    Posted by: DM 09/01/2011 at 16:22
    Joined on 12/05/2003
    Posts 5,434

    intuitionist1:

    DM:

    They should be able to do it if they have studied roots of polynomials in AS further maths david.  The allocation of topics to units has changed, that's all.

    Actually, I should also ask whether you can provide any examples of questions from a 1957 further maths paper that a present day GCSE student might be expected to be able to do?

    - Sabbir

    Now you are confusing me.   I thought this was an A Level question?   Hardly any GCSE students would be able to do it.

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    Posted by: intuitionist1 09/01/2011 at 16:23
    Joined on 10/11/2008
    Posts 42

    Ok, my turn to make a typo - I should have written "x/(1+x^2)" !  :-)

    Nevertheless the basic point stands.

    Best wishes,

    Sabbir.

    P.S. I hope you did not use a graphical calculator or other computing aid to reach your conclusion!  ;-)

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    Posted by: intuitionist1 09/01/2011 at 16:34
    Joined on 10/11/2008
    Posts 42

    DM:

    Now you are confusing me.   I thought this was an A Level question?   Hardly any GCSE students would be able to do it.

    It was a 1957 O level question. The topic is covered thoroughly in Chapter X of Durell's "School Certificate Algebra" textbook which I mentioned earlier.

    - Sabbir

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    Posted by: DM 09/01/2011 at 16:41
    Joined on 12/05/2003
    Posts 5,434

    intuitionist1:

    P.S. I hope you did not use a graphical calculator or other computing aid to reach your conclusion!  ;-)

    Surprising as it seem, I was able to use my brain to deduce what might happen in the neigbourhood of the vertical asymptote.   I have an excuse though, I am nearly as ancient as you so did not experience the present-day excuse for an education system*.

    * sarcasm meter is set to moderate.

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