vectors (1 Viewer)

[synthesisFR]

This is just a random story i wanted to share bc i felt like it
so i was doing this question last week that I just couldn't do no matter how hard i tried, so i gave up and forgot about it/
i reattempted it just now and i got it first try
The point is that does anyone else find this topic (and other similar ones) just super random?
Like a lot of it u get used to and know what to do, but there are questions (which aren't inherently difficult) but u just can't figure out that one that u would need to solve it because u just don't do that one thing that the question needs u to do. But if u look at the solutions u go how did i miss that/ is that it/ they really just pulled this random relationship/eqution/etc outta nowhere.
Ik practice makes it much easier to predict what u need to do for particular questions, but trust me iv'e done a ton of vector proof questions, and some of them feel like u kinda luck to get it right. (obviously if u spend extra time and try 3 different methods ur more likely to get it, but u don't get that much time in the hsc..)
Kind of a rant i hope what i said makes sense

 

[MJRey]

I mean, I didn't do Extension 2 Maths, but as someone who did Extension 1 Maths, I can relate to your struggles. I used to think that vector proofs were incredibly random and for a great part of the year, these were the bane of my existence until an older student showed me how to do them properly. My confidence was boosted significantly after that.

 

[ExtremelyBoredUser]

I also experience the same thing and I find it frustrating too, so what I do is that I learn the methods/tricks used in the solution (if you don't understand it check out some vids or resources) and then add it to your own sorta working out arsenal. The more you do that, the less overwhelming harder questions will become.

Hmmm very interesting comment temporarylol, I wonder by perchance we might be studying vectors? (Considering we do the same degree). Don't know you though so I can't comment.

 

[ExtremelyBoredUser]

This is just a random story i wanted to share bc i felt like it
so i was doing this question last week that I just couldn't do no matter how hard i tried, so i gave up and forgot about it/
i reattempted it just now and i got it first try
The point is that does anyone else find this topic (and other similar ones) just super random?
Like a lot of it u get used to and know what to do, but there are questions (which aren't inherently difficult) but u just can't figure out that one that u would need to solve it because u just don't do that one thing that the question needs u to do. But if u look at the solutions u go how did i miss that/ is that it/ they really just pulled this random relationship/eqution/etc outta nowhere.
Ik practice makes it much easier to predict what u need to do for particular questions, but trust me iv'e done a ton of vector proof questions, and some of them feel like u kinda luck to get it right. (obviously if u spend extra time and try 3 different methods ur more likely to get it, but u don't get that much time in the hsc..)
Kind of a rant i hope what i said makes sense

lol when I did the hsc i was doing some vector Q and I just did my proof without even thinking, felt like god was helping for a bit, but everything worked out fine in the end of my proof since everything simplified albeit it was unconventional.

I would say at a point of study you'll be able to know what method would work the most (if that makes sense? like an intuition), and you'll find yourself taking less time. Trust, the topic isn't so bad after you get the feel for it, but I must say its the topic where you'll lose silly marks if you're reckless. Just pick up any wierd technique or method you find, like a niche detail that you didn't notice - you'll be more equipped to use different methods for a proof Q.

It feels random at first but as soon as you're able to break down the problem into familiar things you've realised; perhaps noticing you can manipulate certain properties of the shape and use dot product etc. or perhaps using vectors eqs etc.

Don't feel you're the only one out there, I felt this the most when doing this topic, for something that felt so straightforward, it was just some details I would miss making the proof more harder than it had to be. Just keep on going, you'll be fine.