Month: August 2021

Discussion of the 2021 NHT Methods Exams

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August 31, 2021

2:50 pm

95 Comments on Discussion of the 2021 NHT Methods Exams

VCE

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This is our post for discussion of the 2021 NHT Mathematical Methods exams (here and here). See also the accompanying 2021 NHT Specialist exams post, here. See also the relevant Witches: here, here and here.

UPDATE (08/10/21) The exam reports have reappeared, as PDFs, here and here. The exam 2 report has important updates, and important non-updates; see the comments in blue, below.

UPDATE (22/09/21) The exam reports are now out, here and here (VCAA-Word-Stupid). We’ve added a couple comments below, in green.

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Discussion of the 2021 NHT Specialist Exams

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August 31, 2021

2:50 pm

57 Comments on Discussion of the 2021 NHT Specialist Exams

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This is a brief post, intended as a place for discussion of the 2021 NHT Specialist Mathematics exams, here and here. See also the accompanying 2021 NHT Methods exams post, here.

We’ve made a few remarks, below, on specific questions, and see this WitCH, but we haven’t gone carefully through the exams. We’ll update with further remarks if and when commenters raise substantive issues with the questions, or either exam as a whole.

UPDATE (10/09/21)

The exam reports are out, here and here. We haven’t looked and don’t intend to look, except for Q10 on Exam 1. The suggested solution is, well, rooted. See here.

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A Quick Word to Networking Mathematicians

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August 28, 2021

9:10 am

3 Comments on A Quick Word to Networking Mathematicians

ACARA

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Dear mathematicians, if you don’t really know about the draft mathematics curriculum, and if you are somehow unaware that the inclusion of new content that you happen to like necessitates the dilution or elimination of other content – content that is more important for everyone, and for a coherent curriculum, and which is already woefully underrepresented – then perhaps you should look beyond your own self interest, shut the hell up and listen to people who have been paying attention. Thank you.

WitCH 67: Rooted

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August 26, 2021

12:28 pm

93 Comments on WitCH 67: Rooted

WitCH

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Our final 2021 NHT WitCH is the final question from the Specialist Exam 1.

UPDATE (29/08/21)

Sigh. We really hate updating WitCHes.* We have about a hundred of these things to do, and we’re generally thinking of the updating as a task for retirement or, better, for a reincarnation. However these NHT WitCHes, and this one in particular, have highlighted a degree of confusion. So, alas, it seems worthwhile sorting out the issues while the issues are in mind.

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WitCH 64: Decreasing Intelligence

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August 24, 2021

4:06 pm

44 Comments on WitCH 64: Decreasing Intelligence

WitCH

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Just in case anybody got the wrong impression and hoped or feared we’d turned over a new leaf, we’ll be posting a number of WitCHes in the next few days. We’ve finally had a chance to look at the 2021 NHT exams (although the exam reports have still not appeared). As usual, the exams are clunky and eccentric, and we’ll be posting a brief question-by-question overview of the exams. But, first, some highlights. Continue reading “WitCH 64: Decreasing Intelligence” →

NotCH 1: Maths Masters Quizzes

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August 23, 2021

4:53 pm

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NotCH

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More or less by accident, this post is the beginning of a new series: Not Crap Here.

A couple of people have suggested that we could occasionally include Dr. Jekyll material on this blog. You know, helpful stuff. It’s a decent idea, if our current thoughts weren’t so influenced by misanthropic disgust and murderous rage. Still, we’ve received two specific requests for the same old Jekyll material,* and which entailed some digging. Having finally dug, we’ve decided to post the material here, for whomever is interested. Whether or not there will ever be a NotCH 2 is anybody’s guess.

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