18 replies to this topic

[gary]

Hey,

I'm really struggling with Higher Maths right now, I got a B for Int 2 last year, is thisjust going to get more difficult?

[werlop]

What topics are you struggling with. I'm sure some people here could help you if you tell them what your problem is. Also the notes on this site are really good.

[gary]

Differentiation if that is how you spell it

I will look at the notes on the site thanx

It's just really difficult even people from last year who failed it and are repeating are finding it hard.

[bred]

Really apply yourself right from the start. I messed about for the first 1/3 of last year and struggled to get back on terms. I would have been happy just to pass before the prelim but worked hard for the 3 weeks leading up to the prelim and got 61%. I thought I was improving and hoped to get a B in the final but I got a C. Anyway, I would say work your socks off from the start and you might find it a bit easier to cope with.

[xpurple_starsx]

Differentiation can be really hard to get used to at first but once you get the hang of the method you should be okay. Try lots of examples and if there's a few in particular which you don't understand post them on here or ask your teacher. The thing with the Higher isn't really that the work's extremely hard all the time i's just that there's so much to learn in only a year. Doing lots of examples is really the best way to learn.

[gary]

Thanks for the tips

[Infinite_Dreams]

All I can say for higher maths is to pay attention and if you're stuck get help with it.

Differentiation of functions is actually quite easy (eg. f(x) = x^3 +2x; f'(x) =3x^2 + 2), but it's when you have to apply it to situations it gets more difficult (optimization, gradient of tangent to curves at point x, drawing graphs etc.) Optimization is the hardest part of higher maths in my opinion, so make sure you can do it by the exam!

Examples is what I suggest for the introductory stuff (I assume you're doing that just now, since some of my friends have just started it). Eventually the rule for doing it goes out the window (f(x)=ax^n f'(x)=nax^n-1) and you just do it automatically without thinking.

[Ally]

For Maths if you want to do well you really need to do examples. There's no point in just reading through your notes - doing as many questions as you can is much more worthwhile.

I didn't find Higher Maths difficult but as we progressed through the course I found the topics more challenging. I thought Unit 3 was the most challenging. Unit 1 was really easy - especially the straight line stuff.

[Kaiser]

I think differentiation is a topic which seems (and sounds) harder than it actually is. But like any new topic it can be quite difficult to get into, seeing as differentiation is the most used technique in the exam, you will have more than enough practice once you have completed the course.

[Justboy]

differenation became my favourite question near the end of higher once you have some practice it becomes very process driven and you hardly think about it.

[Shaun]

differenation became my favourite question near the end of higher  once you have some practice it becomes very process driven and you hardly think about it.

I agree. Differentiating on itself is very easy - but the hard thing can be simplifying the question so you CAN differentiate. Moreover, some people find simplifying their answer very difficult.

What I recommend:

• Do some revision on fractions, so you can become very good with them.
• Remember, when you have something like x ^ 3/2, the top number is the power, and the bottom number is the root.

[Wee_Stephi]

Im starting to give up hope of passing the higher my teacher has bn off for 5 weeks of the higher and missed 6 months last year we were lucky to pass the standard grade exam lol...

[Infinite_Dreams]

Yeah for stuff like x^3/5 remember that the bottom number gives the root. I remember it by thinking about how it's 3 FIFTHs which gives the FIFTH root of x.

[smurph]

hey, i did higher maths last year and found it really difficult, hence the reason i got a big fat D. i found that my teacher went through things really fast when i needed more time for some things, so what to do is ask if you can go up some lunchtimes or maybe to some after school classes.
Also you can read all the books in the world about maths, but nothing makes up for doing as many examples as possible, get hold of past papers, do questions you think you can handle and get your teacher to mark them. i know it is totally boring and gets really difficult but it is the only way to try and get a good grade, says me who is repeating! lol!

[Daniel]

yea, our teacher went through it really fast in class, but our school has an "After school maths class" you go in at the end of the day and you basically do maths homework or revise ect, all the maths teachers were there it really helped me. Also our teacher gave up his lunchtimes to help us also, mainly the reason i got an A in the exam!

I also agree that differentiation is easy, aslong as you understand the main concepts behind it. You use differentiaton alot in the exam, working out gradients and stuff like that.

Unit 3 is the most challanging, but thats what i liked about it, all of our class were finding it hard to understand the concept of logs and stuff, once you know how its dead easy

Keep plucking away and ASK YOUR TEACHER! They are there to help you.

[Discogirl17]

Guys, I got an A last year and am doing Adv Higher Maths this year... If u need any help with specific questions just PM me

[Infinite_Dreams]

Ditto

[gary]

Well I was struggling but I passed my NAB with

6/6
5/8
15/16
3/4

So I was very happy.

[Jas0n]

Well done. I found it hard at first, but then I practiced A LOT especially circles and integration which I was really struggling with