Another important Tip for students taking GCE O Level Elementary Mathe (E-Math):

Unlike multiplication of numbers, multiplication of matrix requires some prep work.

1. First, you have to check the feasibility of the 2 Matrices which you are multiplying together. You must know the order of each matrix i.e Number of Rows x Number of Columns (I always call it RC, Resident Committee, Remote Control etc…)
2. Next, you have to know the order of your answer before you go ahead and find the answers.

I am using the following question to illustrate How To Multiply Matrix step by step.

matrix multiplication

Another Tip for students taking GCE O Level Elementary Math (E-Math):

Though order of Matrix is a rather small part of the chapter, it is still essential that you know how to list down the order of any matrix which will be used in operation of matrix.(Especially multiplication of matrix)

In this post, I will provide some tips on how to list down the order of any matrix which is the Number of Rows x Number of Columns.

matrix multiplication · order of matrix

In the earlier post on free Math Exam Papers, we received very good response. Almost 200 copies were downloaded in less than 7 days. We have a subscriber requesting for step by step solution for the questions though we have provided the answer keys. I am sorry I am unable to provide the step by step solutions due to my busy schedule. However, subscribers can email me their workings I can assist and advice you on the incorrect workings. I hope this would be useful. Moreover, by providing the step by step solution will also not be useful as most students will perhaps take the easy way out to just “read” the solution and think that they understand them. Mastery of Mathematics is not by “reading” but it’s the knowing and applying of the strategies.

I have picked up one question on Binomial Expansion (another tricky A-Math topic) for discussion. Specifically on finding Term Independent of x.

Allow me to discuss the common mistake that students make.

Most students will expand the expression term by term

Disadvantages:

• Too time consuming
• Higher tendency to make careless mistakes!

So the following step by step solution is what I taught my students during my A-Math Ultimate Leap Programme (For Sec 4s who still wish to join, call me @ 9685 7675. For Sec 3s, we are opening up the classes in March 2009! More info will be released in Feb. Keep reading this blog)

Features to take note:

• General Term is applied (No memorization is required, just refer to the formula sheet if you aren’t sure)
• Constant (numbers) & variable (which is x in the question) are separated. (so that we can focus on the important part first)
• Power of x is circled (in red) so that you focus all your attention on it. (Reduces careless mistakes too!)
• Since this is a 4 marks question, 4 minutes is the working time to complete the solution. (Time management is part of examination techniques)

Skills required:

• Understanding of Term Independent of x (i.e it’s x to the power of 0 NOT x is zero!)
• Usage of Binomial Formula
• Basic application of Indice law (Observe that is rewritten as )

Evaluate the term which is independent of x in the expansion of .

binomial · formulae · indices law

Photo Credit:psd

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exam papers · Exam Questions

Link to what was previously discussed in Statistics (an Elementary Math E-Math topic) in Drawing & Understanding of Cumulative Frequency, here are the 5 features for a Box & Whisker Plot (I guess you would know which part represents the box, and the portion which are the whiskers)

1. Minimum
2. Lower Quartile, Q1
3. Median
4. Higher Quartile, Q3
5. Maximum

Note the difference between these 2 terms:

Range = Max – Min
Interquartile Range (IQR) = Q3 – Q1

box whisker plot · cumulative frequency · statistics