Can YOU solve the maths problem Scottish schoolkids couldn’t? Exam question slammed as being far too difficult

A complex question about a crocodile stalking its prey has baffled Scottish schoolchildren.

The complex question formed part of a new look Higher maths exam sat by 16 year olds for the first time this year.

However, the test was so tough examiners were forced to cut the pass mark to just 34%.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266828/Can-solve-maths-problem-Scottish-schoolkids-couldn-t-Exam-question-slammed-far-difficult.html#ixzz3o7f9ptyP

I’d give it a go.

Actually, you are required to do a bit of simple calculus in that. I’d do what I normally do and throw that into mathcad to get the derivative and then solve that for when the equation is 0 and Bob from Black Rock is your uncle.

Oooh, it is an ugly little first derivative.

Bubblecar said:

Can YOU solve the maths problem Scottish schoolkids couldn’t? Exam question slammed as being far too difficult

A complex question about a crocodile stalking its prey has baffled Scottish schoolchildren.

The complex question formed part of a new look Higher maths exam sat by 16 year olds for the first time this year.

However, the test was so tough examiners were forced to cut the pass mark to just 34%.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266828/Can-solve-maths-problem-Scottish-schoolkids-couldn-t-Exam-question-slammed-far-difficult.html#ixzz3o7f9ptyP

1) 10.4 seconds

2) 11 seconds

3) 8 seconds

sibeen said:

Bubblecar said:

Can YOU solve the maths problem Scottish schoolkids couldn’t? Exam question slammed as being far too difficult

A complex question about a crocodile stalking its prey has baffled Scottish schoolchildren.

The complex question formed part of a new look Higher maths exam sat by 16 year olds for the first time this year.

However, the test was so tough examiners were forced to cut the pass mark to just 34%.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266828/Can-solve-maths-problem-Scottish-schoolkids-couldn-t-Exam-question-slammed-far-difficult.html#ixzz3o7f9ptyP

1) 10.4 seconds

2) 11 seconds

3) 8 seconds

…and cannot read the question correctly.

3) 8 seconds is correct, but that’s not what it asked. The correct answer is x = 9.8 metres.

boofhead

Part A is basic algebra
Part B is basic calculus
Part C is a bit trickier…

T= 5 (x^2+36)^½ + 4(20-x)
dT(x)/dx = 5 ½ (x^2+36)^(-1/2) (2x) + 4 (-1)
dT(x)/dx = 5x (x^2+36)^(-1/2) -4

Solve for dT(x)/dx=0

0 = 5x (x^2+36)^(-1/2) -4
4 = 5x (x^2+36)^(-1/2)
(x^2+36)^½ = 5/4 x
x^2+36 = 25/16 x^2
36 = 25/16 x^2 – x^2
36 = (25/16 -1) x^2
36 = (9/16) x^2
(36)(16/9) = x^2
64 = x^2
8 = x

The cute bit is that the examiners were nice enough to make it all work using only intergers… If it were me, I’d be surding it up…

Actually, the first two parts of this are piss easy.

The third part is easy if you get your derivative correct, which I’ll admit is a tad trickier, and why I cheat and use mathcad :)

sibeen said:

Actually, the first two parts of this are piss easy.

The third part is easy if you get your derivative correct, which I’ll admit is a tad trickier, and why I cheat and use mathcad :)

Nice try dad…

diddly-squat said:

sibeen said:

Actually, the first two parts of this are piss easy.

The third part is easy if you get your derivative correct, which I’ll admit is a tad trickier, and why I cheat and use mathcad :)

Nice try dad…

One bloody second!

…and get the hell off my lawn!

sibeen said:

sibeen said:

Bubblecar said:

Can YOU solve the maths problem Scottish schoolkids couldn’t? Exam question slammed as being far too difficult

A complex question about a crocodile stalking its prey has baffled Scottish schoolchildren.

The complex question formed part of a new look Higher maths exam sat by 16 year olds for the first time this year.

However, the test was so tough examiners were forced to cut the pass mark to just 34%.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266828/Can-solve-maths-problem-Scottish-schoolkids-couldn-t-Exam-question-slammed-far-difficult.html#ixzz3o7f9ptyP

1) 10.4 seconds

2) 11 seconds

3) 8 seconds

…and cannot read the question correctly.

3) 8 seconds is correct, but that’s not what it asked. The correct answer is x = 9.8 metres.

boofhead

extra boofhead

8 metres is correct for x, which then takes 9.8 seconds.

makes drinky drinky motion

diddly-squat said:

If it were me, I’d be surding it up…

Yeah, but you’re a prick :)

I only do derivatives

sibeen said:

diddly-squat said:

If it were me, I’d be surding it up…

Yeah, but you’re a prick :)

And set the angles in radians

I vaguely remember such posers in 3 unit maths, but now realise that their application is very limited in the world outside maths.

The examiners should have made the students find the second derivative to prove T’‘(8)>0

;)

tauto said:

I vaguely remember such posers in 3 unit maths, but now realise that their application is very limited in the world outside maths.

Um… no… Derivatives are truely the most useful bit of calculus

diddly-squat said:

tauto said:

I vaguely remember such posers in 3 unit maths, but now realise that their application is very limited in the world outside maths.

Um… no… Derivatives are truely the most useful bit of calculus

—-

Not when it comes to predicting the stock market.

diddly-squat said:

tauto said:

I vaguely remember such posers in 3 unit maths, but now realise that their application is very limited in the world outside maths.

Um… no… Derivatives are truely the most useful bit of calculus

Yes.

tauto said:

diddly-squat said:

tauto said:

I vaguely remember such posers in 3 unit maths, but now realise that their application is very limited in the world outside maths.

Um… no… Derivatives are truely the most useful bit of calculus

—-

Not when it comes to predicting the stock market.

Is the meaning of the word quite the same?

Michael V said:

tauto said:

diddly-squat said:

Um… no… Derivatives are truely the most useful bit of calculus

—-

Not when it comes to predicting the stock market.

Is the meaning of the word quite the same?

No :)

Bubblecar said:

Can YOU solve the maths problem Scottish schoolkids couldn’t? Exam question slammed as being far too difficult

A complex question about a crocodile stalking its prey has baffled Scottish schoolchildren.

The complex question formed part of a new look Higher maths exam sat by 16 year olds for the first time this year.

However, the test was so tough examiners were forced to cut the pass mark to just 34%.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266828/Can-solve-maths-problem-Scottish-schoolkids-couldn-t-Exam-question-slammed-far-difficult.html#ixzz3o7f9ptyP

Haven’t read other replies.

Assuming that they are allowed to use calculators and not required to show working it’s fairly easy to find that the optimum x is 8 m.

If they are required to work it out with calculus, I agree it’s a bit hard for a 16 year old.

Actually both sibeen and d-s have missed the real engineer’s way of doing it.

Trial and error on a spreadsheet.

Hmm…..I know why the Scottish school kids couldn’t understand the crocodile/zebra problem!
















There are no crocodiles and zebras in Scotland, so how can they even begin to understand what’s going on? This is supported by the report “… from the principal assessor in maths, also said another question, about the time it took a frog and a toad to escape from a well, apparently ‘met expectations’.” Scottish kids know what frogs and toads are, so…..derrrr :P

(I sucked at maths in high school…probably due to an older brother being a brilliant genius maths student who stumped the teachers with his ability to solve problems in unique ways.)

This is the reason I hated maths at school. Stupid non real world applications.

The correct answer is that crocodiles can’t do mathematics and mathematicians know sweet fuck all about crocodile behaviour.

The crocodile will watch the zebra coming down to drink at the edge every day for two weeks. It will slowly work its way to where the zebra comes every day and then sit there a little longer only a metre of so from the zebra during its drinking time for a few more days. Then, when the zebra thinks that the crocodile has got bored and gone elsewhere and has a drink, the croc will lunge out of the water and take it down.

i would say, if you looked at it logically, the croc, being an ambush predator, would stick to the water and let the zebra come to it.

this is what i said in chat last night, so i agree teleost. but nobodies interested in logic around here.

;-)

ChrispenEvan said:

i would say, if you looked at it logically, the croc, being an ambush predator, would stick to the water and let the zebra come to it.

this is what i said in chat last night, so i agree teleost. but nobodies interested in logic around here.

;-)

Yep, perfect answer based on my years of observing crocs and zebras on nature shows.

maths people, they be…

Bubblecar said:

Can YOU solve the maths problem Scottish schoolkids couldn’t? Exam question slammed as being far too difficult

A complex question about a crocodile stalking its prey has baffled Scottish schoolchildren.

The complex question formed part of a new look Higher maths exam sat by 16 year olds for the first time this year.

However, the test was so tough examiners were forced to cut the pass mark to just 34%.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266828/Can-solve-maths-problem-Scottish-schoolkids-couldn-t-Exam-question-slammed-far-difficult.html#ixzz3o7f9ptyP

I think it is pretty straightforward.

ChrispenEvan said:

maths people, they be…

I’ve always loved that Michael Leunig cartoon.

:)

dv said:

Bubblecar said:

Can YOU solve the maths problem Scottish schoolkids couldn’t? Exam question slammed as being far too difficult

A complex question about a crocodile stalking its prey has baffled Scottish schoolchildren.

The complex question formed part of a new look Higher maths exam sat by 16 year olds for the first time this year.

However, the test was so tough examiners were forced to cut the pass mark to just 34%.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266828/Can-solve-maths-problem-Scottish-schoolkids-couldn-t-Exam-question-slammed-far-difficult.html#ixzz3o7f9ptyP

I think it is pretty straightforward.

OK, but:

1) Would you have found it pretty straightforward at age 16?
2) Even if you did, how many of your fellow 16 year olds would have?

The Rev Dodgson said:

dv said:

Bubblecar said:

Can YOU solve the maths problem Scottish schoolkids couldn’t? Exam question slammed as being far too difficult

A complex question about a crocodile stalking its prey has baffled Scottish schoolchildren.

The complex question formed part of a new look Higher maths exam sat by 16 year olds for the first time this year.

However, the test was so tough examiners were forced to cut the pass mark to just 34%.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266828/Can-solve-maths-problem-Scottish-schoolkids-couldn-t-Exam-question-slammed-far-difficult.html#ixzz3o7f9ptyP

I think it is pretty straightforward.

OK, but:

1) Would you have found it pretty straightforward at age 16?
2) Even if you did, how many of your fellow 16 year olds would have?

yes
few

There is no way I would have solved that problem at 16

crocs don’t hunt for food on land.. they are better in the water and will stay there and ambush the zebra when it goes to the waters edge.

CrazyNeutrino said:

There is no way I would have solved that problem at 16

I don’t think we’d actually started to cover calculus by fourth form (I was 16 in fourth form, now known as Year 10). I reckon that was 5th and 6th form stuff. But I really can’t remember.

buffy said:

CrazyNeutrino said:

There is no way I would have solved that problem at 16

I don’t think we’d actually started to cover calculus by fourth form (I was 16 in fourth form, now known as Year 10). I reckon that was 5th and 6th form stuff. But I really can’t remember.

I was 16 in form 5 (year 10) and had certainly started off on calculus by then.

sibeen said:

buffy said:

CrazyNeutrino said:

There is no way I would have solved that problem at 16

I don’t think we’d actually started to cover calculus by fourth form (I was 16 in fourth form, now known as Year 10). I reckon that was 5th and 6th form stuff. But I really can’t remember.

I was 16 in form 5 (year 10) and had certainly started off on calculus by then.

… in form 5 (year 10)

cough

year 11.

As a July baby, I was always one of the eldest in my cohort. I think calculus was pretty much year 11 and 12.

Yeah, calculus started early 5th form for me. I was 16.

If I remember 50 years ago rightly, in England you did “O Levels” at the end of 5th form (Year 10 equivalent), and you didn’t get to do any calculus unless you did “Additional Maths”, which only the nerdiest of the nerds did.

I don’t remember if they covered differentiation of square roots at that level or not.

But as noted previously, with a calculator it’s pretty easy to solve without any calculus.

Michael V said:

Yeah, calculus started early 5th form for me. I was 16.

Well, I turned 16 that year. I started the calculus at 15.

Calculus was introduced briefly in Grade 10 for me, and covered in detail in Grade 11.

dv said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

dv said:

I think it is pretty straightforward.

OK, but:

1) Would you have found it pretty straightforward at age 16?
2) Even if you did, how many of your fellow 16 year olds would have?

yes
few

+1

But now I give myself more interesting real world questions, like how much of a drug should I give such that I’m not around when a patient is ‘discharged’…

We got jellybeans from our maths teacher in year 6, but only if we got the correct answer.

Alllllex, did you see the cat houses on fb?

kii said:

We got jellybeans from our maths teacher in year 6, but only if we got the correct answer.

I remember in Year 8, scoring 50c from a teacher who challenged us to give him words or terms that he couldn’t define. I offered “spectroscopic binary” and he couldn’t handle it.

Oh, buggerit .

kii said:

We got jellybeans from our maths teacher in year 6, but only if we got the correct answer.

I got smacked across the hands with a fly swat/ruler/whatever was close to hand, by my mother if I got an answer wrong.. no wonder I’m scared of maths

I just used my slide rule and came up with x = 8.
I’ll check it against the computer later.
I always check my computer maths results against my slide rule.
The maths chips in some computers sometimes have small errors.

Also you don’t ever get a power failure on a slide rule.

When the chips are down you can use the slide rule.

Also there are no viruses on a slide rule.

until Microsoft gets hold of it

Apart from the odd bit of ecoli and maybe a spot of ebola.

I do actually own a slide rule. The only thing that I own that belonged to my grandfather.

I think I still have a slide rule somewhere. No idea how to work it now though.

sibeen said:

I do actually own a slide rule. The only thing that I own that belonged to my grandfather.

I do too. I bought mine when I was in High School.

buffy said:

I think I still have a slide rule somewhere. No idea how to work it now though.

I’ve never bothered learning how to use his old slide rule.

Really, there would be no use, it is a civil engineering one, so no use to me.

Michael V said:

sibeen said:

I do actually own a slide rule. The only thing that I own that belonged to my grandfather.

I do too. I bought mine when I was in High School.

I own a slide rule, and used it for the first 10 years of my work as an engineer

sibeen said:

buffy said:

I think I still have a slide rule somewhere. No idea how to work it now though.

I’ve never bothered learning how to use his old slide rule.

Really, there would be no use, it is a civil engineering one, so no use to me.

yeah… couldn’t imagine you being civil…

:P

sibeen said:

buffy said:

I think I still have a slide rule somewhere. No idea how to work it now though.

I’ve never bothered learning how to use his old slide rule.

Really, there would be no use, it is a civil engineering one, so no use to me.

Dad has a slide rule things he uses but his is discs.

There are three types of people. those that are good at maths and those that aren’t.