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Original poster

Undergrad/A level maths problem books

23 replies

Jux · 23/04/2012 18:40

I'm doing an OU degree in maths. It is the first course, and I'm struggling with integration. I need lots of practice! The course book has a few problems included, and there is an exercise book with a few problems. I need more!!

Do you know of a good one, with lots and lots of questions so I get tons of practice? (Answers in the back too!)

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alice1111 · 23/04/2012 18:44

I have no idea about open university, but we're doing integration and stuff at AS level- the book we use is Advanced maths AS core for AQA- worked examples, loads of questions and answers at the back. There is probably an A2 equivalent. Hope that helps.

Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 19:24

I have no idea how the levels equate! I'll try to type in an assignment question, so you can see (don't give the answer! as it's an assignment, I must do it myself!):

g(x) = e^((-3x+2sinx)/6) over (3 + 2cosx)

we have to show that the derivative is g'(x) = (4sin squared x - 12sinx+5) e((-3x+2sinx)/6) all over 6(3+2cosx)2

It's that sort of thing I want practice in.

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mnistooaddictive · 23/04/2012 19:55

The heineman edexcel alevel books are really good ( edited by keith pledger) you eould want c3/c4. Alternatively look on mep (maths enhancement project) at their alevel stuff.
i think you need to use the quotient rule to do that. That is differentiation though and in your first post you ask about integration. Do you know the difference?
for degree level stuff yiu want engineering maths by ken stroud and further engineering maths also by ken. He got of us through our degree on my course!

Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 20:13

Ah yes, I do! I picked the wrong example!

That is an example of the sort of level we're doing at the moment though; that's A level, is it? Oh I'm going to regret this. Many, many practice problems required then!

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SardineQueen · 23/04/2012 20:33

I am doing a level 2 maths course with the OU at the mo (stats) and the stuff we are doing I thing I did in maths + further maths a-level. It all seems a bit familiar anyway.

So I think your best bet is to look at maths a-level books and see if they have the sort of problems you are looking for.

The other thing to do is contact your tutor and ask if they can recommend any books for the course / additional resources that will help.

With my first degree I never really spoke to the tutor but with the OU (I am on my 3rd module) they are very helpful and approachable - that is what they are there for!

Also fellow students on the course forum might have some ideas.

Don't be afraid to ask!

SardineQueen · 23/04/2012 20:34

And don't you will be fine!

Which course are you doing?

SardineQueen · 23/04/2012 20:34

Module not course I mean

Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 20:44

I'm doing MST121, and have very courageously registered for MS221 starting in Sept/Oct. After that I will concentrate on stats - more likely to get a job at the end of it (apparently). I have to do this one and the next though (course requirement), and though I find integration very involved, detailed and difficult (differentiation not so hard) I am really enjoying it, but keep forgetting basic bits, so need to do lots and lots of problems.

What module are you doing?

(I am being babyish about asking for help; there is tons of helpful stuff on the forum, but no book recommendations. I think our tutor - for all I like him - might subject me to a grin if I ask him, and I'm not sure I have the confidence to deal with that, right now! Am dejected today.)

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Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 20:46

Thank you mnistooaddictive! I will get on to those now.

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alice1111 · 23/04/2012 20:47

I'm not entirely sure which module what you're doing comes under- I'd try looking on the internet for an A level maths revision site (for example www.examsolutions.co.uk/maths-revision/syllabuses/AQA/period-1/C2/module.php ) and check what you need, then find a suitable text book. The one we use is really good for examples and practise

SardineQueen · 23/04/2012 20:54

Don't feel babyish! Sometimes you need a lift. What does it matter if your tutor grins at you (have I read that right?!). This is where I have been going wrong for years being more concerned with how I was perceived and what I ought to be doing than seeing the real goal. You want to understand - ask for help - it will assist you in getting where you want to be which is the whole point of the studying!

Don't be dejected

BTW what I will say is that while I recognise some of the maths from the level 2 course, the courses move much faster than A-Level. So eg integration at A-Level we spent a lot of time over - with your course I imagine (if it's like mine) it goes bish bosh that's the answer good onto the next thing. So please don't underestimate what you are doing. I have 2 maths A-Levels and a Physcis degree and have been finding the modules challenging - they pack such a lot in, so quickly.

I'm doing M248 and need to get my 2nd assignment in at the end of the week and I haven't finished reading the book yet...

What jobs are you thinking of? I need to get a job but don't know how a middle aged not quite so young person would go about it.

Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 21:06

By the time I finish I'll be around 60! I don't really know what sort of jobs they have, but I did some stats at Uni doing my other degree (psychology) and it was really interesting seeing what all the numbers did etc. I've decided I will get lucky and work in medical stats (or get really lucky and go to the met office - just down the road from us!). In reality, I'll probably just type and file.

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Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 21:09

mnistooaddictive, that mep site is great, thank you very much. At a quick glance, it's definitely got what I need. I have a sneaking suspicion I'll want more once I've gone through that lot though...

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Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 21:17

alice111 , thanks, that site looks helpful too. I can't play the vids ATM as we are supposed to be watching Scott & Bailey but I've bookmarked it for tomorrow.

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Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 21:25

SardineQueen, I'm not usually worried about asking questions, but I'm a bit in awe of our tutor. He's one of those obviously brilliant mathematicians who is not so good with words; also, most of the others at the tutorial and on the forum are way ahead of me. His grin is not really something to be afraid of, I know, and he'd be horrified if he knew, but it's one of those things that just makes me feel inadequate. This is just a silliness in me, I'll get over it. Sometime.

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SardineQueen · 23/04/2012 21:31

He doesn't need to be great with words to recommend a book for the course or other resources!

Buck up and go for it. Also there will be people on the forums who will be able to help - I am always miles "behind" but as long as you are more or less OK according to the study plan and get the assignments in on time then really it doesn't matter! You're doing it for you, if some person who you don't know thinks you are doing it slowly then so what! You are a MNer you have nothing to fear...

LostInWales · 23/04/2012 21:32

. How's it all going? I'm signed up for MS121 next, big gulp looking at your question. I did read that the course books need a bit of reading around compared to some other courses. I'm just on my EMA for TU100 though and I'm looking forward to doing something with less words.

Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 22:23

Hey Lost! Well done!

MST121 isn't that bad - mostly! I'm having a problem with this bit, but the rest is OK, I promise. Anyway, just because I find this bit hard doesn't mean you will! One thing though, be prepared for the answers to skip steps, it's not all laid out with full explanations step-by-step. Everyone from MU123 found that a bit challenging at first; on the whole though, you can work out how it gets to where it does. There aren't so many questions all the way through, hence less practice.

SardineQueen, I know you're right. Today I got a bit glum about it; every time I thought I was getting somewhere I was interrupted for at least half an hour each time, and when I went back to it, had to go right back to the start again (and then got hung up on things like "where has the 2x gone? Why?? What have I forgotten?"; it all got very dispiriting!).

I have to stop thinking about it now, or I won't sleep and then I won't be able to do anything tomorrow either! (Last time I had a day like this I wound up dreaming of Differential Wee - it made sense at the time!)

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LostInWales · 23/04/2012 22:56

I can't wait for it to start. I really want to do M208 (I think that's the code) mainly because I have discovered a real love for maths (I was very surprised) but also because in the description it says you will really only need a pencil and some paper to work through the course plus I'm shallow and would love the opportunity to say I was studying pure maths at university

I might recommend you start ignoring your inbox from September though or I will be asking you questions all the time.

Original poster

Jux · 23/04/2012 23:07

I would almost certainly get everything you ask me wrong! Do ask if you want to, though. MU123 was pretty good grounding on the whole. The sites recommended on this thread will be really helpful, so bookmark it!

What is TU100? I am pretty sure that once I've done MS221 that'll be enough only-almost-pure maths for me!

SQ, I am going to be doing M248, but not until next year. How many hours a week study do you do? Good luck with your assignment.

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LostInWales · 23/04/2012 23:21

TU100 is the compulsory (60 point) level 1 module for the computing and IT degree. So, so many words . MU123 is compulsory for it too but I enjoyed it so much I'm planning on doubling up IT with maths as a second subject.

This studying lark is good fun and scarily addictive isn't it?

LostInWales · 23/04/2012 23:24

Thread bookmarked, copied and saved to word and saved as an image

SQ 'you are an MN'er, you have nothing to fear' brilliant

Original poster

Jux · 24/04/2012 08:09

Feeling much more on the case today! Thanks for the pep talks and help!

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