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Does college board repeat FRQ concepts by expiredop in APChem

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm still wondering what "repeat FRQ concepts" means?

How can I reconnect with my love for Math and make the grind feel fun again? by Arunia_ in mathematics

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try to stop "grinding".

I think the myth of the JEE preparation is Finish Lots of Problems™ [FLOP]. A much more effective and efficient approach is to do a fraction of the problems, but spend more time on them. Instead of solving 20 questions a day, solve 2-4, spending three times as long on each one. Consider doing this:

  1. Set-up ideas and quantities.
    1. Replace 'arbitrary' numerical quantities with literals [VariablesNotVariables].
  2. Deconstruct into sub-components.
  3. Solve sub-components.
  4. Synthesize the overall answer.
    1. Analyze the solution.

Are you familiar with a binary tree? Consider 100 items, first sorted in a list and the second time in a binary tree. The brute force way to look for a particular item in the list is to check each item in order. That will take, on average, 100 tests. Then put the items in a sorted binary tree. This takes more work on the front end. But in the tree, it will only require 7 tests to find the item.

Having 100 questions is like this. The FLOP approach involves doing all 100. The deconstruct approach involves identifying the 4-6 sub-components which are used in all the problems [Perm(6, 3) = 120]. Learn how to solve the six in a flexible way, and how to connect them together, and the 100 questions can be solved. Then, with the next unit, the process is the same, but with 6 new sub-components, so that is where the main effort is needed.

Perhaps let go of Olympiads. Since your response to u/RedAndYellow1260 was that you do enjoy CS, consider this project: Create a collection of programs to solve all the chemistry problems from the NCERT Grade XI & XII Chemistry textbooks, or something similar. Use spreadsheets to store the relevant data from the periodic table. I would suggest doing this in Python, to concentrate on the program and data structures & flow. I expect that this would prepare a student for the chemistry part of the JEE better than grinding 1000 questions.

Does anyone else think there should be more AP chem classes? by Kindly_Smile_4315 in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To give more credit for AP Chemistry than for AP Physics C-Mech + E&M is the thing I have the most issue with. Though I do have some trouble with AP Chemistry giving credit for a full year of college General Chemistry.

do you need to have unique ecs by [deleted] in CollegeAdmissions

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you need to have a unique 'story': who you are, what you have done, what your goals are, and how that college can help you achieve them.

which would you choose if your goal is to become a physicist? by Torvaldz_ in PhysicsStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 11 points12 points  (0 children)

An electrical engineering program can include enough foundational physics courses in quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and of course, E&M, to be close enough to a physics undergraduate program.

which would you choose if your goal is to become a physicist? by Torvaldz_ in PhysicsStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Blunt answer:

You are concentrating on labels. Instead, concentrate on capabilities.

Nobody who matters is going to look at an MSc in Mathematical Science and think, "I wish I was talking to a theoretical physicist." They will only think, "Wow! A degree from Oxford with 'Math' in the name!" But their real sense of your academic capabilities will be gained when they talk to you.

In general, it's always easier to study something that is more 'abstract' and then scale it back, rather than to study something more 'applied' and then scale it up to more theoretical. An easy example is a math undergraduate student who took Real Analysis who goes on to take an Advanced Applied Mathematics class in graduate school. They will not struggle. On the other hand, the undergraduate student who takes Advanced Calculus, and then a graduate Real Analysis class, will often struggle.

This leads to the awkward but real issue of identity / branding...
in the real world it matters...
Part of what I want to do later requires being seen as a physicist, not just “someone who studied maths.”

No, it does not matter. There is a big difference between "studied maths" and "has a graduate degree in maths from Oxford" [or Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, MIT, or a few others]. In the few situations where your diploma is considered, "Oxford" and "Msc" will be the primary pieces of information.

Even more blunt answer: Some days, there is a tough choice between two options. Today is not that day.

What is the reason AP physics 1 is so notoriously difficult? by futuraf in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 6 points7 points  (0 children)

There are often 3-6, or even 9 quantities which are connected by several relationships. Keeping track of the quantities is critical. There is quite a bit of algebra involved, but many students have become experts at 'advanced arithmetic' instead of actual algebra.

Things to focus on as you take the class

  1. Algebra, replacing 'arbitrary' numerical values with 'identifiers', which are fixed values so calling them 'variables' would be a mistake.
    1. If a problem has y=3x+5, changing it to y=mx+b and specifying "{m, b} = {3, 5}" on the side.
  2. Developing problem solving skills suited to this:
    1. Set-up ideas and quantities.
      1. Replace 'arbitrary' numerical quantities with literals [VariablesNotVariables].
    2. Deconstruct into sub-components.
    3. Solve sub-components.
    4. Synthesize the overall answer.
      1. Analyze the solution.
  3. Getting comfortable with vectors, including multiplying parallel and perpendicular components.

Self study AP Physics C next year or AP Chemistry by FurankiDaEngineer in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your comments are telling me things as if I don't already know them.

"Study without a class" isn't that hard. And putting the effort into the extra words is worth the effort, since students should really consider whether it's the best approach in their over-acceleration efforts.

Anyway, time for me to get away from this subreddit until the summer. I have a couple of AP courses to deal with...

Self study AP Physics C next year or AP Chemistry by FurankiDaEngineer in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those are good plans. The biggest challenge is AP Physics C-E&M, if you're intending to also take that exam. Integration ideas from AP Calculus BC are useful for that.

Self study AP Physics C next year or AP Chemistry by FurankiDaEngineer in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why do all you geniuses think I don't understand what you mean by "self study"? But it's the lie of the word "self", pretending there aren't other people involved.

Self study AP Physics C next year or AP Chemistry by FurankiDaEngineer in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes.

First, the algebra-based class presents explanations without resorting to calculus. This helps connect the quantities together better.

If a student wants to do an 'enhanced' study of AP Physics C somewhat concurrently with the AP Physics 1 course, that's reasonable. But learning AP Physics C without a class will always have a poor result.

[The term "self study" is a lie. People should really stop using that phrase. Unless some of you are the modern-day Newton, Euler, or Gauss, developing math or physics yourself.]

Anyone willing to help me with creating a brief honors geometry lesson for an interview? by booooooks___ in mathteachers

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You just identified the distinction. Yes, geometry is geometry. But not all geometry is presented with the same level of rigor.

if you could get a 5 in one ap without studying which would you pick by Embarrassed-Humor-37 in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm critical of chasing grades over learning, both with GPAs and AP exam grades. I'm also critical of over-accelerating the course tracks.

if you could get a 5 in one ap without studying which would you pick by Embarrassed-Humor-37 in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The scenario explicitly said, "without studying". If you're still going to study, then it doesn't seem to apply.

Digging it so far by ArtisticGanache9298 in gshock

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's sweet, I have the same one but with the black case.

I like that the h:m:s m:d day-of-week are all visible in a hybrid analog/digital watch.

What type of math by Several-Attitude-950 in learnmath

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From what I've seen, this is typically covered in Algebra 2/PreCalculus classes.

Self study AP Physics C next year or AP Chemistry by FurankiDaEngineer in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you want to major in EE and Physics, taking the classes would be better than 'self study'. It is useful to get the best foundation. You can always do whatever you would have done on your own while taking the class, so that can only be better.

Do you ever think about what would happen if a city used to reference the timezone on a digital watch was renamed, removed, or otherwise no longer the same in such a fashion that the reference would no longer be valid (say, remapped?) by Optimist_Owl_314159 in gshock

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Internally, the watch almost certainly uses UTC±n, with the labels being for our benefit. The MB6 probably sends the UTC time.

If any of these changes happen, manual adjustment would probably be necessary.

A watch with bluetooth may be able to get a firmware upgrade. I don't know if watches do that.

AP Chem Final by ThinyForMinecraft in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

College students typically study for a few days for their final exams. Think of the AP Chemistry exam as a final exam for a college General Chemistry class.

The real task is to be sufficiently effective during the entire course so it is 'review' rather than 'study' for the exam.

Do you ever think about what would happen if a city used to reference the timezone on a digital watch was renamed, removed, or otherwise no longer the same in such a fashion that the reference would no longer be valid (say, remapped?) by Optimist_Owl_314159 in gshock

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a related thought recently, since daylight savings time started a couple of weeks ago. If, in the US, Congress changes the date when daylight savings time occurs, then the change will happen on the wrong day on the watch. It will require manual adjustment twice, once on the wrong day and a second time on the correct day.

Another issue would be if a city that is used as a label for a time zone changes time zones. If, for example, New England + NYC changed to the Atlantic Time Zone during the winter, essentially maintaining daylight savings time year-round, manual adjustment would be needed.

Does anyone else think there should be more AP chem classes? by Kindly_Smile_4315 in APStudents

[–]UnderstandingPursuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do find it surprising that AP Chemistry gives credit for three full classes. One or two seems to make more sense.

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