This was our third lesson in Jan. We did the Product Rule for Differentiation after spending the last two sessions doing the Basic Rule and the Power Rule (a subset of the chain rule).
I told students to differentiate directly, in line, and not use the “let u = f(x) and v = g(x)” which is longer, more confusing and can cause more careless mistakes.
Now they are able to perform dy/dx = f(x)g'(x) + g(x)f'(x) quite quickly without introducing new variables such u and v which can be quite clumsy. Most of the time, finding dy/dx is part of a larger question, so it is unwise to make this part too long.
I ended the lesson with an intro to the Quotient Rule. Again, I don’t recommend the use of u’s and v’s and instead differentiate directly in line. We’ll be practising the Quotient Rule in the next session.
Again I tell students that Calculus is almost one-third of the A. Math syllabus, so if you want to get A1 you have to master Differentiation and Integration, which, in my opinion (and students hate it every time I say it), are amongst the easiest of topics in A.Math.
However, Integration at the A-Levels (H2 Math) can be quite difficult. But we’ll cross the bridge when we come to it. : )
Ilyasa, M.Ed, PGDE, ex-MOE teacher
(hp: 97860411)
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For our latest timetable, click here => 
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Reflections on Sec 4 A. Math class (9/12/2012) …
Two new students joined us ytdy, one from Monfort Sec and one from SCGS. Apparently, I tutored the latter’s cousin a few yrs ago, all the way from Sec 2 to JC2 in Math and Physics, and who is now a first year undergrad; just learnt that he scored 2 A’s and 2 B’s in his A-levels (he might have told me about it); anyway, that proves my point, that you can come from a ‘neighbourhood’ sec sch and then go to a ‘low-ranked’ JC and still do well at the A-Levels. Contrast this with the two ex-IP students that I helped this year to re-take their A-Levels. So students out there pls wake up; no one owes you good grades.
The three tutees agreed to revise some sec 3 topics instead of me teaching them a Sec 4 topic. So for this class (Sat 2.15 to 3.45pm), I will only start teaching Differentiation in Jan 2013. So ydty two of them covered Indices, Surds and Log while the remaining one wanted to revise Trigonometry. Every time, I find joy in proving to students that Logarithms is a VERY EASY topic. Once you understand what a logarithm is, everything about it becomes very easy (I’ve posted another article on Log; pls do a search on it, under A Math study tips I think).
Trigo is a much harder topic, especially the proving of some Trigonometric Identities. However, there are heuristics to use in solving the latter, and these techniques work 95% of the time. I like ‘proving’ qns because there is no answer to find, and students normally dislike such qns precisely because there is no answer to find. But I can’t blame them; imagine spending 6 yrs of your life in pri sch only learning how to find answers, so students become obsessed with finding a numerical answer, and eventually get defeated by qns that ask them to prove something already known.
Related pages:
Sec 4 A. Math Group Tuition @ Bt Batok by qualified and exp. tutor
For our latest timetable, click here =>
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
If you are struggling with A. Math for the coming O-Levels and you need guidance for certain topics, the following tuition slots are suitable for you:
Day/Time: Mon 4.30 to 6 pm, Wed 4.30 to 6 pm.
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central.
Class size: 2 to 5 students.
Investment amt: $50 per session.
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sec teacher (3 years); full-time tutor of O and A Level Math and Physics (8 years). To see his detailed resume, click here.
To book a tuition slot, sms to or call Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.
New Sec 3 Pure Physics class ….
For our latest timetable, click here =>
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
Sec 3 Pure Physics: (Investment amt: $150 for 4 lessons).
Sunday 2.00pm to 3.30 pm; Course Code: s3physun200; (3 vacancies)
Starting 10 June 2012. The class size will be between 3 to 6 students the most.
This class will be taught by our Principal Tutor, Mr Ilyasa, a qualified teacher with more than ten years’ experience of teaching Physics from Sec 3 level to JC2. To see his resume, click here. To speak to him personally, call 97860411. To register for the class, sms Student Name and Course Code to 97860411. The first payment ($150) must be made before 10 June 2012 to reserve a place in the class. Thank you.