STEP Support - Assignment 19
This STEP support module introduces the small angle approximations for $\sin \theta$, $\cos \theta$ and $\tan \theta$ and asks some questions about coordinate geometry. Previous assignments can be found here, but you can do this one without having done the others first. STEP questions are difficult, they are supposed to be and you should expect to get stuck. However, as you tackle more and more STEP questions you will develop a range of problem solving skills (and spend less time "being stuck").
About this assignment
The assignment is published as a pdf file below. Each STEP Support assignment module starts with a warm-up exercise, followed by preparatory work leading to a STEP question. Finally, there is a warm-down exercise. The warm up for this assignment derives the small angle approximations for $\sin \theta$, $\cos \theta$ and $\tan \theta$ (which hold when $\theta$ is in radians). The main STEP question (2005 STEP 1 Question 6) is about coordinate geometry and describing a path of a point. The final question has a couple of probability problems for you to solve.
Further reading
Here is an article on the Monty Hall problem Monty Hall problem including a nice simulator. A nice introduction to Bayes' theorem is given in this Plus maths article.
Hints, support and self evaluation
The “Hints and partial solutions for Assignment 19” file gives suggestions on how you can tackle the questions, and some common pitfalls to avoid, as well as some partial solutions and answers.
