STEP Support - Assignment 21
This STEP support module introduces a couple of functions that might look familiar, and asks you to sketch some regions involving the modulus function. 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 introduces a couple of new functions which might remind you of some well known ones. The main STEP question (1999 STEP 1 Question 4) is about sketching regions in the $x-y$ plane described by relationships involving the modulus function. The final question has a pair of geometry problems for you to solve.
Further reading
For more about hyperbolic functions, see this Plus maths article.
Hints, support and self evaluation
The “Hints and partial solutions for Assignment 21” file gives suggestions on how you can tackle the questions, and some common pitfalls to avoid, as well as some partial solutions and answers.
