- Joined
- Apr 7, 2026
- Messages
- 5
I like how problem 1A2 is very similar to one that I made up in high school for fun when I was running the math club. The problem I posed was a lot less hand-holding though. Since the parabola locus doesn't change shape as the value of the constant a is changed, I asked for a curve describing how the entire locus moves rather than just the vertex and I didn't hint at using parametric equations or derivatives. The problem is more fun without guidance I think. But understandably the exam isn't supposed to be fun, it's just checking whether the students can remember -b/2a and how to solve parametric equations while under time pressure.
