STEP 2017

Glossary

Curated question: — Past-paper question with a worked solution and a tagged method.
Method: — Portable technique that pops up across years.
Worked solution: — Step-by-step solution written by us in our voice.
Past paper: — Official exam session published by the board.

These pages only count the curated set: questions with both a worked solution and at least one tagged method. Bulk past papers without that treatment are hidden.

Session overview

Questions

Worked

100%

Methods triggered

Papers

Theme mix

Pure15
Mechanics6
Statistics4

Chapter mix · 2017

Mechanics6
Probability & Statistics4
Coordinate Geometry & Conics3
Integration3
Sequences & Series3
Algebra & Inequalities1
Combinatorics & Binomial1
Complex Numbers1
Differentiation1
Trigonometry1
Vectors & Matrices1

Methods triggered this session

Each method that at least one question in this session hits.

1
Parametrise the conic, then run all tangent/normal/chord algebra in the parameter
Coordinate Geometry & Conics
×2
2
Factor a quartic into two quadratics by undetermined coefficients and a resolvent cubic
Algebra & Inequalities
×1
3
Work with symmetric functions and power-sum recurrences instead of the roots themselves
Algebra & Inequalities
×1
4
Telescope a sum by writing each term as a difference $g (r) - g (r + 1)$
Combinatorics & Binomial
×1
5
Rotation as multiplication: encode equilateral triangles and right angles by a fixed unimodular factor
Complex Numbers
×1
6
Half-angle factorisation: split $e^{i β} - e^{i α}$ into modulus $2 sin \frac{β - α}{2}$ and argument $\frac{α + β}{2} + \frac{π}{2}$
Complex Numbers
×1
7
Feet of the normals from a point are roots of a cubic: use the symmetric functions
Coordinate Geometry & Conics
×1
8
In polar coordinates, build gradient and cutting-angle from $\frac{d r}{d θ}$
Coordinate Geometry & Conics
×1
9
Two points on a curve: carry $s + t$ and $s t$ (sum and product of parameters) as the variables
Coordinate Geometry & Conics
×1
10
Reduce a chord/tangent/intersection condition to a quadratic and steer its discriminant
Coordinate Geometry & Conics
×1

Try a method on a real paper

Open the STEP methods app to see worked examples, linked questions and the 3-panel revision view.

Open STEP methods