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Write Down / State

Afrikaans: Skryf neer / Gee

No working is required, the answer alone earns the mark(s). These questions are deliberately quick: the answer can be read off directly from a previous result, a graph, or a formula. Writing working is not penalised, but it wastes exam time on a question that doesn't reward it.

Common mistake

Spending exam time showing unnecessary working for a question that only needs the answer. In a time-pressured exam, 'write down' questions are designed to be worth 30 seconds each, if you find yourself working through a full calculation for a 'write down' question, you are probably approaching it from the wrong direction. Look for a value you can read directly from the diagram, the previous answer, or the structure of the function.

Signal phrases

These are the words that tell you this instruction is being used.

  • Write down the value of..., the value can be read directly from the previous answer, the graph, or the equation; no calculation should be necessary.
  • State the equation of the asymptote, you are expected to identify the asymptote from the function's equation by inspection, not by a formal limit calculation.
  • Write down the range of f, read the range off the graph or the equation directly; a full algebraic proof of the range is not required and wastes time.
  • State the coordinates of the turning point, often follows a 'complete the square' or 'differentiate and set to zero' sub-question; you are then just reading off the result you already found.
  • Write down the y-intercept of g, substitute x = 0 into the equation mentally and state the coordinate; this should take seconds, not a full written substitution.
  • Write down the period of f, the period can be read from the coefficient in the trig function; it is a single value with no working required.
  • State the domain of h, express the domain in the notation used in the question (interval or set builder); no justification is needed unless the question also says 'justify'.

Past paper examples

Write down the equation of the asymptote of f.

Source: DBE Mathematics Paper 1, November 2023, Question 6.1.1

Test yourself

Before you read the answer, what is this question asking you to do?

Given: f(x) = 3^x + 2 (a) Write down the equation of the asymptote of f. (b) Write down the y-intercept of f.

Practice question: not from a past paper

Where this comes up