Class Summary: February 28, 2014

Computing scientific notation problems.  What could be better than ending the week multiplying & dividing exponents.  Our class work is here, and it' important (for your next test), that you be able to do all of the types on the handout.  Enjoy the weekend.

February 28, 2014

Class Summary: February 27, 2014

Introduction to Scientific Notation was the theme for today. We practiced changing numbers to and from scientific notation and the standard form.  Check the slideshow for more information.  Class work is here.

February 27, 2014

Exponent Test Results

Much better this time.  Many of you did very well.  Enjoy.

Tuesday's Teaser

By Friday; show me the work, I'll show you the money.

On-Line Tool: Monomial Calculator

Need some help with your class/home work? Want to be sure your answers are correct? There are many, many different types of calculators and solvers for algebra on the net. For monomials, one of them is located at the mathcelebrity page here.  For exponents, use the caret symbol (shift 6), put your parentheses in the right place and viola! (pronounced wah-lah, it's French for a ha!)..... Of course you could use it to actually do every class work we have, but how's that test score gonna look?

Another calculator is located here
They're both nice, just depends on your preference.

See you Monday.....

Extra Credit Available

With progress reports just around the corner, a number of you have been asking about extra credit. Here it is if you want or need to do it. To receive the extra credit, you need to show all the work necessary to solve each problem. Finally, your completed work must be submitted by Friday afternoon, < 3:30.  There will be some printed copies available as well.

Class Summary: February 24, 2014

Test review day.  We break down a variety of problems and discuss the important cues to guide you through correctly.  Our class work also focuses on those problems you will find on the test.  It's important that you be able to solve all the problems on the class work.

Feb. 24, 2014  

Class Summary: February 19, 2014

Like yesterday, we continued on our all exponent tour of algebra. We defined monomials and looked at the simplicity of multiplication and division on these one-term entities.  Class work is a continuation from yesterday and can be found here.

Feb 19

Negative Exponent Video Guide

For those of us needing a bit more help with the concept of negative exponents, here's a short video from the Khan Academy. Play, stop, go back, try the problems until you fully understand the rules and steps required to solve these types of problems.  We'll be seeing a lot of them in the next few days and weeks.

Tuesday's Teaser: A Presidential Problem

Isn't she beautiful??  Yet, despite her majestic appearance, she's also very solvable. Follow the rules, one step at a time, and this week's ten bonus points are yours. Email, then bring your work to class to claim your points.  Just to be sure, the denominator has two multiplication signs. I'm expecting most of those who attempt to solve this, will. 

The teaser's out  early this week, giving you more a bit more time to digest it all.  By Friday, end of school.

Enjoy what's left of the long weekend.

Class Summary: February 18, 2014

All exponents, all the time. Please download and go through the slideshow if you need more help in this area.  Our class work for the day is here.

Feb. 18, 2014

 

 Additionally, a two-week calendar is displayed below. Note the test on February 25th, as well as the topics we are to cover.

Extra Resources for Our Current Unit

 Whether you're trying to ace Algebra, or just make sure you pass, there are resources available to help you meet either goal.  All of the resources are available from the right side of this blog, but the links are  here to save you some time.  Let's take a look:

1. Probably most important is to download the textbook chapter here.

2.  Practice questions from Interact Math. Broken down into 12 subsections of this unit, there are over 1100 practice questions in all.
Interact practice questions here.


3.  Practice Questions from the textbook. From the writers of the text, practice problems broken down by subsections.
  Chapter 8 Practice Questions here

Class Summary: February 11, 2014

We continue and finish our review for tomorrow's test. Our focus is on parallel and perpendicular lines, and graphing inequalities.  These are all topics most of us need to review and learn more effectively.  View the slideshow for sample questions and vocabulary.

February 11, 2014

Khan Academy Topics for Two Weeks Ending March 2nd, 2014

Three topics for the week of February 17th-23rd.  Get started early; bring your questions to class.

* Simplifying Expressions with Exponents

* Negative Exponents

* Positive & Zero Exponents of Integers


 Three topics for the week of February 24th-March 2nd.  See above.

*  Scientific Notation

*  Multiplication in Scientific Notation

*  Computing in Scientific Notation

Systems Test Results

I'm looking for a graphic that says, "Better than last week's Titanic-like test scores, but still kind of lost at sea.."  Any ideas?  

Version 2, without question the most difficult of the three, had the highest average score of 55%.  I'm not sure either.  If you want to know which particular questions you missed, ask me in class anytime. For now though, get em' while they're hot.

Tuesday Teaser Time

This weeks teaser is a timely one as the solution requires the application of concepts we are working on this very moment. Solve the teaser, ten bonus points and global respect is yours. Email by Friday evening.

When you reverse the digits in a certain 2-digit number, you increase its value by 9. What is the number if the sum of its digits is 17?

Class Summary: February 10, 2914

Sad news today from TestScore. Results were so low, they have officially been declared extinct. It's sharpen your pencil time, (and I mean it) as no one can afford a repeat of our last disaster.  Lots & lots of examples from all the systems of inequalities topics. Study it, practice it, learn it..... Then do it again.  Class Work from Friday is again here.

February 10, 2014

Class Summary: February 7, 2014

All systems of inequalities all the time.  We learned how to graph them, and how to write the system given a graph. We also focused on the application of systems of equations. (word problems). Lots of information inside the slideshow if you need more help.

Here's the class work for today and Monday.

February 7, 2014

Class Summary: February 5, 2014

Our attention is focused on solving systems of inequalities using elimination and substitution. Today's elimination problems required multiplication to solve; practice problems on the slideshow.  The class work can be found here. 

February 5, 2014  

Test Results: Parallel Lines & Inequalities

Yea, most of the scores were kind of like a soccer ball to the face.  We can definitely do better.  Scores are here, you may want to keep one eye closed.
  

Tuesday's Teaser

 It's math, it's logic, it's Tuesday's teaser for the week.
Clear your schedule..and your desk. Make it happen before Friday. Ten bonus points doesn't do this one justice. I'm calling 15 extra credit points here, definitely worth it.
 
In a modern art gallery, an artist is set to display his many paintings. At constant intervals he hangs a different painting on the wall provided to him. When the clock hit 11 am, he hung painting number 30. When it struck 4 pm, he hung painting number 240 and when it struck 7:30 pm, he hung painting number 315.

Your mission is twofold: A) Can you determine, which painting number will be hung when the time is 9:20 pm ?  B) What time did he start hanging paintings?

Class Summary: February 4, 2014

Test day today, Inequalities and Parallel & Perpendicular Lines.  Before the test, however, we review a bit on these topics as well as systems of equations. Full steam ahead with systems beginning on Wednesday.

Feb. 4, 2014

New Algebra Students, Please Read

If you’re new to the Algebra I class, this document’s for you.

The first document you may want to read ( I recommend it), is the Syllabus. Since 20% of your grade involves on-line practice, you’ll need to get a gmail account. Your username should make it clear whose account it is. If you’re already using “Whoseyourdaddy22” or something, let me know that it’s your account so you get credit for any work that you do. 

After getting your gmail account, you will then register at the Khan Academy.  This is the 20%  of your grade mentioned earlier.  It is difficult to pass the class without your work at the Academy.  For complete instructions on signing up and how to navigate the site, check this document.

The list of required topics by week will be posted on this site with a link to the document you can download.  If you are absent, the day's activities are posted here as well, so you can always be up to date.

Finally, on the right side of this page, there are links to both the textbook and the workbooks used throughout the year.  You can download both and use them when you need to. If you are not sure of something, please ask me in class, or email me at: v6math@gmail.com

Khan Academy Topics for Week of Feb. 3-9

This week's topics should come as no great surprise since this is exactly what we are working on in class.  As always, try to get to the topics early, so you can bring any trouble you may be having to class.  


* Graphing  Systems of Equations

* Systems of Equations with Elimination

* Systems of Equations with Substitution

Class Summary: February 3, 2014

Given the fact that we have a test on Tuesday, our focus today is reviewing parallel/perpendicular lines and inequalities in two variables. We will continue with systems of equations a bit before the test Tuesday, and then full-speed beginning on Wednesday.  Our class work for the day, a mixture of problems given as a test review is here.

Feb. 3, 2014

Surrounded by Smart People

An update on last Tuesday's Triple Teaser: Many of you submitted and correctly identified the German as the owner of the fish. I was actually surprised with the number of correct answers, because as I told some of you, this teaser was created by the guy staring at you below. He thought only 2% of the world's population could solve this riddle, so very well done and you all earned your three scoops of bonus points.

Finally, I think the quote here is not only true, but as students, one you should keep in mind always. The quote, by the way, describes algebra perfectly.

Class Summary: January 31, 2014

Last day of the semester. A few warm up questions and the rest of the period to complete the class work given the day before. The slideshow does, however, contain topics for the next 2-3 class periods.

January 31, 2014  

Class Summary: January 30, 2014

Due to my absence on the 29th, the topics covered in the slideshow took pace on the 30th.  We began the unit on solving systems of equations.  The slideshow has a complete explanation and many examples to practice solving systems by graphing and by elimination.  Our class work is here.

January 29, 2014