Have a Terrific Vacation!

Today, we did several things in class. First, we attended the holiday music assembly, featuring our band, orchestra and choir students. Next, we corrected homework and reviewed what the homework for January 4th is. Next, we took a trip to the computer lab and familiarized ourselves with the on-line state assessment test web site, and practiced answering a few questions on-line. Students were very successful in completing this task. Lastly, we sang a few holiday songs prior to being dismissed for a well-deserved holikday break.

Homework due on January 4th is to complete the odd numbered problems on pages 785 and 786. These problems are related to using decimals, fractions and percents, and should be review for everyone.

Students may get a jump start on the essay about contributions made by any women to the areas of math, science or engineering. This extra credit essay is not due until January 13th, and students have more particulars about this assignment on a gray sheet of paper that was distributed to them on Dec. 12th.

Have a restful and relaxing holiday. For those of you who travel, do so safely. I look forward to seeing you in January!

Only One More Day Until Vacation!

Today, we took a quiz over the material we have learned about linear equations and how to graph them.

Tonight's homework: Page 291 (all problems, top and bottom sections)

Quiz Over Linear Equations on Wednesday

Today, we reviewed how to determine the equation of a line when given the coordinates of two points located on the line. This is a review of a lesson we used the handheld computer on earlier in the month.

Tonight's homework: Lesson 5.3 (19 - 43 all)

The quiz tomorrow will be over the material we have covered in chapters 4 and 5. To prepare for it, be sure to look over the worksheets we completed last week. In addition, you should know how to calculate the slope of a line, determine the y-intercept, and write an equation in slope-intercept form. Good luck!

Those of you wishing to earn extra credit are encouraged to complete the essay about a woman who made a significant contribution to mathematics, science or engineering. I would prefer you choose a woman who made a contribution to math, but the choice is ultimately yours. This essay is due to me by Friday, January 13th.

Problem Solving Work Sample Done in Class Today

After reviewing the homework problems, we completed a problem solving work sample in class dealing with grids and homework points.

Tonight's homework: Read Lesson 5.2, and then complete problems 13 through 35 odd.

Using the Slope-Intercept Form of a Linear Equation

In lesson 5.1, we revisit the concepts of slope (m) and the y-intercept (b) and use them to create equations for lines that pass through given slopes. Today's problems involve several scenarios:

a. If given m and b, students, will write an equation for a line and then graph it. Example: If m=2 and b=-3, then the equation of the line would be y=2x -3.

b. If given m and a point on the line, students will use the equation y = mx + b to determine the y-intercept. This will allow the student to write the equation of the line and then graph it.

c. If given 2 points on the same line, students will determine the slope, and then the y-intercept. Once these two things are determined, students will use the information to write the equation of the line and graph it.

Tonight's homework: Read Lesson 5.1 and then complete this assignment: 5.1(13-31, odd)

More on Slope-Intercept Form and Graphing Linear Equations

After correcting the homework, we reviewed where we were with the linear graphing unit. Students completed a pseudo-quiz in class found on page 247, problems 1-6 and 13-19. These papers were collected at the end of the period.

Tonight's homework (due on Monday, 12/12) is to complete the following assignment:

Lesson 4.6 (56, 60, 62. 69, 70, 74-77, and 78-89)

Graphing Quickly Using the Slope and the Y-Intercept

If you are given the equation for a line in the slope-intercept form, graphing it is a snap. The number before the x term is the slope of the line, and the number added to or subtracted from the x term is the y value of the y-intercept. To graph the line, locate the y-intercept, and then move up or down according to what the slope of the line needs to be to find another point on the line. The only kicker is you must have the equation in the slope-intercept format for this "trick" to work.

After reading lesson 4.6, please do the odd problems, from 13 through 55.

Linear Equation Review

Today, we spent the bulk of the period using the handheld computers to help us see relationships between function equations for lines and the way they appear on the coodinate grid. We also used the spreadsheet to create a formula for finding the slope of a line when given two points.

Tonight's homework: Page 800, problems 1-30 and 56-69.

Finding the Slope, part 2

We continue our investigation of slope today by using the slope formula (m = (y2 - y1)/ (x2 - x1) to determine the coordinate of a point on a line when given one point on the line and the slope of the line.

After reviewing the process, we took the quiz over spreadsheet usage.

Tonight's homework: Page 224 (1 - 16, all) and Lesson 4.4 (39 - 53 odd)