Happy Halloween!

Thank you to all students who have been working so hard on algebra assignments and tests this fall. Please know how much I appreciate (and notice) your dedication to doing your best every day! As a way of saying thanks, I designed today's lesson just for you.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the Skittles statistics activity. Enjoy the extra hour of weekend -- and have a fun time tonight!

Concept Test 5 Completed Today

Students corrected last night's homework and reviewed troublesome problems. Then students spent the period completing their concept test for unit 5.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the worksheet you received.

More on Word Problems and Statistics

We decided that the 5th concept test will be given on Thursday rather than Friday, which will give students ample time to complete the test. To that end, we spent the afternoon reviewing for it. The test will stress many of the same things that were found on the practice test. Students would be wise to look over the practice test tonight to ensure they are well-prepared for Thursday's test.

After learning more than enough about Jacob's "favorite words", students started on another story problem worksheet, which will be due on Thursday.

Tonight's Homework: Complete both sides of the orange worksheet. Then go to Lesson 6.7, and choose one of these problems to do: 20, 21 or 22. To finish your book homework, do problems 30 and 39, and look over the 5th Concept practice test.

P.S. Get well, Nick--we received our new computers today!!!!

Height of Class Statistics

We reviewed last night's practice test, and talked about technicalities to pay attention to when translating English into mathematical symbols. We then set up tonight's story problems.

We gathered data about the height of all class members present today. Part of tonight's homework is to analyze this data by finding the mean, median, mode and range of the data, create a stem and leaf plot and a box and whisker plot of the data.

Most students renewed their pledges to be drug free, and received red ribbons and red wrist bands.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the M and M data worksheets and graphs, the salmon colored worksheet and the statistics for class height.

Tasty Math Today!

To help us understand what box and whisker plots look like, we collected a bunch of data from little brown packages of colorful round morsels of sweetness (a.k.a. candy!). Students recorded the data, and then we learned how to transform the data into box and whisker plots. Unfortunately, all of the students decided to destroy (eat) the data, so making up this assignment might be difficult.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the orange practice worksheet, and try to complete at least part of the Color Samples worksheets.

Stem and Leaf Plots

We reviewed each of the three problems (tan, blue and yellow sheets) today, and then used our concept 4 test results to create a stem and leaf plot. Once the stem and leaf plot was drawn, students could determine measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode and range). We looked at how the stem and leaf plot could be used to efficiently determine the mean of a set of numbers.

When making stem and leaf plots, be sure to include a title and a key.

Tonight's Homework: Lesson 6.6 ( 12 - 24, even, 33 and 39 ). Enjoy the three-day weekend!

Field Trip Decimates Class

About a third of the class was on a field trip today, so the rest of us used the class period to either take concept tests or work on our homework. All students on the field trip were given tonight's homework on Tuesday, so they wouldn't have extra work to complete over the weekend.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the blue and yellow problem solving sheets. Be sure to label and check your work.

Concept 4 Test and Problems to Solve

Students took the fourth concept test (over inequalities and absolute value) in class today. Most had 25 minutes to begin working on homework problem solving worksheets. The brown one is due tomorrow, and the other two will be due by Thursday. The expectation is that these sheets are to be done without help.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the brown worksheet, and be sure to verify or check your work!

Reviewing for the 4th Concept Test

We reviewed for the 4th concept test, which will be given in class on Tuesday. In addition, we looked at how inequalities and problems with absolute values might be used in real life situations.

Tonight's Homework: Page 387 ( 1 - 23, odd, and 34 - 36 )

Getting Ready for Concept 4 Test

After correcting the book homework (which most found to be easy) we corrected the salmon practice test using a game format. Students kept their practice tests so they can begin preparing for the Concept 4 test, which will be given in class on Tuesday, October 21st.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the new salmon-colored worksheet (both sides, of course).

P.S. Karly, I gave your worksheet to your cousin. Hopefully, you get it prior to Monday so you can complete it.

Solving Inequalities with Absolute Value Symbols in Them

Today's lesson is a continuation of yesterday's lesson, where students end up writing 2 different inequalities for each of the assigned problems. The key to success on these types of problems is to remember to switch the nature of the inequality when setting the problem up for the negative solution. Again, reading the examples given in the second half of the lesson may prove to be useful.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the orange practice test (both sides) and Lesson 6.4 ( 41 - 59 odd with check steps). When doing the check steps, making a wise number choice to check will reduce the amount of checking you actually have to do.

Solving Absolute-Value Equations, Day 1

We reviewed the "That's Sum Face" worksheet and learned how the antipodal differences could be used to evaluate unique solutions.

The bulk of the class period was spent learning how to solve equations that involve absolute values. Unlike regular linear equations, these equations usually end up having 2 solutions. Be sure to look over the first half of the lesson (read the lesson) to ensure you understand the process for solving and checking these types of problems.

Tonight's Homework: Lesson 6.4 ( 19 - 39, with check steps for 19 - 29 odd). Remember, if you choose to show no work, you will receive no credit for your homework.

Special Rules for Working with Inequalities

Students cleaned out notebooks during the first 10 minutes of class. Notes from chapters 3, 4 and 6 were saved, as were problem solving worksheets, and course description papers.

We investigated situations requiring special attention when working with inequalities. It's important to remember to switch the nature of the inequality sign if you multiply or divide by a negative number. This is not required when multiplying or dividing by a positive number.

Tonight's Homework: Lesson 6.2 ( 17 - 35, last column only) and Lesson 6.3 ( 27 - 35, odd).

Solving Compound Inequalities

Today found us reviewing how to evaluate expressions that include absolute value and inequalities. Then we looked at compound inequalities, and likened them to complex sentences.

The key to solving compound inequalities is to try to break the problem into two distinct parts and then solve each part individually. Once these solutions are found, then you can combine the answers on one number line, should that be part of the problem.

Tonight's Homework: Lesson 6.3 ( 12 - 34 ). Remember, if you haven't passed the first three concept tests, you need to make arrangements to come in and take them in the next 10 days. Midterm grades are going to be determined on October 24th.

Concept Test #3 Options

We reviewed how to solve the votes problem that students completed for homework. After turning that problem in, students had a choice for what they could do during class. Students who thought they were ready to take the concept test over fractions and decimals did so. Those who were uncertain about their preparedness were allowed to take the practice test over the same material.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the "That's Sum Face" worksheet.

Reviewing Order of Operations and Such

Students received their scores on Concept Test #2 this afternoon. Many more students passed the test on the first try, with 4 students earning perfect scores! I am encouraged by the overall results of the test.

We reviewed order of operations today, and then played a little game.

Tonight's Homework: Be sure you know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions and decimals, as they will be on the concept three test tomorrow. In addition, complete the yellow worksheet. Be sure to verify (or check) your work.

Reviewing Fraction Operations

Students took the second concept test during class today. Most were able to finish it and still have about 15 minutes to get started on tonight's homework.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the worksheet, and then do the odd problems on page 783, beginning with problem 33.

Solving Decimal Equations

Students completed a worksheet that helped them review the distributive property. We then talked about how to prepare for tomorrow's concept test. Students should look at the problems on the practice test we took last week, as well as the sections from chapters 2 and 3 in the book that we've covered.

Our lesson today has us solving more multi-step equations, with an emphasis of clearing the decimals from the equation. To do this, students must remember to multiply both sides of the equation by the same multiple of 10. Because students will be rounding some of their answers in tonight's homework, check steps will not be required.

Tonight's Homework: Lesson 3.6 ( 20 - 38, FCO) and page 159 ( 55 - 64 ). Be sure to study for the concept test tomorrow!

Solving Equations with Variables on Both Sides

When you see an equation with the same variable on both sides of the equal side, you need to try and collect all of the terms with the variable in it on one side of the equal sign, and the numbers on the opposite side of the equal sign. My suggestion is to try and collect the variable on the side of the equal sign that keeps it positive, whenever possible.

Tonight's Homework: Lesson 3.4 ( 18 - 40, FCO with check steps for all even problems, and 50 - 52 ). Enjoy the long weekend!

Solving Multi-Step Equations

Solving two and three step equations requires students to be attentive to working in a systematic way to isolate the variable on one side of the equation. Students should strive to combine like terms, and then use the reverse order of operations to isolate the variable. Showing a check step is the last step of the process, and if the check step renders a true statement, students should know they've correctly solved the equation.

Tonight's Homework: Lesson 3.3 ( 16 - 39, FCO with check steps, and 50 - 53 )