Happy Halloween!

During a shortened class period, students answered a variety of sample test problems in class to give them an idea of how ready they are for the test that will be taken in class on November 1st. They were also shown some links to material on the Brightstorm.com web site that might be useful for reviewing for the test.
Tonight's Homework: Other than being ready for tomorrow's test, none. Be safe tonight, and have fun!

Finally, It's Friday!

Students answered a variety of sample test problems in class to give them an idea of how ready they are for the test that will be taken in class on November 1st. Most did an excellent job. No papers were turned in today, so students can use them to study for the test over the weekend.
Tonight's Homework: Complete the yellow absolute value worksheet (both sides).

Practicing with Absolute Value, Inequalities, and Graphing

Students reviewed how to use cross-products to solve equations, and then reviewed the key points of how to solve equations that include inequalities or absolute value. We will be taking the unit test over this material on Tuesday, November 1st. Students were encouraged to get ready for it now, and use resource, lunch, or after school time to get last minute questions answered.
Tonight's Homework: Do both sides of the pink absolute value worksheet and the salmon inequality worksheet. These should both be excellent review sheets to help you prepare for next Tuesday's test.

Practicing with Absolute Value and Proportions

We practiced more equation solving and started using check steps to ensure the answers we came up with are correct.
Tonight's Homework: Home Book pages 68 (66 - 73) and 81 (13 - 20 and 27 - 30).

Equations with Absolute Value

As a warm-up, we looked at equations that involve using proportions. Students were introduced to the idea of using cross products to help them solve equations involving proportions. This was an extension of what we've been doing, and fits in nicely with the absolute value equations that we looked at later in the class.

We explored more complex equations involving absolute value problems. Students were very quick to solve the simpler equations, and understood that most of these types of equations dictate two solutions. We practiced using the order of operations in the reverse order to isolate the absolute value term on one side of the equation. We discussed situations when there would be no solutions to a problem. (Remember, you can't get a solution to a problem like | a + 5 | = -7, because the absolute value of a number won't be negative.

Tonight's Homework: CME, pages 208-209 (10 - 14) and Home Book, page 88 (35 - 38).

Absolute Value and Ice Cream

Students enjoyed an ice cream party, thanks to Eva being selected during the recent M & M drawing. Afterwards, we continued our investigation on how absolute value works. In particular, we learned about how to answer questions where the absolute value of an expression ends up being equal to a negative number (like in |m-4| = -2). Since the distance from zero is never negative, the answer to problems like these would be "no solution".

Tonight's Homework: CME pages 207 (1-4) and 209 (15 and 16).

Midterm Grading Day Shortens Classes

Today's class was shortened because of the early release day, and many students ended up missing most of the class because of picture retakes. We spent the period going over homework problems, returning graded papers, and cleaning out our math sections of our binders.
Tonight's Homework: Do all problems on page 129 of the Home Book.

Concept Test 3 Given in Class Today

Students took the test over decimal and fraction computation and equation solving in class today. This was the third concept test of at least 6 that will be given during the first trimester. Students who finished early were able to get started on an inequality worksheet, which is part of tonight's homework.

Tonight's Homework: Do both sides of the tan inequality worksheet. In the Home Book, do page 107-8 (89 - 97).

More on Inequalities

We continued our study of inequalities and talked about how multiplying or dividing an inequality by a negative number requires an extra step: flipping the direction of the inequality sign. Students were reminded about what would be on tomorrow's test.
Tonight's Homework: Home Book pages 105-106 (1 - 35, FCO and 45 - 57, FCO). Remember to prepare for tomorrow's concept test over decimal and fraction computation, equation solving and showing check steps.

Concept Test 1 Given in Class Today

Students took Concept Test 1 today in class. Those who finished early were encouraged to double check their work and consider doing the extra credit.

Tonight's Homework: Home Book: Read pages 97 - 99, and then do pages 98-99 (1-14, FCO and 15 - 31, odd).

Mr. Tromba Visits Our Class Today

We began our study of inequalities today with a brief review. It didn't take long to determine that inequalities are brand new to the majority of the class, so we started at the basic number line and worked forward with how to read and write inequalities. Students quickly caught on, and we began to tackle more complex inequality statements. Mr. Tromba came to talk with students for the last ten minutes of class to gather data about their perceptions about the huge class they are in.

Tonight's Homework: Because of Mr. Tromba's visit today, our lesson was cut short and no homework was assigned. The test over combining like terms and orders of operations will be given in class on tomorrow. Be sure to study your notes and come prepared to do your best!

Dividing Mixed Numbers

We looked at strategies for dividing fractions one more time. Students were given a list of topics to expect on their upcoming concept tests, and urged to begin preparing for the exams now.

Tonight's Homework: Begin studying for your tests that will be given on Thursday (on order of operations, combining like terms and equation solving) and next Tuesday (on decimal and fraction computation, solving equations with decimals and fractions, and check steps). There is no physical assignment for you to turn in on Wednesday.

Multiplying and Dividing Fractions--Revisiting Quickly

Students were reminded of the steps involved in multiplying and dividing fractions. Students practiced how to compute by completing up to 32 problems of varying difficulty. Most remembered the steps and did quite well after a quick review. For those who need a more in-depth review, try visiting the Developmental Math section of the Khan Academy website (more than 15 quick examples listed for how to multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers) or this link to the Brightstorm site: http://www.brightstorm.com/map/537/

Tonight's Homework: Read pages 91-93 in the home book, and then do problems 1-7, odd and 19 - 31, odd on pages 93 and 94. No check steps required tonight!

What's a Formal Check Step?

Today we learned how to show a formal check step for problems related to equation solving. The benefits of doing a check step as part of the equation solving work include finding calculation errors and verifying that the solution you found actually works. Of course, when taking a test, knowing that the answer is correct because the check step works is an added benefit.

The primary steps to showing a check step include:
a. State the original problem
b. Show the substitution of the solution into the problem
c. Use the order of operations to solve the problem
d. Work through the problem until both sides of the equation are equal

We practiced using check steps on a variety of problems, ranging from rather simple (one and two step problems with integers) to fairly complex (including either fractions or decimals).

Tonight's Homework: Home Book page 86 ( 12 - 36, FCO ) FCO stands for First Column Only. Show a check step for each problem.

MPAC Shortens Classes Today

Students reviewed how to clear fractions from an equation by multiplying all terms on both sides of the equal sign by a common multiple of the denominators. The same idea can be used to clear fractions from an existing equation.

The winners of the Group Jeopardy game were announced.

Tonight's Homework: None, due to class being shortened. Enjoy the night off!

Odds and Ends for the Week

Because so many students will be missing a part of class on Tuesday, we took time to go over how things will work for each of the field trip groups. Group 1 will miss the first 10 to 15 minutes of algebra. Group 2 will miss algebra completely. Group 3 will leave algebra about 20 minutes early. Regardless of how much class is attended, all students are responsible for completing the homework.

We took some time to revisit order of operations and the distributive property. These two skills are critical skills to master, and doing so will make future topics in algebra much easier to comprehend.

Tonight's Homework: CME p.6 (11) and Home book, p. 47 ( 41 - 57, odd)

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