Finishing Off the Year in Math

Students are currently working on their probability projects which are due on Monday May 5th. This project while not real difficult should be done carefully and very neat.

 Probability project

 On Thursday May 8th students will be taking the test covering probability. The test will cover the probability learned in the investigations up through Tuesday the 6th

On Thursday May 15th the students will start their final exam. It will be given over 3 days; Thursday the 15th , Friday the 16th, and finishing on Wednesday the 21st. Students will be taking it in sections and allowed to work at their own pace, except that all questions must be answered by the end of class on Wednesday the 21st. The topics that will be covered on the final are:

1. Solving multi-step equations
2. Solving multi-step equations withvariables on both sides
3. Solving quadratic equations
4. Applying the Pythagorean Theorem
5. Finding the length of a segment (on dot paper)
6. Exponential growth (tables, graphs, & equations)
7. Operations with exponents(multiplying, dividing, powers-powers, zero exponents)
8. Simplifying square roots
9. Linear equations from tables
10. Graphing linear equations
11. Writing linear equations given (slope & y-int, 2 pts, slope & pt)
12. Writing linear equations in standard form
13. Writing equations in slope-intercept form
14. Writing equations of lines parallel and or perpendicular to each other
15. Solving & graphing linear inequalities in one variable
16. Graphing linear inequalities in 2 variables
17. Solving Systems of equations (substitution method & linear combinations method)
18. Multiplying binomials to get trinomials (expanded form)
19. Functions of graphs and of domain and range
20. Finding the slope
21. Writing equations from tables
22. Graphing from Ax + By = C
23. Working with sets (Union, intersection and Venn diagrams)
24. Parallel lines and transversals

Students should be prepared for a rigorous test of their math knowledge. At a minimum the final will count 15% (about 2 tests grades) of the students second semester grade. For those students who excel in demonstrating a mastery of the course standards they will be rewarded by being allowed to take their final exam grade and as their grade for the second semester. This is the opportunity that many students have been looking for to bring up their grade to whatever level they desire. They just have to perform up to that level.

Below I have attached all of the study guides previously handed out this year and hi-lited the sections which are criticle for the final. As stated in class the study guides cover about 80% of what is on the final. The remainder of the material is covered in students notes and handouts. There are no multiple choice questions on the test and no trick questions. Students need to come prepared to demonstrate mastery of all objectives.

Study Guide # 1

Study Guide #2

Study Guide #3

Study Guide #4

I will be available for help sessions any morning from here until the end of school. I may have meetings or work on days other than Monday or Wednesday but if I am sitting at my desk and a student has a question, feel free to stop in.

Well that about takes care of math for the rest of the ride. If there are any questions you know where to find me.

As They Say in the Aviation Community Fight’s On!!!

Yes ladies and gentlemen we are only 25 days and a wake up away from the ultimate adventure in the sporting world. The day which every true athlete looks forward to. The day that gives the champions 365 days of bragging rights around the old water cooler. Yes! I am referring to Mustang Days. The fun, the excitement and the shear carnage that can’t be replicated by any other sport on the planet. A year spent honing their minds to a fine edge, and one day for them to let it all go and show their physical toughness out on the athletic battle field. Other teams may mock us because of our team color and certainly underestimate our abilities, but we are warriors and it isn’t always the fastest or the strongest that wins. Victory goes to the cunning and the  team that can harness all of it’s resources into one cohesive, formidable unit. We will be victorious, because the other teams all bleed red but we bleed PINK!!!

Math 8 Test

Just a reminder that the Shapes of Algebra  Unit Test is this Thursday  April 3rd during class. There are 14-16 questions with an opportunity for bonus points. Again it is strongly advised that students complete the study guide prior to Wednesday’s review session.

Decades Project

Students will be presenting their decades projects starting Tuesday April 1st. There will be 2 grades taken for this project. The first grade is the participation grade for their efforts with their group in class. The second grade is their project/presentation grade which will be scored according to the attached rubric.

2oth Century Decades Project

Finishing Up the Shapes of Algebra

The first thing I have enclosed is the calendar for the remainder of the unit. This should take us right up to Spring Break. Students who are absent should attempt to do the work assigned in the calendar and come in for extra hep if they need it.

Calendar for Investigations 3, 4 & 5

The Shapes of Algebra unit test is scheduled for Thursday April 3rd. Students should be able to work problems in the following areas:

1. Write equations of circles with the center at the origin and a given radius
2. Determine if a point falls inside, on , or outside the circumverence of a cirlce
3. Be able tor write linear equations parallel and perpendicular to other lines
4. Find the midpoint of a segment given the segment endpoints
5. Write equations of lines in slope-intercept form and standard form.
6. Solve systems of equations graphically
7. Solve systems of equations using substitution
8. Solve systems of equations using linear combinations
9. Solve and graph inequalities in on variable (number lines)
10. Solve and graph linear inequalities in 2 variables (coordinate plane)
11. Solve and graph a system of linear inequalities

To help the students prepare for the unit test I have attached the study guide which they my print off. The students should complete all of the practice problems on the study guide prior to April 2nd. Problems on the test will be very similar to those on the study guide so it is in the students best interest to complete all assigned problems. We will be reviewing the day prior to the test.

Study Guide for Shapes of Algebra Unit test

In addition to the study guide I have attached a series of powerpoint presentations that may assist the students in understanding several of the topics covered in this unit:

Solving Inequalities in 1 Variable

Graphing Linear Inequalities in 2 Variables

Solving Sytems of Equations (The Graphing Method)

Solving Systems Using Substitution

Solving Systems Using Linear Combinations

The powerpoints are designed to be self paced so students will need to either hit enter or use the mouse to advance the slides at their own pace.

The South Georgia Trip

The attachment has a check list of what to bring along with the itinerary. If you have any questions please ask either me or your bus chaperone.

Field Trip Itinerary and Checklist

Did You Ever Wonder…

1. How crop circles were made
2. If there was a way to get linear information from equations not written in                  y = mx + b
3. When one cost scenario is better than another

In this unit we will investigate these questions and more. For those seeking to find additional information froma  traditional textbook we will be covering the concepts of equations of circles, standard form of linear equations, linear systems of equations, and linear inequalities. The attached parent letter and mathematical background should help as well

Shapes of Algebra Parent letter

Mathematical Background for The Shapes of Algebra

Investigation # 1 Calendar

Crazy Week Ahead

Hey everybody. Just to let you know the math checkpoints tests are Tuesday and Wednesday during class. Students who missed the test on Friday can come in before school either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to make it up. Students who did not finish the test can also come in before school to finish the test. Students are still suffering from multiple types of careless errors:

1. Not correctly adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing. ie 48/16 = 4 ?
2. Combining terms that are not alike. ie  4x+ 10 - 2x- 6= 6x instead of 2x - 4
3. Distributing incorrectly ie. 2x(2x-10)= 4x^2 - 10 instead of 4x^2 - 20x
4. Not distributing a negative correctly ie (4x + 12)-(2x-10)= 2x +2 instead of 4x +12 -2x+10= 2x +22
5. Taking the above problem thinking it is the product of two factors and trying to multiply it instead of just combining the like terms.
6. Forgetting that to solve a quadratic we find it’s factors and set each factor equal to zero

We will discuss further in class.

Quizzes and Tests.

Let me shed some light on how quizzes and tests work in my class.  This has been the policy in my class since day one and regardless of the way it was done in previous grade levels this is how I do it in my classes.  The quizzes and test are put together either by me or other teachers and myself.  I then take the quiz or test and if I can comlpete it in under 10 minutes then I feel that the average student, who is prepared for the assessment, should comfortably finish  within the 45 miunutes I give them in class.  Part of what I am assessing is the students preparedness for the assessment. Unless students have an IEP that stipulates they get extra time on assessments, they need to be prepared to complete the assessment in the time alloted. If anyone has any questions about this please feel free to e-mail me at poolem@fultonschools.org

Say it With Symbols Study Guide

The test for the unit on Say it With Symbols is Friday February 15th. The attached study guide should be very helpful in preparing the students for the test. The study guide needs to be completed by the beginning of class Thursday as I will be looking at the study guide and taking a completion grade on it.  In addition to the study guide the students need to complete investigations 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 and the associated homework by Thursday as well.

Say it With Symbols Study Guide