Linear Inequalities

We learned how to graph linear inequalities by hand and using our graphing calculator. Here is a gizmo to help you test yourself on whether or not you understand this concept. There is a second gizmo that you may like better.

I have a blogging prompt for you also. I would like you to answer this prompt by commenting here at the blog.

Blogging Prompt:
We have been using the mini-white boards for a couple of weeks now. Do you like using them? Are they helping you to learn? What ways to you think we could be using them better or differently?

Have a great weekend!!!!

Solving Systems of Equations Using Elimination and Substitution

We have learned two algebraic methods of solving systems of equations. The yesterday we learned the method of elimination or addition and subtraction. Today we learned the method of substitution. For a detailed explanation of each of these methods you can visit this site.

Then if you want more practice on elimination go to the sparknotes site. There is also more practice for substitution at sparknotes.

Have a great weekend and don't forget to watch Numb3ers.

Solving Systems of Equations Graphically

So today we started working in partners. How did you like your partner? How do you like using the whiteboards? Let me know if there are things I could improve on.

I have links to a couple of sites that have questions and answers related to solving systems of equations graphically.

The first site is Sparknotes. It is a site I will be using for this entire unit.

The second site is a website set up to practice for the Regents exam. It is an exam something like our diploma exam.

Preparing for Tuesday's Exam

Yes, that is right!!!! We have a unit exam this Tuesday on Ch.4 on Equations and Inequalities. Do not forget to check back at the links I have provided over the past 2 weeks. Some of the sites I have suggested contain online quizzes to test your knowledge of the material in this unit.

If I get my act together I may even have an online quiz up by tomorrow that will help you study.

Polynomial Inequalities

The following link shows a couple more examples of how to solve a polynomial inequality. For some of your seeing some more examples might help.

This second link shows how to solve polynomial inequalities graphically as well as using test intervals.

Zeros of Polynomial Functions

We are learning about how to determine all of the real zeros of a polynomial function. You can take a quiz to see how you are doing in this area.

Go to topic 16 at the following site and there are 5 questions you can test yourself on related to determining the zeros of polynomial functions.

Remainder Theorem and Synthetic Division

Today we learned about Remainder Theorem, Factor Theorem and Synthetic Division.
Use these links to review what we discussed in class.

This Synthetic Division link also contains some quiz questions on synthetic division as well.

Remeber that understanding synthetic division will really help simplify your life in higher mathematics!!!!

Quadratic Formula

Today we discussed the quadratic formula. We looked at how it lets us determine the exact value of the x-intercepts of a quardatic function.

For a summary of what we learned check out this link.

There is also a really good explanation on how the quadratic formula was derived using completing the square. This link talks about the history behind the quadratic formula and who was the first mathematician to use the formula.

Trivia question

For those of you that watched Numb3ers last night you might have seen this.

If you take a single piece of paper and fold it in half you have 2 layers. If you fold it in half again you have 4 layers. This represents a geometric progression.

2^1 = 2 layers
2^2 = 4 layers.

If you could fold the paper in half 50 times, how high would it reach?

What is the world record for the number of times a piece of paper can be folded in half?

If you find the answers to these questions I think you might be surprised!!!!!

Spring Break Starts in 2 Hours!!!

Have a relaxing Spring Break!!! Come back revitalized and rejuvenated and ready to attack some serious math.

Watch the blog over the break. I will try to post some recreational items.

Preparing for Thursday's Exam

I know that some of you are having some trouble in this unit and would like some extra work to help prepare for your exam. Check out this website(topics 14, 18 and 19) for some online quizzes to help you review some of the topics we have studied.

Let me know if this helps by leaving a comment.

You can also go back to my post for Feb.11th. There are links to the GIZMO on polynomial graphs and a lesson on polynomials.

Composition of Functions

I thought I would post a blogging prompt to help you work on that blogging mark for your exam on Wednesday.

Tomorrow we will be studying composition of functions. Once you have seen the lesson I would like you to contribute links and other resources on the web related to composition of functions. The idea is to find things on the web that would help others understand composition of functions or learn about them if they did not understand the lesson that day.

Hope this helps you get that blogging mark!!!!

Blogging for Marks

We have an exam coming up this Wednesday. Just a reminder that you can obtain a mark on your next exam for contributing to this blog. Here is the criteria for obtaining that mark.

- You can make a comment or post to the site discussing something you learned in class.

- You can contribute a picture, link or comment related to something we studied in class.

You still have a few days to earn that mark!!!!

Pi Week Trivia Contest

Congratulations to all of you that participated in this contest. I received many responses and guesses to our questions. Just to recap our winners:

Day 1: Matt Laroque and Caitie Clapp
Day 2: Sandra Geelen
Day 3: Caitie Clapp

It was amazing to see how motivated some of you are when your reward is some food!!!!

New, Harder, Pi Trivia!!!

Which teacher's classroom number appears in the digits 151 - 200 of Pi??

I require you to tell me their classroom number AND their name.

Happy hunting!!!!

Pi question for today

For those of you that missed the question in class:

Find another famous mathematician, other than Einstein, that has their birthday on Mar. 14th??

Happy hunting!!!!

Remember their is an edible prize for the first person to correctly answer this question.

Pi Day!!!

Pi Saying
Originally uploaded by tkaminski.

So today is Pi day. That is because Pi = 3.14 and today is the third month(Mar.) and the 14th day. Cool hey!!!

Here are a couple of pictures from Pi Day last year. These were created by students in my classes.

I want you to post other pictures or comments realated to Pi!!! Start digging. They should not be hard to find.

Edible Pi

Edible Pi
Originally uploaded by tkaminski.

Equations and Graphs of Polynomial Functions

We talked about the multiplicity of the zeros in a polynomial graph today. This link summarizes what we discussed, and for some of you, may provide the AHA!!!! experience.

We then moved on to determining the equation of a polynomial. The above link also helps demonstrate how this works.

Look at the following GIZMO to help with determining the equation of a polynomial graph.

Don't forget to watch Numb3ers tonight!!!!!

Graphs of Polynomial Functions

Today we talked about how the equation of a polynomial defines its graph. We also talked about some generalizations for even and odd degree polynomial graphs.

This link on polynomial graphs summarizes our lesson today. Hopefully it will also assist some of you that are still having trouble remembering all of the properties.