Square Roots and Radicals

It's been awhile since I have posted on this blog.  Well, I'm back and ready to get on with the business of learning and talking about mathematics,  The purpose of this blog is to provide a forum for communication between my students, their teacher, and their classmates.  Please feel free to ask questions and leave comments as you work to make sense of the mathematical concepts we are studying in class.

 My eighth grade students will be taking their first post test on Thursday.  The standards on the post test deal with probability and exponents.  I have found the following radicals practice activity that may help you prepare for the post test.  We are currently exploring the Pythagorean Theorem.  Here is a Pythagorean Theorem activity for you to try if you are feeling confident with this concept.  I encourage all of my eighth grade students to try these activities and leave a comment to let me (and your classmates) know how you did.

Solving Systems of Equations

We have begun a study of systems of equations and inequalities.  Here is an activity on solving systems of equations by elimination and/or substitution.  Try this activity and leave a comment telling me how well you did.

Haven't heard much from some of you lately.  I love comments.

Graphing Equations Using Slope and Y-Intercept

We have spent a great deal of time discussing slope and y-intercept.  In coming days, we will be discussing how these can be applied in real life.  In the meantime, I have found an activity to provide practice in using slope and y-intercept to graph a line.  Try this activity and let me know what you think.  I would also welcome comments about what you have learned during our discussions of slope so far.

Moving Straight Ahead

I hope everyone has enjoyed the unexpected vacation and is ready to come back to school, rollup their sleeves, and get to work.  Our next unit is called Slippery Slope.  In our discussion for this unit we will cover how to find the slope and y-intercept of linear functions.  I have found this neat game on slope and y-intercept.  I can get the answers correct but my shooting percentage is TERRIBLE.  I scored only 3 baskets even though I got all 10 problems correct.  After we have finished our discussion of slope and y-intercept, I would like for you to try this game and leave a comment to let me know how many you got correct and your scoring percentage.

Functions and Relations

We have discussed in class how to tell if a relation is a function.  We have used one-to-one mapping as well as ordered pairs to show relations. (REmember one person does not usually live in two houses, but more than one person can live in the same house.)  When you have a visual representation of a function, you can use the "vertical-line test".  Here is a practice activity on relations and functions.  Try it and leave me a comment to let me know what you think.

Linear Relationships

We are currently working with linear relationships represented by arithmetic sequences.  We have generated closed and recursive formulas for sequences as well as using these formulas to generate sequences.  Here is a neat game to provide practice in identifying linear relationships.  Play the game and leave a comment letting me know what you think.

Solving Inequalities

Basic inequalities are solved in the same manner as equations.  Isolate the variable on the left.  The inequality sign will replace the equal sign.  Remember that when multiplying or dividing both sides by a negative number, the inequality sign is reversed.  When graphing the solution set on a number line - an open circle means that the number at that point is not included in the solution set.  A closed circle means that the number at that point is included in the solution set.  This is represented by the ≤   or    ≥  signs.   The > and < represent open circles.  Here is a Brainpop video about graphing inequalities.  Take a graded quiz after viewing the video.  Print out your results and turn them in to me for extra credit.  Again you may need to sign up for a free trial.

Two-Step Equations

Today we began working with equations requiring more than one step to find the solution.  Remember that the object in working toward the solution is to isolate the variable on one side and have it equal some real number on the other side of the the equal sign.  Here is a movie about two-step equations.  You may have to sign up for a free trial in order to view the video.  Your free trial will last only 5 days but during that time you can watch videos and complete activities related to topics in math.  Try a couple of the activities related to topics we have already covered and let me know if you think BrainPop is something you would enjoy being able to use at school.

Love Those Comments - Solving Equations

I am really loving all of the comments.  I'm glad that some of you are finding the practice activities fun and helpful.  I think everyone did really well today in class with  evaluating expressions.  Our next topic will be solving equations in one-variable.  Try this Shooting Hoops Game and leave me a comment to let me know how you did.  I can solve the problems, but unfortunately, I don't seem to be a very good shot.  See if you can get a friend or family member to join you for a two-player game.

Evaluating Expressions

A variable is a symbol or letter used to represent a number.  In the unit Equal or Not, we are evaluating expressions in one variable.  Try this activity Evaluating an Expression with 1 variable.  Play the COUNTDOWN game 3 times and leave a comment letting me know your best score.   So far, my best score is 14.  Can you beat that?!

Onward to Solving Equations

Today you completed your post-test on Probability and Exponents.  I would like to know how everyone feels as to the difficulty level of the post-test.  (Do you feel that you did well or did you find it difficult to complete?) 
Next we will explore equations and expressions.  Once you feel confident in your ability to translate written expressions into algebraic equations, I would like for you to trying this activity on Translating and Solving Equations.  Once you have completed the practice, leave me a comment telling me what you have learned about equations and expressions.

Post Test and Comments

Everyone seems to have an understanding of the Pythagorean Theorem.  If you have not tried the practice activity in my previous post, then please do so as a quick review before the post test.  Study guides for the post test will be distributed on Monday.  The post test will be administered on Wednesday, November 3, 2010.  I am asking all of my students to sign up as a follower of McMichael's 8th Grade Math and leave a comment.  Everyone who successfully completes this task will receive 5 extra credit points on their post test.  To post a comment, click on the comments button and choose to comment as Anonymous.  Type your comment in the box and sign your name at the end.  Your comment will be posted once it has been approved.

Radicals and Roots

We have spent the past two weeks working on adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing radical expressions.  Here is a neat practice activity for Radical Expressions to help you prepare for your post test.  Try the practice and let me ( and your fellow classmates) know what you think.  Better yet, post your score from the website!  WE have just started our study of the Pythagorean Theorem.  If you are feeling pretty confident that you understand the Pythagorean Theorem, try this Practice Activity for the Pythagorean Theorem.  Again, let me (and your fellow classmates) know what you think.

WELCOME!

Welcome to McMichael's 8th Grade Math.  This is your opportunity to communicate with your teacher and your classmates about the concepts we are discussing in math class.  Be sure to keep your blog posts clean and to the point. I think this will be a "fun" way for us to learn more about math together. Remember that your on-line textbook is a useful tool for tutorial videos, practice quizzes, and extra practice.

Your first assignment is to sign up as a follower and post a comment about something new that you have learned during our study of exponents and square roots.  Be sure to be specific and use complete sentences in your responses.