Tuesday, November 27, 2007

How do you graph using the slope-intercept method?

Pretend that you are teaching someone to graph a line using the slope-intercept method (that is what we have been doing in class). What would you tell them? Try to explain the process so that anyone could do it.

Use the equation: x - 2y = 6

Monday, November 26, 2007

Equations to Graph

Here are the equations to graph.
1.Identify the slope and y-intercept point
2. Determine if it goes up or down, steep or flat
3. Graph
4. Check - does your graph match your predictions?

(2) y = 4x - 5
(4) y = -1/3 x + 2
(6) y = 5x + 5
(8) y = 3/4 x + 3
(20) y = -3x - 5
(22) y = -5/4 x + 3
(28) y = 2x + 3
(30) y = -x + 7
(32) y = 3/4 x - 3
(34) y = -1/3 x + 2
(36) y = -3/5 x - 3
(40) y = 3x - 4

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Is there any help out there?

What do you do if you are stuck on your homework assignment? Call a friend? Ask your parents? Wait until the next day and tell the teacher you have no clue?
There are many sites on the internet that can reinforce the concepts we are working on in class. For instance, I found http://www.purplemath.com/modules/slopgrph.htm
This site is for graphing using the slope-intercept method, something we will be learning to do.

What good math help sites have you found (or can you find)?

A word of caution, there are sites out there that will do the work for you. This may seem like a great idea, but what I have found is that students who use those sites usually do not do well on the test as they really have not practiced the concepts. Homework only counts 20% of your grade..... Tests are 80%. I would encourage you to work through your homework and only use the sites for "help" when you are stuck.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Is there only 1 answer to a problem?

We have been working on solving inequalities this unit. Do you think they have the same importance in the "real world" as equations? Is an exact answer more important than a range of answers? Can you think of a situation in which a business would need to use inequalities?