West Contra Costa Unified School District
Interest and the Number e
Mary, Mary, quite continuously, how does your money grow? Uses examples to examine the difference between simple interest and compound interest, and to take a look at different rates of compounding. Learners explore what would...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Indefinite Integrals
The inverse of matter is anti-matter, so the inverse of a derivative is an antiderivative. The lesson introduces antiderivatives and indefinite integrals to the class along with the notation for integrals. Groups work together to find...
EngageNY
The Motion of the Moon, Sun, and Stars—Motivating Mathematics
What does math have to do with the behavior of the earth and sun? Learn how the movement of celestial bodies has influenced the development of trigonometry. Scholars connects the details in mathematics to their...
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Factoring Extended to the Complex Realm
A solution will work one way or another: find solutions, or use solutions to find the function. Learners use polynomial identities to factor polynomials with complex solutions. They then use solutions and the Zero Product Property to...
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Linear Systems in Three Variables
Put all that algebra learning to use! Using algebraic strategies, learners solve three-variable systems. They then use the three-variable systems to write a quadratic equation given three points on the parabola.
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Solving Radical Equations
Learners solve complex radical equations. Solutions vary from one, two, and none, allowing pupils to gain experience solving a variety of problems.
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A Focus on Square Roots
Pupils learn to solve square root equations and rationalize denominators. Problems include those with extraneous solutions.
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Solving Rational Equations
What do fractions and rational expressions have in common? Everything! Learners use common denominators to solve rational equations. Problems advance from simple to more complex, allowing pupils to fully understand the material before...
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Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
There's a fine line between a numerator and a denominator! Learners find common denominators in order to add and subtract rational expressions. Examples include addition, subtraction, and complex fractions.
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Overcoming a Second Obstacle in Factoring—What If There Is a Remainder?
Looking for an alternative approach to long division? Show your classes how to use factoring in place of long division. Increase their fluency with factoring at the same time!
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Mastering Factoring
Math class is full of drama—there are so many problems to work out! Pupils work out factoring problems. They use quadratic methods of factoring higher degree polynomials, in addition to factoring the sum and difference of two...
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Overcoming Obstacles in Factoring
What do you do when factoring doesn't work? Learners complete the square when faced with quadratic expression that don't factor traditionally. They then use factoring by grouping to solve polynomial equations.
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The Power of Algebra—Finding Pythagorean Triples
The Pythagorean Theorem makes an appearance yet again in this lesson on polynomial identities. Learners prove a method for finding Pythagorean triples by applying the difference of squares identity.
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The Power of Algebra—Finding Primes
Banks are responsible for keeping our financial information safe. Mathematics is what allows them to do just that! Pupils learn the math behind the cryptography that banks rely on. Using polynomial identities, learners reproduce the...
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Dividing by (x – a) and (x + a)
Patterns in math emerge from seemingly random places. Learners explore the patterns for factoring the sum and differences of perfect roots. Analyzing these patterns helps young mathematicians develop the polynomial identities.
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Putting It All Together
Shuffle 'em up and deal! Learners practice operations with polynomials using cards they pass around the room. The activity works with pairs or individuals, so it offers great flexibility. This is the fifth installment in a series of 42...
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The Division of Polynomials
Build a true understanding of division of polynomials. Learners use their knowledge of multiplying polynomials to create an algorithm to divide polynomials. The area model of multiplication becomes the reverse tabular method of division.
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The Multiplication of Polynomials
If you can multiply multi-digit integers, you can multiply polynomials. Learners use an area model to compare multiplying numbers to multiplying polynomials. They progress to using the distributive property.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Solving Linear Equations in Two Variables
Solving problems about pen and paper with systems of equations ... or is it the other way around? In the lesson, learners first interpret expressions and use equations in two variables to solve problems about notebooks and pens. They...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Suzi's Company
Don't use an average resource ... use this one. As a middle school assessment task, learners first determine mean, median, and mode of salaries given in a frequency table. They then investigate how a change in one value changes the...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Photographs
Picture your pupils using this assessment task. Class members must first determine the measurements of smaller copies of photographs placed next to the original. They then determine the dimensions of the entire sheet of photographs.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Memory Game
Middle schoolers must determine probabilities for a memory game in which winning requires matching two of the same cards. They then must determine what happens when more cards are added to the pile.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Meal Out
Middle schoolers identify an equation in one variable that models a restaurant order. They then solve the equation to determine the number of people who had each type of meal.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Card Game
Middle schoolers use 10 cards to determine whether the probability that the next card chosen is higher or lower than the previous.