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Narayanswamy - Pre-Algebra (Section Fri 5)

Instructor
Mrs. Usha Narayanswamy
Department
Mathematics
Terms
2019-2020 School Year


Assignment Calendar

Course Description

 

Class Title:

Pre-Algebra

Code:

MMA120

Text:

Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra

Rating:

5

Prerequisite:

Placement Test

Grade:

7-8

Fees:

None

Max:

15

Can be repeated? No

Description: Students will complete all of Pre-Algebra through home assignments four days per week and one class period per week. Students will study numbers and operations, relationships among numbers, and number systems. They will understand the meanings of different operations and how they relate to each other and will learn to compute more fluently. Students will be introduced to algebra concepts and solving for unknowns. Basics of geometry will be introduced, including different types of polygons and polyhedrons, and students will learn to compute perimeter, area, and volume for various shapes. In addition, concepts of relations and functions, as well as statistics and probability, will be covered. Upon completion of this course, students will be prepared to study Algebra I. Students will receive a textbook, answer key and set of computer CDs with step-by-step solutions. The Teaching Textbooks program uses a review method to ensure retention. Parents will be expected to work with their student daily at home on classroom assignments.

Posts

Week 17 of Classes: Friday, Jan 17

Dear APEX Families,
 
Happy New Year!
 
It was so wonderful to see your students today after the winter break! I am excited for this new semester. I hope it is filled with a joy to learn and grit to work hard and persevere if the going ever gets difficult. APEX teachers are here to go on this educational journey with you and help you succeed!
 
Students in many of the academic math classes took home a sheet of class expectations, policies and reminders. There is nothing new on this sheet, just reminders of how the class works. Parents and students, please take the time to read and discuss the policies and expectations and sign and date the sheet. It is due next week.
 
Note: School store will be open next week for business! Please come and shop with us :-)
 
Here's the summary of classes today:
 
Geometry: Students learned theorems that help prove a quadrilateral to be a parallelogram. 
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Algebra 2: We continued our discussion of 2nd degree equations with 2 variables and primarily focused on parabolas. Students learned the characteristics of this shape and how to draw a parabola by determining it's vertex and two other points.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Pre-algebra: We reviewed integer operations in algebraic equations. Students learned how to process algebraic equations involving negative signs in front of x's. We started a new chapter on algebraic equations with more than one operations. We reviewed the order of operations (aka PEMDAS).
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Consumer Math: Students were introduced to a simple app named Padlet which allowed them to share their thoughts on a common electronic board. Students learned to write checks and practiced writing them.
 
Homework: None
 
Problem of the Week #13: It's a new year! Enjoy solving some 2020 puzzles this week from MathCounts!
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Week 16 of Classes: Friday, Dec 20

Hello APEX students and families,
 
We had a short day of classes today. Students had a good time enjoying the holiday party and end of semester performances. Pre-algebra students, you have a week's worth of homework during the break. Complete it soon and then you can relax and enjoy the rest of your break :-) 
 
Here's a summary of classes for today:
 
Pre-algebra: We continued our unit on integers. We learned to solve algebraic equations containing negative integers.
 
Homework : Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Consumer Math: We played jeopardy about taxes, discounts, interests, consumer math vocabulary!
 
Homework: None 
 
Enjoy the holidays and I will see you in January! Happy holidays to all and a Peaceful and Happy New Year!!
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Week 15 of Classes: Friday, Dec 13

Hello APEX families,
 
High schoolers, today was the last day of math classes this semester!  Wow - the time has flown by so fast, it's hard to believe that it has been about 5 months back when we started! Thank you for being such hard workers and not giving up even when some concepts seemed confusing. That is really the key to success in life!
 
If I don't see you around over the next few days, have a wonderful break! There is only a little homework in math. So do the work soon and then take a few weeks off from math but don't completely forget everything we have learned :-) I will see you in the new year!
 
Here's the summary of classes today:
 
Geometry: Students took their finals.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Algebra 2: Students took their finals.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Pre-algebra: We continued our unit on integers. Students shared a few real-world examples of when negative numbers are used. We learned rules to add, subtract, multiply and divide integers.
 
Homework and Final Exam: Assigned (see the homework post. Parents, please read the notes for you regarding the finals. Thanks!)
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Consumer Math: Students did a great job selling items at the school store during lunch. In class, we did the accounting for the same. Then, we reviewed simple interest and discussed compound interest and how the latter returns more over time than simple interest
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Solution to Puzzle Of The Week #12

Hello Apex Students,
 
The solution to the 12th puzzle is attached. Unfortunately no one got the solution right. We will try a few other statistical puzzles next year to get a chance to explore this area of math more.
 
Students who submitted a solution, good job trying! Please stop by for a treat :-)
 
Have a great weekend!
 
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Week 14 of Classes: Friday, Dec 6

Hello APEX families,
 
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and got some time to relax and rejuvenate!
 
We are now in the last leg of this semester and very busy completing content in several subject areas.
 
Please note that next week our school store will be open during lunch break. So, please remember to bring some money if you would like to shop with us.
 
Here's the summary of classes today:
 
Geometry: We proved the Unequal Sides, Unequal Angles Theorem and it's converse. We started a new chapter on quadrilaterals.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Algebra 2: We continued our unit on first degree equations with 2 variables. We went over several concepts students are familiar with from algebra 1, namely, graphing on the rectangular coordinate plane, x and y-intercepts, rate of change of variable (aka slope), linear equations and its slope-intercept form.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Pre-algebra: Student took the 12s multiplication facts quiz. We learned how to solve algebraic equations with multiplication and division using algebraic symbols we had learned last week for these operations. We also learned to set algebraic equations to solve word problems involving percents, distance, speed and time. Students should read lessons 56 and 57 (introduction to integers and how they are represented on number lines). They will be reviewed in class next week.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Consumer Math: Students learned about the concept of interest when saving money in a bank. We talked about simple interest and how to compute it using a formula. We also discussed a variety of topics related to saving/investing including getting a higher interest rate, the concept of higher the return, higher the risk, saving early and more and a bit about compound interest. The latter will be discussed in more depth next week.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Puzzle Of The Week: We are taking a break from solving puzzles as all secondary math classes are getting busy preparing for final exams next week. Look forward to solving more puzzles in the new year!
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Week 13 of Classes: Friday, Nov 22

Hello All,
 
Please note that there are no classes next week. Enjoy your Thanksgiving break!
 
Parents, please check Infinite Campus. All pending work and test corrections should be submitted the week students return (Dec 2-6). No late work will be accepted past that.
 
Here's the summary of classes today:
 
Geometry: We continued our unit on inequalities and learned two new interesting facts - a postulate related to Triangle inequality and a theorem related to exterior angle inequality.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Algebra 2: We continued our discussion of  higher degree equations. We reviewed polynomial division and learned a short cut named the synthetic division. We also discovered that we can get complex as well as real solutions when we solve higher degree polynomials and that complex solutions always come in pairs.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Pre-algebra: Students took the 11s multiplication facts quiz. We reviewed the difference between algebra and arithmetic and learned how real world problems can be translated to algebraic equations. Students learned to use the inverse operations and the Golden Rule of Algebra to solve simple algebraic problems. Students also learned how multiplication and division is shown in algebra using a dot, parentheses or just pushing the number and x together for multiplication and the fraction bar for division in place of the traditional symbols for the two operations. 
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Consumer Math: Students did a great job of setting up the school store and having a successful 1/2 hr of selling different items during lunch. Good work all! We did the accounting for the store during class time. We decided on what changes to make for next time the store is set up. We then talked about types of household expenses and how to classify them. 
 
Homework: None
 
Puzzle Of The Week: 12th Puzzle posted! Solutions are due in 2 weeks. Solution to last week's puzzle will be posted today.
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Solution to Puzzle Of The Week #10

Hello Apex Students,
 
Here are the solutions to last week's Hashiwokakeros (Bridges puzzles). The following students attempted at least one of the three puzzles:
 
Jake LaCrosse
Nico Stone
Boston Renaud
Kian Stone
Cole Sulouff
Virginia Fuller
Owen Weekley
 
Virginia and Owen attempted and successfully solved all three puzzles. Good work!!  Virginia was the lucky winner of this week's raffle!! Congratulations :-)
 
Virginia, stop by for a prize next week. Everyone else, please come by to get a treat!
 
Have a wonderful weekend! See you all next week :-)
 
Mrs. Narayanswamy