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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 12 of Classes: Friday, Nov 15

Hello APEX families!
 
We have something exciting happening next week: our school store is opening!
 
All students, please note, that our very own Friday school store is opening next week during middle school recess (and Elementary grades lunch) in the Commons area. Prices of items will range from 25 cents to $1.50. We will be selling a variety of candies, drinks such as Izze, variety of chips, and some baked goods. School store will be open once this month and once in December but starting January, it will be set up every alternate week. Bring some money to buy your favorite goodies and support our school store!! All profits from the store will be donated to a charity at the end of the school year :-)
 
Geometry: We went over last week's quiz. We reviewed the auxiliary lines like medians, altitudes, and perpendicular bisector and the Base Angles Theorem that we learned about yesterday. We proved the converse of the base angles theorem today.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Algebra 2: We continued our unit on higher degree polynomials and learned to solve a few higher degree equations.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Pre-algebra: Student took the 9s multiplication facts quiz. We wrapped up the chapter on areas and volumes by discussing volumes and units for measuring liquid capacities such as gallons and quarts and units for volume in the metric system such as liters. We started a new chapter on algebra and briefly talked about how algebra is different from arithmetic. Please read this lesson on your own before doing the problems.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Consumer Math:
Next week is our opening day for school store! Students were assigned jobs, we discussed how the system will work and we decided on prices for each item to be sold.  
 
Homework: None
 
 
Puzzle Of The Week: 11th Puzzle posted! Solutions are due next Friday. Solution to last week's puzzle will be posted today.
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Solution to Puzzle Of The Week #9

Hey Problem Solvers,
 
The 9th puzzle was quite a tough morse code deciphering problem. Check the attached file to find the solution!
 
No student submitted a solution to the problem. But there are more puzzles to solve! Hope you are all trying this week's Hashiwokakeros (the Bridges puzzles).
 
Catch ya next week!
 
Mrs. N

Week 11 of Classes: Friday, Nov 8

Hello APEX families!
 
We are a week into November now - can you believe that?!! As the weeks are flying by, we are immersed in all kinds of math in our classroom. Here's a summary of what we did today:
 
Geometry: Students took a quiz on chapter 3 through 5. We revisited CPCTC and learned to use it to prove lines parallel or perpendicular.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Algebra 2: Students took a quiz on chapters 4 through 6. We reviewed imaginary numbers and how to combine them by adding, subtracting and multiplying them. We also learned o divide them today. In addition, we reviewed complex numbers and how they can be used to determine directions in a 2D rectangular plane.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Pre-algebra: Student took the 8s multiplication facts quiz. We continued our discussion of unit systems. Students learned to convert units in metric system to units in common system and vice versa. We discussed units for area in both systems and learned that we should divide or multiply by the conversion factor twice to go from one unit to another. 
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Consumer Math: We made a short list of items to start selling in 2 weeks. Students created their store posters and we put most of them together on a poster board.
 
Please note that homework is assigned. Please check the class post.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Puzzle Of The Week: 10th Puzzle posted! Solutions are due next Friday. Solution to last week's puzzle will be posted today.
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Solution to Puzzle Of The Week #8

Hello Math students,
 
The solution to Puzzle# 8 is attached here.
 
Two students got the solution right: Owen Weekley and Quinn Kimmett. Congratulations!
 
The winner of this week's raffle is Quinn Kimmett!! Quinn, come by to pick a prize next week and every one who tried, please stop by for a treat :-) 
 
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. N

Week 10 of Classes: Friday, Nov 1

Hello APEX families,
 
 Here's a summary of classes today:
 
Geometry: Students were introduced to the last of shortcuts for proving congruence of triangles, namely the SSS postulate. We also learned to recognize overlapping angles or sides to prove congruence. As always, students worked on several practice problems, including proofs.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Algebra 2: We continued our discussion of radical functions and solved several different types.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Pre-algebra: Student took the 7s multiplication facts quiz. We continued our discussion of unit systems by reviewing the US customary system we had learned last week and talking about how a unit conversion table can be used to reduce confusion when converting from one unit to another. We also discussed the metric system and found out that it is way easier to convert from one unit to another in this system by merely moving the decimal point one way or the other.Finally, we learned to convert between units in one system and units in another.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
Consumer Math: Students completed their school store survey and we put all our data together on our school store spreadsheet. Students worked on an activity involving grocery coupons and creating a meal plan for their family within a $30 budget. They will wrap it up next week.
 
Homework: None this week
 
Puzzle Of The Week: 9th Puzzle posted! Solutions are due next Friday. Solution to last week's puzzle will be posted today.
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Dimensional Analysis for Pre-algebra

Hello Pre-algebra Students,
 
We have been learning to convert from one measuring unit to another. Students are often confused about whether they should multiply or divide by the conversion factor to change units. Here’s a video that will help you remember how we used dimensional analysis in class to convert from one unit to another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atN7JU1BaIY. The video is also loaded on my main webpage under “Links”.
 
Thanks
Mrs. N

Solution to Puzzle Of The Week #7

Hello APEX friends,
 
Here's the solution to last week's puzzle, Puzzle# 7! The solution to the problem is 3!!
 
Check out the file to see details of how the problem was solved
 
A few students attempted the puzzle and Owen Weekley got it right! Good job everyone for trying. Stop by to get a treat.  Congratulations, Owen, for getting it right!! Stop by to pick a prize.

Week 9 of Classes: Friday, Oct 25

Dear Apex Families,
 
Here's the summary of classes and homework assigned for this week:
 
Geometry: Students learned what one-on-one correspondence means when it comes to two triangles being congruent. We learned the first of several shortcuts, namely Side-Angle-Side Postulate (aka SAS) to prove congruence of triangles. Students took a few minutes to work on some problems independently. 
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Algebra 2: We continued our discussion quadratic equations. Students learned to set up equations for border problems. They also learned the "ac" technique and completing the square technique to solve quadratic equations.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Pre-algebra: Student took the 6s multiplication facts quiz. We wrapped up the unit on percents by considering techniques to determine the percent when a ratio/fraction is given. We tied this concept to how grades are determined by teachers in terms of percents. We started a new unit on measurements. We discussed different units of length in the US customary system such as inches, feet, yards and miles and how to convert from one to the other. The basic technique of dimensional analysis was covered.
 
Homework: Assigned (see the homework post)
 
 
Consumer Math: Students came in during recess to conduct survey for the elementary and high school students. They will conduct the survey for middle school students next week. We put this data into our Google sheet during the class. Students voted on a good name for their school store and decided on a fun one - I'm Happy When I see Yo Money!  
 
Homework: None
 
 
Puzzle Of The Week: 8th Puzzle posted! Solutions are due next Friday. Solution to last week's puzzle will be posted today.
 
Thanks!
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Solution to POW 6 and winners for POW5 and POW6

Hello Puzzlers!!
 
Here's the solution to last week's puzzle, Puzzle 6! The solution to the problem is 73!!
 
73 is a prime number and so is the number 37 which is 73 flipped over. The difference between the numbers, 73 - 37, is 36. 36 is a perfect square (6 x 6).
 
The following students got the answer right for puzzle 6:
 
Nico Stone
Kian Stone
Cole Sulouff
Jake LaCrosse
Andrew Cunningham
Quinn Kimmett
Owen Weekley
Zoe Breedlove
Emily Sarris
 
Wonderful job everyone and congratulations! The winner of the raffle this week is Zoe Breedlove!! Yay Zoe :-) Zoe, stop by to pick up a prize next week. Rest of the participants including those who might not have gotten the answer (I am so glad you tried so hard) should come by for a treat.
 
Last week, we had some missing names on the submissions for the puzzle about what languages different delegates know. Those got resolved this week. So here's the result for who won the raffle.
 
The following students got the right solution:
 
Kaelyn LaWall
Zoe Breedlove
Jerry Sittler
Owen Weekley
 
Congratulations everyone! The winner of the raffle for this puzzle was Owen Weekley! Please stop by for your prize and everyone else who tried this puzzle (whether you got the correct solution or not), please stop by for a treat!
 
Till next week.... enjoy your weekend :-)
 
Mrs. Narayanswamy