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Narayanswamy - Consumer Math (Section Thur 6)

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


Assignment Calendar

Course Description

 

Class Title:

Consumer Math

Code:

MMA170

Text:

Various Resources

Rating:

1

Prerequisite:

Completion of 5th-grade math or higher

Grade:

6­-8

Fees:

None

Max:

15

Can be repeated? Yes

Description: This course will provide students with the essential financial knowledge they need to manage their money. Students will learn basic money counting skills, percentages, saving, money sense (how far your money will go) and work as a class to run a school store. Through running the school store, students will learn to manage inventory, set marketable prices, and provide great customer service. Profits from the school store are given to a charity chosen by the students in the class.

Posts

Solution to Puzzle of the week #3

Wow! That was one challenging problem!!
 
Kudos to all the students (and family members!) who tried this one!!
 
Check out the solution. The one student who got the answer right was Jerry Sittler. Congratulations Jerry! Please stop by next week to get your prize.
 
I decided we all need a little break from challenging puzzles. So have fun trying the KenKens. The instructions are given with the puzzles. You need to get both KenKens to enter for the raffle!

Have a great weekend!
Mrs. N

Week 5 of Classes: Thursday, Sept 26

Dear APEX students and parents,
 
Here's a summary of today's classes and the homework assigned for the week:
 
Geometry: We reviewed complementary and supplementary angles. In addition, students learned about adjacent angles, linear pairs and vertical angles.
Homework will be posted on Friday
 
Algebra 2: We solved a few investment word problems algebraically. Then we continued our unit on rational expressions by learning to add them. We reviewed lowest common denominators (LCD) and applied the concept to addition, subtraction, and simplification of algebraic fractions. Finally, we solved a few simple rational equations with x's in the denominator.
Homework will be posted on Friday
 
Pre-algebra: Students took the 10s multiplication facts quiz. They learned to multiply and divide fractions as well as fractions and whole numbers. We started a new chapter on decimals and students learned to represent certain fractions as tenths, hundredths and thousandths in the place value system.
Homework assigned (see the homework post)
 
Consumer Math: We reviewed percents and learned to use them in context of discounts and sales. Students worked in teams to use various discounts while shopping online on Costco.com to buy exactly 8 items while keeping within a $1,000 budget. They will complete this activity next week.
Homework: assigned (see the homework post)
 
Puzzle of the week #4: The 4th puzzle of the week is posted. The answer to the third puzzle of the week will be shared online on Friday. 
 
Parents, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send me an email. Encourage your students who are taking a high school math class or studying for a standardized test such as SAT or ACT to stop by during math lab for any help they may need.
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Soluton to 2nd Puzzle of the Week

Solution to last week's puzzle is posted. 
 
It's wonderful to see students trying these challenging puzzles. Several students attempted the 2nd puzzle and three students got the solution right. Great job everybody! The winner of this week's raffle for the correct solution is Andrew Cunningham! Congrats Andrew!
 
If parents or siblings are working with students on solving these puzzles, that is awesome! To make sure that the students are understanding how these problems are getting solved, I want the students submitting the solutions to these puzzles to be able to explain the process to me. Show your work and when you stop by to pick a treat, tell me how you solved it!
 
Enjoy this week's puzzle! See if you can find my ID!!
 
Mrs. N
 
 

Week 4 of Classes - Thursday Sept 19

Dear APEX students (and parents),
 
It's hard to believe that we have already been in session for 4 weeks! Hope you are enjoying your classes at APEX. I am, for sure, enjoying having you in my classes! If you have any questions or concerns with a class you are taking with me, please do not hesitate to talk with me. I am here to help you learn, succeed and enjoy all your classes!
 
Here's a summary of today's classes and the homework assigned for the week:
 
Geometry: We worked on a few angle bisector problems to warm up. We started our very first proof. Students learned some basics about formal proofs. We will continue our discussions tomorrow.
Homework - will be posted tomorrow
 
 
Algebra 2: We did a few word problems related to investments and distances. We started a new unit on rational expressions and equations. Students learned to reduce simple rational expressions using the same techniques that are used for regular fractions. We will elaborate and go more in depth with these concepts tomorrow.
Homework - I am loading two word problem files that we were working on in class today. If possible, please write the algebraic equations for the remaining problems and bring them to class tomorrow. Rest of the homework will be posted tomorrow.
 
 
Pre-algebra: Student took the 5s multiplication facts quiz. We reviewed what we had learned last week about prime factoring and canceling and then continued discussing fractions. We reviewed prime numbers and prime factoring. We also learned to add and subtract fractions, learned to find the lowest common denominator, and change improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice versa.
Homework assigned (see the homework post)
 
Consumer Math: We wrapped up our discussion of Unit Prices of commodities by calculating unit prices of comparable objects. Students learned the basics of percents and how to convert them to fractions and decimals. We used these concepts to start to work on a few problems involving discount rates and sales. We will complete these problems next week.
Homework: None
 
Puzzle of the week #3: The 3rd puzzle of the week is posted. The answer to the second puzzle of the week will be shared online end of this week. 
 
Have a great rest of your week. See you next week!
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Puzzle of the Week # 1 Winner!

Hello Folks,
 
Several students attempted the 1st Puzzle of the Week! Four of them found the right solution to the main question. Of the four students, Mr. Barry Young pulled the name of Owen Weekley as the winner of this POW!!
 
Kudos to all students who attempted POW#1!! And Congratulations to all who got the main problem right!! You are all winner for trying this challenging problem. Students who participated, please stop by my desk next week during your lunch break to get a treat and Owen, come by to pick a prize!!
 
Hope to see many more students participating in POW#2 :-)
 
Happy Weekend!
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Week 3 of Classes: Thursday Sept 12

Dear APEX students and parents,
 
Here's a summary of today's classes and the homework assigned for the week:
 
Pre-algebra: Students took the 2s multiplication facts quiz. Then they took a vocabulary quiz. Please remember to keep reviewing the vocabulary we learn each week. They are an integral part of math and helps students to understand problems and know how to solve them.
 
We started a new unit on fractions. Students learned what they mean, how to find equivalent fractions, compare them and reduce fractions using different techniques.
Homework assigned (see the homework post)
 
Consumer Math: Students shared their short-term, medium-term and long-term goals. We discussed the importance of hard work, perseverance, and financial know-how to achieve these goals. One way to use our money effectively is find the better buy when we go shopping. We started on the concept of calculating unit price of items we want to buy in order to compare similar products and figure out the better buys. We will complete this discussion on unit prices next week.
Homework: None (but remember to bring grocery store flyers if you forgot them today!)
 
Puzzle of the week #2: The 2nd puzzle of the week is posted. The answer to the first puzzle of the week will be shared online end of this week. Please note that the puzzles are always optional but a fun way to be exposed to interesting problems and find ways to solve them!
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

Week 2 of Classes: Thursday Sept 5

Dear APEX students and parents,
 
Here's a summary of today's classes and the homework assigned for the week:
 
Pre-algebra: Students took a pre-assessment of 1-12 multiplication facts. Then we reviewed addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers. Students learned divisibility rules for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. Several vocabulary words were introduced (check homework file for details). Homework assigned (see the homework post)
 
Consumer Math: We played the game "How to really be a millionaire" and learned several interesting facts about millionaires.
Homework: Bring a grocery store flyer from the grocery store where your family shops.
 
Algebra-2 : Homework to be assigned on Friday
 
Geometry: Homework to be assigned on Friday
 
Puzzle of the week: Every week, I will be posting a puzzle both on my classroom wall and online. Any student who loves solving puzzles is welcome to try solving the puzzle of the week. Students should work on their own or seek their siblings' or parents' help but not search for answers online! Bring your answer the following week for submission. I will randomly draw out the name of one student each week from among all the students who get the correct answer. The lucky draw will win a prize!
 
Have a great rest of your week. See you next Wednesday!
 
Thanks
Mrs. Narayanswamy

1st Week of Classes: Aug 29

Hello APEX students and families,
 
Welcome to a new academic year at APEX! Hope our year together will be fun and filled with learning!!
 
Students, as we go through the year, learning different things, please know that I am here to help you with any concepts that you are not clear about.
 
Parents, if there are ever any questions or concerns you may have through the year, please do not hesitate to send me an email. If your student was absent during last week's orientation day, please note that my welcome letters, with all the class details, are loaded on my website. A copy of it was also sent with your student today.
 
If you haven't already done so, do subscribe to the class(es) you (if you are a student)  or your children (if you are a parent) are taking with me. Homework for all my classes will be posted on my website by the end of school day. Homework for high school math classes that meet on Thursday and Friday will be posted on Friday.
 
Today, all the math classes did a welcome "get-to-know each other" activity. We then started on our subject content.
 
The consumer math class did a team-related activity and then started a game of "How to really be a millionaire". We will finish the game next week. 
 
That's it for now. Thank you!
 
Mrs. Narayanswamy