Period 2
After we discussed and answered questions about the graded Wednesday homework we continued our discussion of Problem 1.3. Today we talked about how we can recognize patterns and determine if it is linear. It is important to recognize that a pattern must be constant in order for it to be linear and most students understood that without any prompting. Good for you!! We began the graph for this relationship and saw that it was a curve. It went up from left to right.
We will relate these findings to other problems in this investigation tomorrow.
Assignment: finish Wednesday homework.

Period 3
Today we started to discuss Investigation 2. This began with us talking about defining variables. When we define variables we tell what they represent. We also talked about how equations are written. Linear equations have two variables and are written so that it is the dependent variable equals something that is being done to the independent variable. In one case we discussed, the rate was $0.75 per minute, t represented time and c stood for cost. Since the cost depends on how long it takes to wash the car, our equation was c = 0.75t.
We also revisited slope and what it means. We will be asked to recognize slope as the coefficient of the independent variable. It is also the rate of change. In the previous example the slope would be 0.75.
We will continue this tomorrow.
Assignment: finish Wednesday homework.

Period 4
We went over questions on Wednesday homework. #8 was a challenge and we did talk about it in class relating it to what we know about intersecting lines and how to find the y-intercept.
We also discussed last night's homework and worked some more problems involving systems. We will start a take home test tomorrow in class, so it will be important for students to have notes and books available tomorrow. This test WITHOUT EXCEPTION WILL BE DUE ON THURSDAY!!
Please be sure to come with notes and your book tomorrow to help you on the test.
Assignment: finish Wednesday homework. Be sure you have notes and book for the test.

Period 5
We have been talking about multiplying polynomials. Today we started to factor polynomials. We started by discussing what is meant by the the zero-product property. (It means that if your product is zero then one of the factors must have been zero.) We then used that to find the roots of the equation. When we are discussing polynomials, specifically right now quadratics, our solutions are called roots. There are usually 2 and both of them can be solutions. We began with problems similar to (x - 2)(x +6) = 0. In this case either x-2 = 0 or x +6 = 0. We solve those two little equations and conclude that the roots are 2 and -6. We also discussed GCF and how this can be used to factor a polynomial. For instance, 2x² + 6x can be factored to
2x(x + 3) because 2x is the GCF of the two terms. We will be continuing this tomorrow.
Assignment: p. 578, #9-15, 22-29.