Debbie Poss's Blog

Acc. Math 3 - Quiz and a Deeper Look... - August 31, 2011

Today students took a quiz on rational functions, algebra of rational expressions and the derivative.  After that, students have a task called "A Deeper Look at Word Problems" in which they will investigate the implications of several classic applications.  Attached are answers to that task. Download Answers to A Deeper Look B  Don't look until you have completed it!

Acc. Math 2 - Appilcations of the Trig Ratios - August 31, 2011

Today after a homework check, we looked at  applications of trig ratios.  Here are the answers to that worksheet.  Download Answers to the initial applications of trig ratios problems  After answering questions, students had the opportunity to work on more applications tonight with their peers.  Tomorrow students will have another homework check and on Friday there will be a quiz on sides and angles in 3-D figures and on applications of the trig ratios.

Acc. Math 2 - Finding Missing Parts of 3-D Figures - August 30, 2011

Today I worked all parts of the tetrahedron and the pentagonal pyramid for all classes, so all students had the opportunity to see how to work these problems.  Attached are the answers to the second worksheet. Download AM2 3D Shapes worksheet #2 solutions (Let me know if you can't open the pdf format.)  By tomorrow, students should have completed both pages of these 3-D problems.  If they are still struggling, remember these hints: 

1.  Look for right triangles that contain the desired part.

2.  Draw these right triangles separately so you can focus on just those relationships.

3.  Use exact values as much as possible so rounding doesn't affect other answers.

4.  When finding areas of regular polygons, break them up into congruent triangles.

5.  Remember that the volume of any pyramid (actually any "pointy" figure) is 1/3*(area of the base)*(height of the pyramid).

Tonight's assignment is a 1 sided worksheet that asks students to locate angles of inclination and depression and to solve problems involving SOHCAHTOA.

Acc. Math 3 - More Rational Functions and Algebra - August 30, 2011

Today, after checking homework, we worked problems from the review sheet that students received yesterday.  Here are answers to the odd problems from that worksheet.  Download Rational Function Exercises Answers  Tonight's assignment is the front page of a worksheet that contains more applications but also includes review quiz questions. You will get the odd answers to that worksheet tomorrow in class. Note that the back of the homework contains more algebra with rational expressions and their answers.  Use the back page as needed for review.

There is a quiz tomorrow that covers:

1. The derivative (Find it, use it to find relative extrema and use it to write equations of tangent lines.)

2.  Rational functions (Find holes, intercepts and asymptotes.  Sketch their graphs and write equations of sketched graphs.  Given conditions about them, write their equations.)

3.  Algebra with rational expressions (Add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational expressions.)     

Acc. Math 3 - More Rational Functions and Algebra - August 26, 2011

Today we looked at rational functions again, reviewed the first quiz and ended by assigning a worksheet brimming with the algebra of rational functions.  Attached is an answer sheet for the first 2 rational worksheet pages.  Download Introduction to Rational Functions Answers . 

Try these problems to review those function relationships:  Consider these functions

1.  f(x) = (x³-3x²+2x)/(x²-4)    2.  g(x) = (2x³+10x²-2x-10)/(x³+x²-4x-4)     3.  k(x) = (x²-9)/(x³-27) 

For each function, find its domain, the coordinates of any holes, all its asymptotes and all its intercepts.  Use this information to sketch its graph.  Then use your calculator to check your work.

 

Acc. Math 2 - 3-D Figures - August 26, 2011

Today, we looked at the sides and angles in rectangular solids and pyramids.  An answer sheet to today's assignment is attached.Download AM2 3D Shapes worksheet #1 solutions

Monday is a big day.  First of all, the quilt squares are due.  Remember, this means that students need to turn in a copy of their square with the lengths of all segments  labeled according to the scale that they were given.  They also need to actually create the quilt square out of paper.  It will be graded on accuracy, neatness and overall effect.

Monday students also have a quiz on basic right triangle trigonometric relationships.  A practice quiz is attached. Download Practice SOHCAHTOA quiz

Acc. Math 3 - Rational Function Introduction - August 24, 2011

Today, students turned in their "Max and Min points" task and we started looking at rational functions with an "American Lecture" style worksheet.  The assignment is to complete the problems on "Rational Worksheet #1".

Students also got their first quiz back today, so they need to look over that quiz and attempt to figure out what mistakes were made.  Since this was a "Review" quiz and the grades were low, we will have a requiz later (after we have looked at the mistakes and students have had time to "refamiliarize" themselves with the material).  Don't feel bad or get overly frustrated about this quiz. It covered a great deal of material and I got very picky about the work shown.  You'll have another chance to show you know this material. However, don't plan on having a requiz every time!  This is a special case. 

Acc. Math 2 - More Trig - August 24, 2011

Today we answered questions from the Introduction to Trigonometry worksheet.  Then, after working a "Hear and Do" problem in class, we worked on problems from the Math II book:

Pg. 154:  20-24

Pg. 161: 15-20

Pg. 168: 1, 9, 11-19

Acc. Math 3 - Derivative Connections - August 23, 2011

Today we used all we knew about polynomials to make connections to the derivative.  The assignment tonight is to complete the derivative task and to complete sections 3 and 5 of the "Derivative Class Task".

Acc. Math 2 - Intro to Trig - August 23, 2011

Today after working a word problem from homework, we watched the following powerpoint about basic trigonometry.Download Introduction to Trigonometry  The assignment is to complete an "Introduction to Trigonometry" worksheet that reinforces the definitions of:

 sin X = opposite leg/hypotenuse

cos X = adjacent leg/hypotenuse

tan X = opposite leg/adjacent leg

Students in 1st and 7th also received their quilt project today and 6th will receive theirs tomorrow.  The quilt project is due Monday, August 29, 2011.