Debbie Poss's Blog

Accelerated Math II - River Task and Quiz Tomorrow - November 30, 2011

Today we started the River Task, an application of sampling techniques.  The assignment is to complete this task, (except for the last 3 questions) since we need to collect this data in class tomorrow for students to answer the last 3 questions.

Tomorrow students will also be taking their competency quiz on finding median-median fit lines and standard deviations without a graphing calculator.  If a student doesn't do well, he/she is allowed to retake this (on their own time) until the EOCT.    Students received a practice quiz today in class.  The answers to that practice quiz are:

1.  y = 5/18x + 11/9  or y = .277778x + 1.22222

2.  4.085034

Accelerated Math III - Half Angle Identities - November 30

Today, we reviewed solving trig equations again and then derived the half angle formulae.  The assignment is:  Pg. 237:  7, 9, 19, 21 - 25 all, just do the halves.  32, 37, 43  The half angle formulae are: 

Accelerated Math III - Still working on identities/Solving Equations - November 29, 2011

Since we've been back, we're still working on A) evaluating trig expressions, B) verifying trig identities and C) solving trig equations.  Yesterday we worked any problems from the break's homework that were unclear and students had time in class to begin a worksheet that continued to reinforce the sum and difference identites. (They were assigned most of the odd problems.)  Today, after answering questions from that worksheet, we continued to use those identites along with others to solve equations.  The assignment for tonight is to complete the odd problems from the first column along with the odd problems from the first section in the second column.

We will have a quiz on Thursday that covers these sum, difference and double angle relationships.  Students will be asked to evaluate quantities, verify identities and solve equations.

Accelerated Math II - Comparing Samples - November 29, 2011

Today we looked at the difference between the mean and standard deviations of a population vs. a sample. To sum it up:The assignment for the night is Pg. 275: 1, 3, 5, 6-11 and Pg. 276: 1-9.  A tentative schedule for the rest of the semester is attached.  Download Tentative assignments for the rest of the 2011

 

 

 

Accelerated Math II - Types of Samples and Margin of Error - November 28, 2011

Today we looked at types of samples and how to find a margin of error (making lots of assumptions).  Types of samples include:  biased, random, stratified, cluster, self-selected, convenience, and systematic.  The formula for the margin of error (this year) is MOE = 1/sqrt(n), where n is the number of "elements" in the sample.

The assignment for the evening is:

Pg. 267: odds and #18

Pg. 270: 1-3, 5-19 odd, 20-25

Students also got back the log tests today.  Since many grades were low and students need to show mastery of this topic, there will be a retest on logs - and I'll take the higher of the two grades.  Very tentatively, it looks like we will have the first quiz on standard deviation and median-median fit lines on Thursday.  (Students may retake this quiz until they have the grade they want - or until the EOCT - whichever comes first.)  The test on Statistics will be on Thursday, Dec. 7, the log retest will be Monday, Dec. 12, the EOCT will be given Wed. and Thurs., Dec. 14 and 15. 

Accelerated Math II - Standard Deviation and Z-scores - November 18, 2011

Today we went through this power point presentation:  Download Statistics intro or in another version Download Statistics intro or as a pdf Download Statistics intro

The assignment for the weekend is to complete all the odds on Pg. 262 and all the odds on page 266.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Accelerated Math III - Quiz and Double Angles - November 18, 2011

Today we derived the formulas for double angles and for the sum and difference of a tangent.

These are
tan (a + b) = (tan a + tan b)/(1 - tan a tan b)

tan(a - b) = (tan a - tan b)/(1 + tan a tan b)

tan (2a) = (2tan a)/(1 - tan²a)

sin (2a) = 2sin a cos a

cos (2a) = cos²a - sin²a = 1 - 2sin²a = 2cos²a - 1

The homework for the weekend is pg. 212:  25, 31, 37 and pg. 236:  Q1 - Q5, Q8 - Q9, 1, 11, 21 - 25 (find only the double angles), 33, 35, 39, 41

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

 

Accelerated Math II - More Regression Equations - November 17, 2011

The assignment for this week is:

Wed., Nov. 16	Median-Median Worksheet	Median-Median Problems WS.
Thurs., Nov. 17	More Regression Equations	Pg. 250: 3 – 6, 13 Pg. 253: 10, 13, 14 Pg. 281: 1 – 7 Pg. 282: 1-3, 5, 6, 7
Fri., Nov. 18	Review, Standard Deviation, Variance, Normal Curve, Z-scores	Pg. 262: odds, Pg. 266: odds

Although we didn't go into the difference between correlation and causation, think about those questions and we'll discuss them tomorrow.

Students should not be afraid of writing approximate lines of best fit.  Use points to estimate slope and the y-intercepts are shown right on the y-axis. 

 

Accelerated III - Sums and Differences - November 17, 2011

Today we derived the sum and difference formulae for sines and cosines, as shown in these photos.View this photo and View this photo

Our conclusions were that

cos(a + b) = cos a cos b - sin a sin b

cos(a - b) = cos a cos b + sin a sin b

sin(a + b) = sin a cos b + cos a sin b

sin(a - b) = sin a cos b - cos a sin b

Students got another identity worksheet tonight to practice for tomorrow's short quiz but the real assignment is from the book on page 211:  Q1 - Q10, 1, 4, 7, 11- 23odd, 27 - 30

Tomorrow we will look at the tangents and double angle formulae.

Accelerated Math III - More Identities - November 16, 2011

Today we took another ASMA test and the assignment was:  Pg. 167, 12, 24, 26, 36, 44, 50, 52 and the attached worksheet:  Download More Fun and Exciting Trig Identities  Tomorrow I will check the odd problems from pate 167.