Making Certain Momentum is Not Lost Over the February Break

There are 3 parts to the homework for this February break. Please read the directions carefully to avoid confusion about expectations when we return. All three lessons are due on the Monday of our return, February 23.

PART I

Home Nugget #20
Assigned on Friday February 13, 2009
Due on Monday February 23, 2009

In Algebra I textbook,
Be sure to check your solutions to odd numbered answers on the following two pages:
Page 386 #11 - 18
Page 387 #25 - 28

Page 411 #11 - 29
Page 412 #31 - 44

FCAs
2 points: all problems completed in their entirety. Your effort at the end of the lesson is as evident as at the start.
2 points: evidence/explanations for your thought/solution process is provided for ALL pertinent problems.

PART II
You are responsible for being able to answer all 20 problems on the double-sided SAT sheet you were provided. You do not have to hand anything in, simply be ready to take an assessment on these type of questions.

PART III
Journal Entry #2 of the 3rd Term
Directions will be provided in class and are also posted at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcszzgg_207dnmv2wtw

Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

Home Nugget #19 of the 3rd term
Assigned on Thursday February 12, 2009
Due on Friday February 13, 2009

Read and study pages 384 and 385. This is the place where you are learning the skill and logic behind adding and subtracting polynomials. Attempting the lesson without reading these pages is not advised.

Solve the following:

Page 386 # 1 - 6, 9, 10, 19 - 24

Page 387 #29, 30, 34, 36

Page 388 #37 - 39

FCAs
2 points: all problems completed in their entirety . Your effort at the end of the lesson is as evident as at the start.
2 points: evidence/explanations for your thought/solution process is provided for ALL pertinent problems

Exploring Probability Hands-On: Playing the Game of SKUNK

In a move to infuse our math class with more hands-on activities for the exploration of concepts, we are going to be playing a game of probability during our next few double periods known as SKUNK. What follows is a description of the activity objective taken from an article by Dan Brutlag titled "Choice and Chance in Life: The Game of "Skunk"'

• Drinking coffee may cause cancer: should I drink less of it?
• My mathematics teacher might collect homework today: should I do it?

Every day each of us must make choices like those described above. The choices we make are based on the chance that certain events might occur. We informally estimate the probabilities for events by using a variety of methods: looking at statistical information, using past experiences, asking other people's opinions, performing experiments, and using mathematical theories. Once the probability for an event has been estimated, we can examine the consequences of the event and make an informal decision about what to do.


Following are the basic rules for each of the five rounds of SKUNK.

• To accumulate points in a given round, a pair of dice is rolled.

• A player gets the total of the dice and records it in his or her column, unless a "one" comes up.

• If a "one" comes up, play is over for the round and all the player's points in that column are wiped out.

• If "double ones" come up, ALL points accumulated in prior columns are wiped out as well.

• If a "one" doesn't occur, the player may choose either to try for more points on the next roll or to stop and keep what he or she has accumulated.

• If a "one" or "double ones" occur on the very first roll of a round, then that round is over and the player must take the consequences.