6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt
This week we continue to solve one-step algebraic equations using inverse operations. We will learn to undo multiplication and division. The process is just as important as the solution as we are setting ourselves up to solve multiple-step equations in the future. The Math Antics video below is a good demonstration on how to set up and solve one-step equations.
7th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt & Mrs. Evans
Before spring break, we finished our study of geometry and now we begin to investigate statistics.
Statistics is the study of data regarding things we want to understand better. Here is an example of a statistical study: suppose we are interested in better understanding a large group of students for whom we are planning an ice cream social. There are too many students to gather data from ALL students, so we gather data from a carefully selected portion of the students (a random sample) by asking good (non-biased) questions. We analyze the data we collect, by finding the mean, median, mode, range or maybe plotting it. Then we can use the information to make good conclusions (inferences). This can help us choose the right kind of ice cream to buy and to know whether we should have sundaes or shakes! We will begin with a quick review of how we find the mean, median, mode and range of small data sets. We learned this in 6th grade and will be using it a lot this year. Here is a summary to help students and their families who have forgotten how to find these standard values of data sets:
Also see www. mathantics.com for a great video on these topics
We will then learn how to find a sample of a population. It is important that a sample be random and of adequate size in order for our sample to represent the population well. We will investigate how to tell if sampling is random or not and how to create survey questions that are not biased. If we ask biased questions of our sample, we will not be able to rely on the data we gather to represent our population. We need to remember, however, that a population which we are studying is not necessarily people. It might be objects or times or ideas.
8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans
This week in 8th grade math we will return to our study of functions, extending our understanding to linear equations. Linear equations are those which, when graphed, form a line. We tell a great deal about the equation by learning about it’s graph. This week, as we move into chapter 8 in our textbook, we will learn about slope. Slope is the steepness of the line and can be positive or negative. Here is a picture the general differences between slopes.
We find the slope of lines by comparing different points on the lines. The slope can be described as the rise of the line (distance it goes in the x direction) over the run of the line (distance it goes in the x direction). Here is a video to help students understand the slope of a line:
Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt
This week in Algebra we are solving quadratic equations by factoring. We have learned to factor quadratics where the leading coefficient is NOT = 1 (ax2 + bx + c). The Khan Academy video below instructs on how to use grouping to factor these type of polynomials. At the end of the week, we will focus on the importance of quadratics by solving real-world problems.