Algebra Thoughts

Good luck to the Algebra Honors Class

2010-09-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

I will miss teaching you this year. This is the first time in 4 years I have not taught your class! You are in great hands with Mr. Cupertino. Stop by sometime and say hi, so I can see what I am missing. :)

Introduction

2010-07-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to post to the introduction thread. Many of you have gotten a great start on the mini web course. Nice work!

IGoogle

2010-07-02T08:30:00.001-07:00

Why not start your own IGoogle. If you have a gmail account it is that much easier. You should use your gmail account strictly for educational purposes. (select another free account for online ordering and social networking) Use your gmail account to correspond to teachers, sign up for educational blogs, communicate with colleges, (this is especially handy for the college application process, by establishing a gmail account for education early, the colleges will be more familiar with you when the time comes for you to apply)

When creating your account keep in mind its purposes. Your account name should sound professional. Mine is PMurphy0117@gmail.com. Avoid names like badboy@gmail.com, or imthesnizzle@gmail.com. Save those names for your other account. Try to use your whole name in your educational (professional) account. As any good marketing rep will tell you name recognition gives you a definite advantage when applying for colleges.

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know how Fireworks get their colors, and why they make such a loud noise? Some of you may want to answer because of the explosion. So then the question really is, why do explosions make loud noises? Have fun and be safe!

New Students For 2010-2011

2010-07-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome,

It is nice to see that some of you are getting a great head start. Welcome to William Sean (do you prefer to be called Sean), Michael and Anthony. I have received your first few online assessments and wanted to let you know you can take them as often as you like until you get 100%. It would be fantastic if you all started the class with an A and a solid basic knowledge of number properties. Keep in mind that the first assessment in September will be on these properties. So you all should master them before you start school. Enjoy your summer and I look forward to "seeing" you on my blog.

** Be sure to Click on Follow at the right so you can be alerted whenever a new post is added***

Congratulations -

2010-06-18T13:05:00.001-07:00

To Mrs. Murphy's 2009-2010 Integrated Algebra Class
With all the multiple choice questions done, you have achieved a 100% pass rate. Good Work boys.

Although I must say two of you did make me hold my breath and should be thanking the math gods as you read this. (SKIN TEETH YOU!)

Have a great summer boys! See you next year. It has been a real honor and pleasure being your teacher this year.

2010-04-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

Read an article from Math Plus Magazine OnLine Browse through the magazine and chose an article. Post the name and author of your article here. If someone has already chosen your article then you must make another choice. (No two students can report on the same article). For now I just want the article name and author. You will read your articles next week and prepare an oral presentation for the class (complete with mathematical explanations). Rubrics for this project will be posted on Monday, April 26th.

Solving systems of equations

2010-04-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

Visit SOLVING A SYSTEM OF EQUATIONS BY GRAPHING and complete the tutorial. Write a reflection of the tutorial here. Hand in the completed exercises from the tutorial tomorrow in class. For more help with graphing quadratic functions by hand visit PurpleMath.com
For help with graphing quadratic functions on your graphing calculator visit MathBits.com

For your reflection consider:

Was the tutorial easy to follow?
Did the tutorial help you?
Were the examples good representations of real world problems?

Try to find a real world situation that would involve applying a system of equations to solve. Share it with your classmates here.

Why does a negative * a negative = a positive

2010-04-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

This week I was on the phone with my mom discussing the difference between teaching math conceptually verses procedurally. She argued that some math procedures have no conceptual base.

My arguement was that the nice thing about math is that everything you do is based on a counting concept. So, she brougt up multiplying negatives, arguing that this rule has no conceptual base.

I disagreed....give an example of what my proof was by posting the reason why
-2 * -2 = 4. Show the math if you can

2010-03-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

The golden or divine ratio defines beauty. Visit: To see how math can even define beauty!

Visit The Golden Ratio for more on the Fibonacci Sequence.

Visit My Pod Cast on Fibonacci Sequences

Factoring

2010-03-20T21:06:00.002-07:00

Post your rule for group factoring here. Let's play a game. Write one line of the rule and let your classmates build on it. I'll start. Multiply a and c terms of the quadratic expression.

Squaring Binomials

2010-03-20T21:06:00.001-07:00

Post your rule for multiplying binomial squares, and difference of squares here.

2010-03-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

As we discussed in class, an acronym is an abbreviation of sorts. We use the acronym FOIL to help remember to distribute all the terms when multiplying binomials.

For more on acronyms visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym_and_initialism.

Due Friday: Create an acronym for a algebraic or number property you learned this year. Post early as no two properties can be repeated, unless you can come up with a different acronym.

If you would like to be really creative, incorporate a mnemonic device with your acronym. (such as we use for PEMDAS, Please educate my dear aunt Sally!)

Good luck and have fun. Please feel free to respectfully comment on your classmates' entries.(Remember your netiquette).

Ummmmm

2010-03-11T12:37:00.001-08:00

Do you think it is possible to write a binomial with a degree of 0? Why or why not?

Friday's Homework

2010-03-11T03:36:00.000-08:00

Share your mnemonic device here! Be sure to review the PowerPoint Presentation on the school's website, before you post.
Mrs. Murphy's Algebra I Honors web page..

2010-03-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Today we talked about how to find the degree of a polynomial with one variable. After reading pg 495, in your own words, describe how to find the degree of a polynomial with two variables. For example 4xy+6x+7

2010-03-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

So, what do you know about polynomials,

A nomial....not a gnome... :)

Magic Math I approve of!

2010-03-04T20:12:00.001-08:00

Thanks for sharing Jesse. It brought a big smile to my face http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4vqr3_ROIk

Philip, when you can do math like this guy, I will stop challenging you to know your concepts!

Many of you agreed with Brendan on using sequencing in sports. While this is a good start at thinking of applications, it is slightly flawed for sequencing. Can anyone guess why?

Arithmetic Sequencing

2010-03-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

Write the function rule for the following Arithmetic sequences and explain why the rule works. Then give the answer for the 20th term.

Think of an application for arithmetic or geometric sequencing and give the reason for your choice.

Focus Question : HW Algebra I Honors

2010-03-03T07:55:00.000-08:00

Would you rather have $500 in an account paying 6% interest compounded quarterly (4x a year) or $600 in an account paying 5% interest compounded annually (once a year)? Why? (Summarize your reasoning.)

My Video Thread

2010-02-24T12:21:00.001-08:00

Math Students - I created a video thread for my Master's class that coincides with what we are learning right now. Check it out if you want and tell me what you think!

http://voicethread.com/share/946329/

It seems that when I selected the "cool" new Blogspot editor for posting comments my blog lost its comment posting ability. I have tried resetting it back to the old Posting system but it was a nogo. Students who are unable to post should send their posts to me in an email at my School address. Hopefully BlogSpot will have the kinks worked out soon.

Comments for Constructing Linear Equations.

2010-02-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

Due Tuesday:

Post a response that describes in your own words how to construct a linear equation. Include the parts of the linear equation and what information it gives you.

Include a brief paragraph describing the pro's and con's of the simulation and blogging experience.

My Google Calendar

2010-02-21T12:50:00.001-08:00

Removed the calendar and added it as a gadget.....

How do we keep kids safe

2010-02-19T21:22:00.000-08:00

When the FCC doesn't care enough.

My First SketchCast

2010-02-16T18:51:00.001-08:00

Fixed my Picture!

2010-02-16T17:29:00.000-08:00

Blogging has many features that I am just beginning to manage. The fact that I am learning by doing rather than having a teacher lecture has made me more motivated. I can work at my own pace and focus on the things I want to know. Should high school curricula be changed to more closely emulate this type of learning? Are teenagers motivated enough to learn this way, or is there lack of motivation caused by having subjects and methodologies forced on them?

2010-02-15T17:30:00.001-08:00

Wow my Picture is really big. I will have to work on that but for now I am just going to leave it be and finish up.

Welcome

2010-02-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow educators. This is my new blogspot where I try to make sense out of education in the new millennium.