January 2008 Archives
The notes for section 8.1 were taken straight from the examples in the book, but if you would like a printed version of what was passed out in class, here it is:
08_01_Variation_Functions PRINT.pdf
08_01_Variation_Functions PRINT.pdf
Our first test of the 2nd semester is coming up on Tuesday, January 29 for A-day, Wednesday, January 30 for B-day. The chapter 7 exam will cover sections 7.1 - 7.6. Some of this review is out of the textbook:
Our first test of the 2nd semester is coming up: Friday, January 25 for A-day, Monday January 28 for B-day. Here is the review sheet - please do this INSTEAD of the review assignment on the syllabus (pg 365).
Here are the upcoming notes for the heart of Chapter 6. We are hitting a critical juncture of the course early in this semester, so be sure to keep up~
- January 14/15, 2008 - 06_04 Solving Polynomial Equations.pdf
- January 16/17, 2008 - 06_05-06 Theorems about Polynomial Roots.pdf
Today in class, we had a short homework quiz over sections 6.1 and 6.2. We then went over how to use the graphing calculators to find the max, min, and zeros of a graph, for problems 47 - 50 on page 324 (section 6.2).
Here are the notes for section 6.3 over polynomial division. The example problems are taken from the textbook, so please refer to the book if you need to see the problems worked out.
Here are the notes for section 6.3 over polynomial division. The example problems are taken from the textbook, so please refer to the book if you need to see the problems worked out.
Welcome back for the 2nd semester! Today we start on Chapter 6 -- Polynomial Functions. Here are today's notes (note that not all of the problems are worked out, see me or ask a classmate if you need help). These notes are posted online only because of the calculator-related instructions needed for today's assignment.
Click to download:
06_01-02 Polynomial Functions PRINT.pdf
Click to download:
06_01-02 Polynomial Functions PRINT.pdf
Welcome back for the second semester! 16 weeks down, 19 to go~
School resumes on Tuesday, January 8. These are subject to slight changes before then, but if you want to get a headstart, here are the homework schedules for the 4th six weeks:
Regular Algebra II 4th Six Weeks Syllabus:
School resumes on Tuesday, January 8. These are subject to slight changes before then, but if you want to get a headstart, here are the homework schedules for the 4th six weeks:
Regular Algebra II 4th Six Weeks Syllabus:
Pre-AP Algebra II 4th Six Weeks Syllabus:
One of the new toys I got for Christmas this year was a TI-89 Titanium. We don't allow the use of this particular model at McNeil High School for Algebra II (we DO allow 83's and 84's... but not 89's). Ironically, I bought this on eBay from a student in North Dakota who wasn't allowed to use it in his math class (but didn't realize it until after he bought it).
Here are a few examples -- in the form of recent test questions and how the 89 takes all of the thinking (i.e., the fun) out of the problems -- of why we don't allow them in Algebra II.
Here are a few examples -- in the form of recent test questions and how the 89 takes all of the thinking (i.e., the fun) out of the problems -- of why we don't allow them in Algebra II.
Just type in the binomial expansion, hit enter, and... voilà!
Here's one of the factoring-sum-of-perfect-cubes problems that everyone loved...
This one's great... it'll find all the roots, and even keep the irrational ones in exact radical notation:
...and this is barely scratching the surface of what the 89's are capable of. If you happen to have a TI-89, I personally think they're a great tool to use to check your answers... but don't use them to do your Algebra homework for you (or else you're cheating yourself). Then again, you can find tools to do all of this stuff online as well.
