Friday 11/22

Enjoy your week off with good food and a thankful family. Take a little break, rest up, and return ready for the final push to the end of first semester!

For those of you that can't bear the thought of being away from algebra for a whole week, we've put together an extra credit opportunity for you. This will be more than the weekly extra credit because it is a bit more time consuming. My advice is to break the assignment in to chunks and do a little bit each day.

The extra credit assignment has been posted in the Document Locker. It's due the day we return from Thanksgiving break, and is a good way to give your grade a little boost.

Thursday 11/21

We spent much of today's rainy day reviewing and practicing for tomorrow's test.

Homework #59: Finish the Test 15 Preview worksheet
Solutions: Preview sheet solutions

If you're stuck on any of the homework or need help studying, you could always ask The Community.

Also, an EXTRA CREDIT assignment has been posted in the Document Locker. It's due the day we return from Thanksgiving break, and is a good way to give your grade a little boost.

You'll be able to use the following assignments for tomorrow's notes and homework quiz; please make sure to have them with you and fully ready to go:

Week 15
Openers / Warm-Ups
Notes #35
Notes #36
Notes #37
Assignment #56 (Multiplying Rational Expressions)
Assignment #57 (TB pg 537)
Assignment #58 (TB pgs 586 & 547)
Assignment #59 (Test 15 Preview)

Wednesday 11/20

We reviewed multiplying and dividing rational expressions today, and begin adding and subtracting rational expressions (but only ones with common denominators) today with Notes #37.

Homework #58: TB pg 586 (#1-17 odd) & pg 547 (#1-11 odd)
Be sure to check your answers in the back of the book when finished

Tuesday 11/19

Today we learned how to divide rational expressions in Notes #36. To accomplish this, we listen to the dyslexic colonel who would say, "KCF"!

Keep the first fraction the same; Change the division to multiplication; then Flip the second rational number (reciprocal). We then carry the problem out as a multiplication problem.

Homework #57: TB pg 537 (#7-33 odd)
Be sure to check your answers in the back of the book when finished!

Monday 11/18

We learned how to multiply rational expressions today with Notes #35. To multiply rational expressions, we factor everything and then cancel common factors from the numerator and denominator. The answer should always be in the simplest form possible.

Homework #56: Multiplying Rational Expressions worksheet
Solutions: Multiplying Rational Expressions key

Friday 11/15

Congratulations on making it through another week of algebra! Come ready to work next week; we're not on vacation yet.

Here's this week's extra credit:

Thursday 11/14

Today, we spent the majority of class reviewing and practicing for tomorrow's test. Remember, tonight's Preview assignment looks exactly like tomorrow's test. Study hard!

Homework #55: Finish the Test 14 Preview worksheet
Solutions: Preview sheet solutions

If you're stuck on any of the homework or need help studying, you could always ask The Community.

You'll be able to use the following assignments for tomorrow's notes and homework quiz; please make sure to have them with you and fully ready to go:

Week 14
Openers / Warm-Ups
Notes #33
Notes #34
Assignment #53 (Rational Expressions 1)
Assignment #54 (Rational Expressions 2)
Assignment #55 (Test 14 Preview)

Wednesday 11/13

We continued simplifying rational expressions today with Notes #34, which added the concept of recognizing opposite factors (examples 4 and 5) to what we learned yesterday.

There are two typos on the worksheet for tonight. The numerator for #4 is 8x^2 + 12x and the numerator for #11 is y^2 - 2y - 10.


Homework #54: Rational Expressions 2 worksheet
Solutions: Rational Expressions 2 answer key

Tuesday 11/12

Welcome to the wonderful world of rational expressions! We used Notes #33 today to learn what rationals expressions are and how to simplify them.

Remember that the goal is to factor each polynomial in the rational expression, but that we use different techniques depending on whether or not it's a monomial, binomial, or trinomial. A solid understanding all of these vocabulary terms is essential to navigating this topic successfully!

There is one typo on the worksheet for tonight. The denominator for #22 is 2x^3 + 10x^2.

Homework #53: Finish the Rational Expressions 1 worksheet
Solutions: Rational Expressions 1 answer key

Friday 11/8

We've now reached the end of our unit on solving quadratic equations. We ramp up the difficulty next week when we move into rational expressions and equations. Enjoy your three day weekend!

There are five weeks left in this quarter. Are you on track to earn the grade you're hoping for?

Here's this week's extra credit:

Thursday 11/7

We continued studying for Common Assessment #4 today, which we'll be taking tomorrow.

Work hard and study tonight in order to arrive prepared tomorrow. We want everyone to be proficient! 

Homework #51: Finish the Common Assessment #4 MC Preview worksheet 
Solutions: Common Assessment #4 MC Preview answer key

You'll be able to use the following assignments for tomorrow's notes and homework quiz; please make sure to have them with you and fully ready to go:

Week 13
Openers / Warm-Ups
Notes #31
Notes #32
Assignment #49 (TB pg 489 & pg 472)
Assignment #50 (Projectile Word Problems)
Assignment #51 (CA #4 Preview)
Assignment #52 (CA #4 MC Preview) 

Wednesday 11/6

Today we got ready for Common Assessment #4, which will be on Friday!

You received a practice common assessment today that looks very similar to the actual test.

Study hard! We want everyone to be proficient!!

Homework #51: Finish the Common Assessment #4 Preview worksheet
Solutions: Common Assessment #4 Preview answer key

Tuesday 11/5

Look! A jumping Dolphin.

Today we learned how to solve projectile word problems with quadratic equations. These problems are the last of the material we will cover before Common Assessment #4. Together, we worked out every fourth problem on Notes #32.

Homework #50: Projectile Word Problems worksheet
Solutions: Projectile Word Problems key | work shown

If you're struggling with some of the homework, check out the "work shown" link above to see the work behind each problem.

Tomorrow we will begin our review for Friday's Common Assessment #4! A study guide for the upcoming common assessment can be found in the "Documents Locker" tab at the top of this page.

Monday 11/4

We began class today talking about success and preparation, especially after reviewing last week's test (for which a majority of students did not fully prepare).

Afterwards, we learned how to simplify radical expressions and use the discriminant with Notes #31.

Homework #49: TB pg 489 (#1-15 odd) & TB pg 472 (#5-21 odd)
Please check your answers in the back of the book when finished.

As we saw in class today, a lack of preparation leads to less-than-desirable results when asked to demonstrate proficiency on our weekly tests.

If you're having trouble with the concepts we've been learning, be sure to visit all the additional links and resources available to you. It is important that you keep pace with the class. Don't wait to begin preparing for Common Assessment #4 (which we'll be taking on Friday).

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.  

- Confucius

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

- Colin Powell

Friday 11/1

Here is this week's extra credit: