Honors Algebra 2; 2/27

Our work today focused on solving rational equations.  The two keys to keep in mind are to be aware of the restrictions of the solution.  Nothing can be used that would result in a zero in the denominator.  The other aspect of each of these problems is to use the least common denominator to clear all the fractions before solving for x.  We went through 4-5 examples before getting started on the assignment.


Assignment:  page 269;  #1-27;  skip multiples of 4

Geometry 10-12; 2/27

The lesson today focused on working with the pythagorean theorem.  We went over what the theorem is and the equation that is associated with it.  There were 3-4 examples of problem types that were shown.  We also showed how the theorem can be used to determine whether a triangle is a right triangle or not.  The students then got started on their assignment.


Assignment:  Section 7.1A worksheet

Geometry; 2/27

Our work today focused on the similarity between right triangles.  We went through an activity comparing the ratios of 3 pairs of right triangles in order to show that every right triangle can be cut into two other similar right triangles by using the altitude.  We confirmed the similarity ratio in the activity, and then went through some notes to show three different formulas that can be used to work with these types of problems.  The students then got started on their assignment at the end of the period. 


Assignment:  Topic 7-3;  page 322-323;  PPS #16-20, 22, 25, 26

Honors Algebra 2; 2/25

The lesson today focused on how to work with complex rational expressions.  These types of problems involve all four operations at once  (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).  In each case, the order of operations must be followed, as well as being careful to obtain the correct common denominator.  We went through 3-4 examples together before getting started on the assignment.


Assignment:  page 258;  #1-23 odd,  26

Geometry 10-12; 2/25

We continued our work with radicals today by taking a look at how to rationalize the denominator in a fraction.  We also worked to solve radicals involving odd exponents.  We went through 3-4 examples of each before getting started on the assignment.


Assignment:  Radicals WS #3

Geometry; 2/25

We continued our work with similarity postulates today by taking a look at how to write similarity proofs.  These are much like congruent triangle proofs, with a slight difference at the end.  We went through 3-4 examples together before the students got started on their assignment.


Assignment:   Proving Triangles Similar WS

Honors Algebra 2; 10/22

We continued to work with adding and subtracting rational expressions today.  The examples we went over involved a few more complex steps, but in each case we were getting a common denominator and factoring any expressions that we could.  After 3-4 examples, the students got started on their assignment.


Assignment:  page 253-254;  #19-30

Geometry 10-12; 2/22

We continued to work on our skills with radicals.  Today's topic was how to multiply and divide using radicals.  We went over 4-5 examples together before getting started on the assignment.


Assignment:  Radicals WS #2

Geometry; 2/22

The students took a quiz today on triangle inequalities and similar figures. 


Assignment:  be sure to finish the online assignments from this unit. 

Honors Algebra 2; 2/21

We continued our work with polynomials and rational expressions today by going over how to add and subtract these types of expressions.  The key skill is to be able to find a common denominator.  We went through 3-4 examples together before the students got started on their assignment.


Assignment:  page 253  #1-18;   page 255;  #46-51

Geometry 10-12; 2/21

We started our new unit today by taking a look at how to work with perfect squares and radicals.  Our goal today was to get more familiar with the perfect squares and to practice the steps for simplifying radicals.  We worked with both numbers and variables throughout this process.  After 5-6 examples, the students got started on their assignment.


Assignment:  Radicals WS #1

Geometry; 2/21

We continued our work with similarity today by going over the three different ways to prove that triangles are similar.  The AA, SAS, and SSS postulates for similar triangles are the three concepts we introduced today and worked a few examples with.  We will revisit them again on Monday with some calculations and proofs.  The assignment today was a review one in getting ready for tomorrow's quiz.  The answers will be posted on Canvas later on this afternoon.


Assignment:  Triangle Inequality Quiz Review

Honors Algebra 2; 2/20

We continued our work with quadratics today by showing how they can be used to work with rational expressions.  Essentially these are fractions that involve quadratics and other polynomials.  The key thing is to be able to factor and simplify the quadratics first, so that common factors can be cancelled out.  We went over 4-5 examples together of these types of problems before the students got started on their assignment.


Assignment:   page 248;  #1-37  (skip multiples of 3)

Geometry 10-12; 2/20

We spent a few minutes at the beginning of the period reviewing some of the shortcuts involving similarity in our entry task.  The students then turned in their chapter 6 entry tasks and reviews before taking the chapter 6 test in class.


Assignment:  Prime Factorization worksheet

Geometry; 2/20

We continued our work with similarity today by taking a look at figures that overlap.  We went over 4 types of drawings together to set up similarity proportions and determine scale factors.  After these examples, the students got started on their homework.


Assignment:  overlapping figures worksheet +  Topic 7-3,  Do you know How?  (online questions)

Honors Algebra 2; 2/19

We got back to school today after 5 snow days in a row, so one of the goals was to get back in a routine again.  The students got back their tests from the factoring and polynomials unit before we got started on our lesson.  The unit we started today involved working with quadratics.  Our first goal was to be able to solve quadratics using the methods of factoring that we have just been working on.  In each case, we factored an expression and then set it equal to zero.  After this step, we then wrote two equations to determine what our final solutions would be.  After 4-5 examples together, the students then got started on their assignment.

Assignment:  page 233;  #1-41 all

Geometry 10-12; 2/19

We spent part of today reviewing for our similarity test that was postponed due to all the snow days.  This test will happen tomorrow in class.  The other part of the period was spent introducing one of the skills that we will use quite a bit in the next unit.  We reviewed how to factor a larger number down into its prime factors.  We will use this as we work with simplifying radicals in our upcoming unit.

Assignment:  Similarity Review Packet + Prime Factorization worksheet

Geometry; 2/19

Honors Algebra 2; 2/8

We spent a few minutes answering some review questions from the assignment last night to begin the period.  The students then took the rest of the time to take the Factoring and Polynomial Unit test.


Assignment:  none

Geometry 10 - 12; 2/8

We went over a few more review questions today before getting started on the similarity unit review assignment.  The students took most of the period to work on this review.  The answers will be posted on canvas later in the weekend.  The chapter 6 test on similarity is Monday, Feb. 11.


Assignment:  Chapter 6 Review assignment

Geometry; 2/8

We went over the homework and spent a little time reviewing our algebra skills one more time.  The students then took the algebra skills review quiz in class today.  After the quiz, they got started on their assignment.


Assignment:  Topic 5-5 questions online +  page 237-238; Topic 5-5;  practice and problem solving questions #10-15

Honors Algebra 2; 2/7

We spent time today reviewing for tomorrow's test by writing sample test questions for others to then answer.  We spent part of the period working in partners to make decent test questions that cover the variety of topics involved with polynomials and factoring.  We then switched papers and worked to answer the questions that our classmates just created.  At the end of the period, the students got to work on their review assignment for tomorrow's test.


Assignment:  page 241;  #1-36  (skip multiples of 3)

Geometry 10-12; 2/7

We continued our work with properties of proportions and how they can be applied to parallel lines and angle bisectors.  We went through 3-4 more examples together in continuation of yesterday's lesson before the students got started on their assignment.

Assignment:  Section 6.6B worksheet

Geometry; 2/7

We continued our work with inequalities today by taking a look at how 2 triangles interact when they are unequal.  The key factor is to have 2 pairs of congruent sides to work with.  This scenario will then allow you to use the Hinge Theorem and its converse to answer the questions.  We went over 4-5 drawings together of how to use the Hinge Theorem before the students got started on their homework.


Assignment:  Topic 5-4 assignment online + Hinge Theorem worksheet

Honors Algebra 2; 2/6

We spent some time today summarizing all of the methods that we have used for factoring in this particular unit.  We went over a few examples together, but also pointed out some common errors to avoid when factoring.  The students then got started on their assignment.

Assignment:  page 231;  #1-36

Geometry 10-12; 2/6

We went over our final topic of our similarity unit today:  working with other proportions and parallel lines.  We went over how parallel lines often result in other lines being divided proportionally.  We went up 5-6 examples of these types of drawings in working through our notes today before getting started on the assignment.


Assignment:  Section 6.6A worksheet

Geoemetry; 2/6

We began our study of triangle inequalities today by taking a look at how to determine the ranges of sides in any individual triangle.  We went through the triangle inequality theorem by using an activity with straws, as well as going through how to rank order the sides and angles of triangles.  The students then got started on their assignment.


Assignment:  page 231-232;  Topic 5;  Lesson 5-4;  PPS #17-33

Honors Algebra 2; 2/5

Classes were short today due to the 2-hour delay.  We went over homework and answered any questions that students had about what they had tried.  We then emphasized a couple of points that the class had struggled on with the factoring of cubes before getting started on the assignment for today.  The work focused more on factoring cubes and using the AC method to factor trinomials with leading coefficients that are larger than 1.

Assignment:  AC Factoring worksheet

Geometry 10-12; 2/5

Classes were short today due to the 2 hour delay, so we went over homework and answered any other questions that students had on the similarity assignment from yesterday.  We then used the bulk of the period to keep working on the similarity type of problems that we introduced yesterday--identifying the AA, SAS, and SSS postulates in drawings of similar figures.


Assignment:  Similarity Postulates WS #2

Geometry; 2/5

Today was a two hour delay due to snowy conditions.  We took some time to go over homework and answer any more questions on the algebra skills that we are working on right now.  We then took some class time to get acquainted with the new textbook that we will begin to use.  The online instructions for finding the correct topic and homework problem page are posted on canvas, and we will begin making use of them tomorrow as we start using the book.


Assignment:  none

Honors Algebra 2; 2/4

Our lesson today focused on how to factor polynomials that have a leading coefficient that is greater than 1.  We went over what is called the AC method of factoring and showed how this can be used with the process of grouping in order to factor just about any trinomial that has whole number factors.  The students then got started on their assignment.


Assignment:  page 227;  #37-69;  76-78

Geometry 10-12; 2/4

We continued our work with similar triangles today by taking a look at the 3 similarity postulates that go along with triangles.  We went over the AA, SAS, and SSS similarity postulates today and how to use them with various drawings.  After 4-5 examples, the students got started on their homework. 

Assignment:  Similarity Postulates worksheet

Geometry; 2/4

We continued our work with algebra reviews today by taking a look at how to rationalize the denominator with radicals and how to factor quadratics in order to solve for a variable.  Both of these are algebra skills that will be used in the next few chapters for various types of problems.  We went over 4-5 examples before getting started on the assignment.


Assignment:  Algebra Skills Review WS

Geometry 10-12; 2/1

Today we went over a few questions from the review sheet before taking the chapter 6 quiz in class. 


Assignment:  none;  extra credit puzzle option

Geometry; 2/1

Today's lesson focused on how to work with square roots and radicals.  The three skills that we went over today was how to simplify radicals, how to multiply radicals, and how to divide radicals.  These three algebra skills are one that we will be using quite a bit in the next two units of study.


Assignment:  Radicals worksheet