SIXTH GRADE

I passed out progress reports today and all graded papers. The students took the rest of class time to work on corrections or missing assignments. Be sure to ask your child for the progress report. Some students need to return the report with a signature. If the signature line at the bottom is highlighted, please sign and return to me tomorrow. I will be glad to give it back if you would prefer to have a copy.

SEVENTH GRADE MATH

The class took notes today over properties of numbers. There is no homework. We will continue tomorrow.

SEVENTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

The class will have a test over percents tomorrow. Be sure you are going over your review! Here are how you work the last two problems.

#15. The selling price of a 32GH iPad Air is $730. If Wal Mart is selling them at a 30% discount, what is the sale price?

First, since you know the discount percent, you need to multiply that by 730. 730 x 0.3 = 219.

Since it is a discount, you then subtract the 219 from 730 to find the selling price. 730-219 = $511.00

#16. Best Bu buys a Nikon DSLR camera at cost for $220. If they mark the price up 85%, what is the selling price?

First, notice that this is a markup problem and you have the percent. Multiply $220 by 0.85 to find the markup amount. 220 x 0.85 = 187

Now, add that amount to 220 to find out how much Best Buy will sell them for. 220 + 187 = $407.00

That's it!

EIGHTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

The class took notes on slope intercept form. We will continue the notes tomorrow. No homework!

ALGEBRA I

The homework for today is more systems of equations. This time, you get to choose the method you want to use to solve. Remember, it will be easier to solve by elimination if they are already written with the x and y terms on the same side. Substitution is easier if one of the variables is alone. Graphing is easier if they are written in slope intercept form. Please let me know if you have any questions!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Finding equivalent fractions worksheet. Most students finished in class. Remember, the most important thing is to multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number. If you are missing a number on the left, you have to think about what number multiplies by the number you put in the middle to equal the number on the right.

SEVENTH GRADE

More practice with evaluating expressions. Everyone did a great job with these today!

SEVENTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

We began a test review over percents. We will continue the review tomorrow.

EIGHTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

More practice with graphing from a table of values.

ALGEBRA I

Solving systems of equations by elimination. Here's your video!
See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

There is no homework today! We spent class adding in some fraction pieces to help the students learn how to change mixed numbers into improper fractions and vice versa.

SEVENTH GRADE

More practice with combining like terms. Today's handout has a riddle!

SEVENTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

Finding Tax. The problems were from the SmartBoard today. Remember, first multiply by the tax rate (changed into a decimal). Then round your answer to the nearest cent. This is the amount of tax. Then add this to your original amount to get your final price. I need to see the amount of tax and the final price on your homework.

EIGHTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

We worked on graphing lines from a table of values today. The class just needs to make the table of values for the first 5 problems. They do not need to graph or finish the worksheet!

ALGEBRA I

Extra practice on solving systems by substitution. This is the Additional Exercises 4.2.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Today's homework is simplifying fractions using prime factorization. This is useful when the numbers are really big or you aren't sure what the GCF of the numerator and denominator are. First, do the prime factorization of each by doing the factor tree. Then write like a fraction. Here is an example:

72  2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3           3
96  2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3     4

The prime factorization of 72 is 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 so I put that on top. The prime factorization of 96 is 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 so I put that on bottom. Now you would cross off any numbers that are on top and bottom. There are three sets of 2 on top and bottom so 3 2's are crossed off on top and on bottom. Then there is a 3 on top and a 3 on bottom. Cross these off. What you have left is one 3 on top and two 2's on bottom. The top number is 3 and the bottom number is 4 since 2 x 2 = 4.

SEVENTH GRADE

The homework today is combining like terms. Remember to first find the terms that have the same variable. Then combine the numbers in front of the variables by using your integer rules.

Here is an example:

-3x + 2y - 5y + 9x

I have colored the like terms in the same colors. So, the two red terms both have x. The coefficients (the numbers in front of the variables) are -3 and +9. So, you think, "what is -3 + 9"? Using integer rules, the answer is +6 because the signs are different so you subtract. So far, we have 6x.

The two terms in blue both have a y. The coefficients are +2 and -5 so you think "what is +2 - 5"? Since the 5 has a minus sign in front, you can change it to addition and change the 5 to a negative. Like this: +2 + - 5. Now the signs are different so you subtract and get -3. So the y term is -3y

Your final answer would be 6x - 3y or 6x + -3y. Either way is correct.

SEVENTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

Today's assignment is the markup and discount worksheet. You are doing the first 6 in the markup section and the first 6 in the discount section. Remember, first you multiply the amount by the percent written as a decimal. Round any amounts to the nearest cent. Then, to find the selling price when it's a markup, add that amount to the original amount. To find the sale price when it's a discount, subtract that amount from the original amount.

EIGHTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

Today's assignment is the Labyrinth worksheet with finding slope from two points. Don't forget that the y's go on top and the x's go on bottom! Also, don't forget to reduce!

ALGEBRA I

Solving systems of equations by substitution. I can't do a video tonight because I'm losing my voice. Remember, the first thing you have to do is make sure that you have a variable isolated in one of your equations. If you don't, you will have take one of the equations and isolate one of the variables by moving everything to the other side. Once you have that, you can substitute what that variable equals into the other equation. Here is an example:

y = 6x − 11
−2x − 3y = −7

The first equation is already solved for y, so I'm going to substitute 6x - 11 in for y in the second equation.

y = 6x − 11
−2x − 3y = −7

-2x - 3(6x-11) = -7

Now I will solve this for x. First I have to distribute the -3 to the parentheses.

-2x - 18x + 33 = -7    Now, I need to combine like terms on the left side.

-20x + 33 = -7    Now I need to move the 33 to the right side by subtracting.

-20x = -40  Now divide both sides by -20

x = 2

Now that I know what x equals, I can plug this value into either original equation. I will use the first one because the y is already by itself on the left side.

y = 6*2 - 11   (The * means times)

y = 12 - 11

y = 1

So your ordered pair is (2, 1)

Here is another example:

y = −5x − 17
y = -x - 1

This one has the y isolated in both equations. It's actually deceptively simple. I'll substitute what y equals in the first equation for where y is in the second equation. I've highlighted above to show this.

It would look like this:

-5x - 17 = -x -1    Now we can solve for x. First, I'll move the -5x to the right side by adding 5x to                                   both sides.

-17 = 4x -1          Now, move the -1 to the left by adding 1.

-16 = 4x          Divide both sides by 4.

-4 = x

Now that we know what x equals, we can plug this in either equation. It doesn't matter which since the y is already by itself in both. I'll do the second one because the numbers look friendlier.

y = - -4 - 1   That becomes a double negative, so it changes to 4 - 1

y = 3

Your ordered pair is (-4, 3)

Here is one more example:

−3x + 3y = 4
−x + y = 3

First, I need to isolate one of the variables. Both variables have a coefficient in the first equation, but in the second, neither one does. I'm going to solve for y since the x is a negative. I just need to add x to both sides. The second equation becomes:

y = x + 3

Now I'll substitute x + 3 in for y in the first equation. I've highlighted it above and below in the first equation:

-3x +3y = 4

-3x + 3(x+3) = 4  Now I'll simplify by using distributive property.

-3x + 3x + 9 = 4   Now I need to combine like terms. -3x + 3x cancels out to zero.

9 = 4         I'm left with a false statement! 9 does not equal 4.

The answer her is NO SOLUTION.

I hope this is helpful!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Today's homework is the simplifying fractions sheet with the accompanying color sheet. Remember to first simplify the 20 fractions on the first page. Then use the simplified fractions to color the sheet with the corresponding colors. Use colored pencils or crayons ONLY. No marker! If you still aren't sure how to simplify fractions, read the blog post from yesterday.

SEVENTH GRADE

There is no homework today! We took notes during class.

SEVENTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

More practice with percent of change. Today, the problems do not work out evenly. You need to round to the nearest percent. That means to add three zeros after the decimal and divide until you have used all the zeros. Then, move the decimal over twice to make it a percent. Use the number after the decimal to round to the nearest percent.

EIGHTH GRADE PRE-ALGEBRA

Today's homework is more practice on finding slope from two points. Remember to use the formula.

y1 - y2 goes on top. Then x1 - x2 goes on bottom. For example:

(-3, 2) and (5, 6)

The first point, (-3, 2) is (x1, y1) and the second point, (5, 6) is x2, y2.

First, subtract the two y's. That goes on top: 2 - 6 = -4

Then, subtract the two x's. That goes on bottom. -3 - 5. This changes to -3 + -5 = -8

So, the top is -4 and the bottom is -8. That would reduce to 1/2. Remember if the top and the bottom are BOTH negative, it changes to a positive. 4 over 8 would equal 1/2. So the slope is 1/2!

ALGEBRA I

Additional Exercises worksheet 4.1 This is more solving systems by graphing.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Today's assignment is the worksheet on simplifying fractions. Use your flippable we put together in class to see if a fraction can be simplified. Remember, "lowest terms" and "simplified" mean the same thing. At the top of the paper, you will write "yes" or "no". Yes if the fraction is already in simplest form and no if the fraction is NOT in simplest form. It feels backwards, but that's right. Here is an example:

1/4

If you look at your flippable, the first page asks if the top number is 1. If it is, then the fraction is in simplest form. So 1/4 cannot be simplified. You would write "YES" on the line.

4/8

If you look at page 4 (I believe) of your flippable, it asks if the bottom number is double the top number. Since is double the 4, then this can be simplified to 1/2. You would write "NO" on the line.

For the bottom of the paper, first simplify ALL the fractions in the maze. Use your flippable to determine whether it can be simplified. Follow the steps. Then, once all of your fractions have been simplified, draw a path through all the fractions that are 1/4.

SEVENTH GRADE

Today's assignment is another 2 step equations worksheet. This time, there are 14 equations to solve. Some of them have negatives, so be careful!

SEVENTH PRE-ALGEBRA

Today's assignment is on percent of change. Remember, for these you are dividing the change by the original number. To find the change, subtract the two numbers. Then take that number and divide it by the original - which is ALWAYS the first number listed. Today's percents will all work out evenly.

EIGHTH PRE-ALGEBRA

Today's homework was finding slope from a graph. Everyone finished in class! 

ALGEBRA I

Today's homework is page 256, #10-28 evens, and 40-52 evens. You are graphing and finding the solution on #10-28 only. Your solution will be one of the following: an ordered pair where the two lines cross, NO SOLUTION if the two lines are parallel, or Infinitely Many Solutions if the two lines are the same. 

On #40-52, you are NOT graphing. First, write each equation in slope intercept form. Then determine whether there would be one solution, no solution, or infinitely many solutions. You also have to write if the lines intersect, are parallel, or are identical. 

Here is a video with a few examples:

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! 

We started back today and had a great first day of the new quarter. I passed back all graded papers from 2nd quarter today so All classes worked on corrections today. I will accept corrections tomorrow, but that is the final deadline!

Good news! Elective forms for 3rd quarter will be passed out tomorrow. We were having some scheduling problems, but they have now been resolved!

Parents, many students are in need of more paper, pens, and pencils. Towards the end of the 2nd quarter, many were scrambling to borrow supplies from their classmates. Also, several will need new folders as their old ones are worn out or lost.

I'm looking forward to a wonderful 3rd quarter!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey