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The Syllabus offers a
brief overview of course, including grading and classroom policies, for the
Honors Algebra 2 course. The current version is for the 2008-2009
school year and is the same one shared among all Honors Algebra 2 teachers
at RHS.
The Calendar is my
"semester plan" that I use as a pacing guideline for the current course I'm
teaching. While it will inevitably change as the semester goes on (and
I try to update it here from time to time), it might be a useful reference
for the students as well. UPDATE: The new one for the spring,
2009, semester is now posted.
SharePoint is the Williamson County
Schools site used by its educators, and this link is the directory for the
Ravenwood faculty. It contains resources and a homework calendar for
each teacher and class. Much of the information there is also
contained here, but some might prefer the setup in SharePoint. I will be posting daily assignments on the SharePoint
calendar.
The Textbook link is a website created
specifically for our textbook by the publisher Glencoe / McGraw Hill. There are
extra practice problems, self-check quizzes, and practice chapter tests...
all of which can be useful in class.
Advanced Grapher
is a graphing software application that allows students to graph relations
of different types in one window, including scatter plots . Students can click the Advanced Grapher link to download the software for
use at home in the event they do not have access to a graphing calculator at
home. A product key is required after 30 days, but I'm working on
getting a site license for the students.
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Classroom Supplements and Enrichments.
By now you
have probably noticed that I don't follow the book exactly. I like
to add, subtract, and rearrange chapters to better fit our needs.
The resources below are intended to supplement and/or enrich what is in
our current textbook.
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Linear Modeling Activity -
Here is a copy of the assignment involving linear modeling. If you
are interested in the worksheet we did in class together (it might help
you with the graded activity), you can find it
here.
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Common
Parent Functions - There are several "new" parent functions that
are used in Algebra 2. This document highlights the more common
ones, including some of their properties.
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Function Transformations -
Here is a summary of the work we explored in class, including a little
additional terminology. For additional help, check out the site from
Hofstra University
that
provides information and practice on function transformations. If you
would like to try something a little more basic to start with, PurpleMath has this
tutorial.
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Systems of Equations in Three Variables - These are the notes from
the lesson on solving systems of linear equations in three variables.
It includes three examples - one each for a single solution, no
solution, and the solution to a dependent system. The homework
worksheet is also included here.
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Elementary Row Operations - This is an introductory mini-lesson
and worksheet on the three elementary row operations for matrices. |
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Finding
Inverse Matrices - For those interested in techniques for finding
the inverse of any square matrix, this is the document for you. |
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Finding
Determinants - This document not only reviews the techniques for
evaluating 2x2 and 3x3 determinants, it also outlines the expansion
by minors technique that can be used for any determinant. |
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Area of a
Triangle - This document defines, proves, and gives some examples
of using determinants to find the area of a triangle given three
vertices. |
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Polynomial
Summary - Here is a summary of the more important concepts
involving polynomial functions, including a couple of examples. |
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Solving Polynomial Equations - This is a brief review of a
strategy for solving polynomial equations. This does assume that
the reader understands the Rational Root Theorem and synthetic
division. |
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Extreme
Values - This is a brief exploration on using calculus concepts to
locate the exact values for relative maximum and minimum values on the
graph of a polynomial function. Don't worry... no calculus
experience required! |
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Conics
Introduction - This is a brief introduction to the four main conic
sections. It highlights the names, equations, and graphs of the
circle, ellipse, hyperbola, and parabola. |
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Resources for Help and Review.
As the needs
arise, I'll try to add resources here that might offer a little
additional support.
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Calculator Basics
- Unfortunately, not all Algebra 1 students have the opportunity to
use graphing calculators in their studies... but you will certainly need them in
Algebra 2! This document is a first timer's step-by-step guide
for
a few of the functionalities that we use in class (it's also handy for
anyone who has forgotten the steps). In particular, this
document illustrates how to enter lists of data, create a scatter
plot, and find the line of best fit. |
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Excel
Basics - Some of the activities in class require the use of Excel
for graphing and/or finding model equations. This document walks
those unfamiliar with the software through a linear example. |
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Graphing
Systems of Inequalities - This is a tutorial document on how to
graph systems of inequalities using the program Advanced Grapher.
If you would like to see the AG file used in the screen shots, you can
download it
here. |
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Solving
Linear Equations - This document outlines a strategy for solving
practically any linear equation in one variable. It includes
several examples along with a few tips at the end. |
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Systems of Equations in Two Variables - Here is a review
on solving systems of linear equations from Algebra 1. It
includes one example of each type of system solved three different
ways. |
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Factoring Review
- This document offers a strategy for factoring basic polynomials
using the major techniques from Algebra 1. |
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Solving Inequalities - This is a link to a site that finds
solutions to polynomial and rational inequalities. I thought
others might enjoy it. |
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Exponential
Growth and Decay - Here is a little presentation lesson I have
used in Algebra 1. It pretty much describes the growth and decay
models as well as give some examples. |
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Sequences
and Notation - I realize that I teach and use sequences
differently than our textbook, so I've put together this brief
introduction on the notation and terminology for those that might want
it for reference. |
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Unit Circle - Here
is a link to the completed unit circle illustration from the
trigonometry class (I thought it might be useful here). |
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Activities and Projects.
Here are the
major activities that we will do in class as time permits.
Teachers:
Most of these are adaptations from the activities and labs on my
Algebra 1 and AP
Calculus pages, so you might check those out to see if they are more
appropriate for your needs. Some of these activities need a little
updating with screen shots and calculator keystrokes, but you can at
least use them as a starting point (feel free to edit as you see fit).
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Flight Lab (linear
modeling) - In this activity, students must research flight times from
the Internet and then model and analyze the data. |
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Falling Object
Activity (quadratic modeling) - This
activity has students take data from a free falling object experiment
and then analyze the motion's position and velocity behavior. |
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Complex Operations Assignment (complex numbers) - Here is the
assignment and rubric that involves the algebraic and geometric
interpretations for certain operations of complex numbers. |
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M&M Lab (exponential decay) - This activity has
students perform an experiment with candy to simulate radioactive
decay. |
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Population Lab
(exponential growth) - This activity has students research and analyze
location population data. |
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Direct
Variation Lab (direct variation) - This activity has students measure several objects
to model a direct variation.
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Boyle's Law Lab
(inverse variation) - This activity has students use a gas pressure
sensor in an experiment to model the relationship between volume and
pressure. |
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Assessment Solutions and Review.
UPDATE: This is where
I had been posting solutions to quizzes, tests, and the occasional
activity, but I'm afraid I can no longer post quiz solutions.
Apparently there was a student/parent concern on how make-up quizzes
were being handled and the resulting administrative action makes it
impractical to continue posting those solutions. I apologize to
those that have been using these quizzes in preparation for the chapter
tests.
I plan on still posting test solutions once all make-ups are in, so
hopefully students can use those to prepare for major exams. From
time to time, I will temporarily post solutions to worksheets or
activities as the need arises.
* The test over Chapter 1 was used by other teachers who
preferred not to post the questions in the event it might be used again.
I'll use different versions from now on so students can still get the
solutions. The one over Chapter 12 still had make-ups to be
completed by finals time, so I couldn't post it.
Interested in a little extra review for the "big" tests?
I'll post the review topics below as they become available:
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1st
Quarter Exam - The topics here cover Chapters 1-4, plus a few
additional concepts. |
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1st
Semester Exam
- This is the review packet put together for the fall semester exam.
The topics cover Chapters 1-6, 9, plus a few additional concepts. |
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3rd Quarter Exam - The topics here cover most of Chapters 7-10, plus a few
additional concepts. |
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2nd
Semester Exam - This is the system-wide set of review problems for
the CCA (common county assessment). The problems include topics
from both semesters. The review contains the answers to each
problem on the last page, but I (quickly) put together sample
solutions for those that might like a little more help. |
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Additional Resources.
Here are a few
additional links that students can use for finding extra help (study
guides, practice worksheets, etc). I haven't used them much
myself, but other students have and seem to find them useful.
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Algebrahelp.com - This site
contains lessons, worksheets, and calculators listed by topic. The
calculators will work out problems step-by-step so that students can get an
idea of not only the answer, but the solution to that answer.
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Purplemath - This site acts as a
portal to other help sites, but there is a lesson index at the right that
offers help by topic (most of the topics in Algebra 1 can be found under
Beginning Algebra Topics and Intermediate Algebra Topics).
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Algebra.com - This site advertises
free help with algebra homework and has tutorials and problem solving
calculators.
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SparkNotes - This site offers
more than just math help and can be a little overwhelming with everything it
offers, so this just links you directly to the math help index.
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