Mr. Musolf's Mathematics Blog

Welcome.  This site hosts my math blog.  The purpose of this blog is to provide you a forum through which to ask and respond to questions from both myself and other students.  I hope to have you think about the math we are doing in class and how we are approaching it.  Please do not hesitate to make suggestions that you feel will help both our class and this site be more useful to you and possibly others.  I will do what I can to accomodate you. 

I am very happy to see the questions you have created for this assignment.  There are many who still have questions to post.

Please do not place your answers to the question you are answering as a comment.  Write down the problem on a separate sheet of paper, draw an appropriate diagram which illustrates your problem-solving technique, and then hand it in.

Mr. M

Use the comment area to post your problem.  This will be scored as a separate homework assignment.  When you post your problem give your name like this: J. Musolf, first initial and last name.  That way the appropriate person receives credit.

Copy down one of the posted problems (other than your own) and solve it using a diagram.  This will be due next Friday, February 2. 

I am looking forward to your creative responses!

Mr. M

     The new semester is approaching quickly.  What changes should be made for the new semester.  What would you like to see happen differently in class?  What would you like to see more of?  What would you like to see less of?  What changes in your approach to studying should you make?  Should you sit where you would like or should I create a seating chart?  I am open to any suggestions you may have.

     Mr. M

As promised, here is a list of concepts you will be seeing on your midyear exam in January.  To be successful it is best that you begin studying as soon as possible.

1. Order of operations
2. absolute value
3. number patterns (inductive reasoning)
4. graphing points in the coordinate plane
5. distributive property
6. parts of a variable expression (coefficient, like terms, constants)
7. inequalities -- writing, solving and graphing
8. one step equations with (=, -, *, / )
9. using formulas
10. converting metric units
11. geometric figures (line, segment, plane, angle, point)
12. parallel and perpendicular lines
13. angles (adjacent, vertical, supplemental, complementary, corresponding, & alternate interior)
14. congruent angles
15. polygons
16. area of polygons and circles (using formulas not given on test!)
17. polyhedra and circular solids

This is the list.  It's long, but there are many overlapping concepts.  I will allow you the use of one 3 x 5 notecard for use during your exam. 

Don't forget to review.  If you have questions, please ask them whether in or out of class.

Mr. M

As promised, here is the list of exam review topics for your exam in January.

1. Graphing data
2. Central measure statistics
3. Ratio and Proportion
4. Percent Increase & Decrease
5. ORDER OF OPERATIONS
6. Direct/Inverse Variations
7. Number Tricks & Solving Equations
8. Recursive Routines and Linear Equations
9. IN-OUT game

This is the list of what you need to begin reviewing.  You exam will not cover any information from Chapter 5.  You may use one 3x5 notecard for your exam.

As promised, but a little later than I would have liked, here is a list of topics you should begin reviewing for your exam in January.

1. Order of operations
2. Writing recursive routines for artihmetic and geometric sequences
3. Writing recursive definitions for arithmetic and geometric sequences
4. Writing explicit definitions for arithmetic and geometric sequences
5. Calculating slope and equations of lines
6. Calculating equations of median-median lines and least squares lines
7. Calculating residuals
8. Interpreting r & r^2 values
9. Justifying one linear model over another (med-med v.s. least squares)

That should do it.  Much of your exam will focus on more recent materials.  You may have one 3x5 notecard to bring with you for your exam.

     We are quickly coming upon the end of the first semester.  We have about  3.5 weeks before Christmas break.  After that it's two weeks to semester exams.  Yes, you will have an exam in January.  What I need from you is a listing of concepts that you would like me to review before Christmas break.  Here is an example of how I would like you to give your suggestion:

     Beg. Alg.  --  parallel line & perpendicular lines

     The sooner I can compile your requests, the sooner we can having a more meaningful review.  I will put exam topics on this site so you can begin looking them over.  I will do my best to have them here by Friday, 12/1.

Mr. M

Here are a couple of quiz problems to practice on before your quiz tomorrow.

1.  Enter the data in the lists below into your calculator and make a scatter plot. 

 

L1	L2
1	2
1	4
2	4
3	3
4	3
4	6
4	8
5	6
6	6
7	8
7	9
9	8

Draw a line of best fit through the graph of your data and determine the equation of your line.

 Is your line a good line of best fit?  Explain why based upon the criteria given in class.

2.  According to your model, determine the value of y when x=6.

3.  According to your model, determine the value of y when x=25.

4.  What is the domain and range of the data given.  State using set notation.

 

Come see me in the morning if you have questions regarding these problems.

 

Mr. M

Here are two questions from previous quizzes and tests for you to try just so you can see how your test will be worded.  You can also ask questions prior to your test.

1. A ball has a rebound of 2/3 its original height.  If the ball was originally dropped from a height of 18 meters, find the heights of the first six bounces and the sum of the heights of the first six bounces.  Do this two using two different methods.
2. Given U1 = 3 and r = .375, find the following: 

• S(8)
• Write the sigma notation for the sum of the first 8 bounces.

Good luck.  Let me know if you get stuck on these.