3rd Blog Assignment

Dear members of our learning community:

Last week we began a discussion regarding the Pythagorean Theorem and this week we began our study of Trigonometry of the right triangle. Below is a problem we will use as our opening acitivity on Friday, December 11, 2009. First, I would like for each and every one of you to complete this question in its entirety. You may use your classmates and notes as well as any material posted in our classroom.

As seen in the accompanying diagram, a person can travel from
New York City to Buffalo by going north 170 miles to Albany and then
west 280 miles to Buffalo.














a If an engineer wants to design a highway to connect New York City directly to Buffalo, at what angle, x, would she need to build the highway? Find the angle to the nearest degree.



b To the nearest mile, how many miles would be saved by traveling
directly from New York City to Buffalo rather than by traveling first
to Albany and then to Buffalo?


Using the answers to part a and b, please compare and contrast the Pythagorean Theorem and Trigonometry. Your complete blog post is due by Monday, December 22, 2009.

Sincerely,

Ms. Budney

2nd Blog Assignment

Dear Learning Community:

We have been studying the steps necessary to factor an algebraic expression. In addition, we have reviewed multiplying a binomial by another binomial. Below there are three samples of student answers. You will be assigned to evaluate one of the three students work. Please state whether you agree or disagree with this student's work and justify your response.

Student 1: Multiply: (3x + 2)^2 =
(3x + 2) (3x + 2) =
9x^2 + 4


Student 2: Factor completely: 5x^2y - 10xy^2

5x(xy - 2y^2)


Student 3: Factor completely: 5x^3 - 45x =

5x(x^2 - 9) =

5x(x + 3) (x - 3)

Your comments should be received by the close of business on Friday, October 23, 2009.

Sincerely,

Ms. Budney

Response to the first blog assignment

I am glad that several of you have now begun to post your responses. Please be mindful to answer the questions that have been asked. Please be specific when writing your responses. If you did not respond to the questions I posed, please re-write your comments and resubmit.

Sincerely,

Ms. Budney

Mathematical Properties - September 7th, 2009

Dear Members of our learning community,

This week we have begun a discussion regarding several mathematical properties. Please write a letter to your friend who is attending another mathematics class and teach him or her about two of the properties you learned. Please provide a specific example for each property you chose to teach your friend. Also, please determine whether the commutative property applies to subtraction and division. Be sure to justify your answer. This assignment is due Friday, September 18th, 2009 by the close of business.

Have a pleasant weekend.

Sincerely,

Ms. Budney