STEP 1. Watch this short welcome video from Mr H.
STEP 2. Read the following:
Welcome to your first algebra lesson in Math 9. What is our destination: what should you be able to do by the end of our unit on algebra? How will you be evaluated? Here are answers to these important questions.
There are two goals for Lesson 1: (1) remember some essential algebra words and concepts and (2) identify how algebra might help us solve real problems. You'll be successful in this lesson when you (1) show me that you understand at least four of the key algebra words and (2) identify at least one challenge of not using algebra to solve problems.
STEP 2. Read the following:
Welcome to your first algebra lesson in Math 9. What is our destination: what should you be able to do by the end of our unit on algebra? How will you be evaluated? Here are answers to these important questions.
Destination: By the end of this unit, you should be able to solve nine new types of algebra equations and use these skills to solve a variety of word problems.
Evaluation: Your grade will be based on a unit test--which you'll do after you've had lots of instruction and practice. It's an opportunity to demonstrate your skills at solving equations and problems. Check out the marking rubric for the test: it lists the specific skills you'll learn and how you will be graded.Lesson Introduction
There are two goals for Lesson 1: (1) remember some essential algebra words and concepts and (2) identify how algebra might help us solve real problems. You'll be successful in this lesson when you (1) show me that you understand at least four of the key algebra words and (2) identify at least one challenge of not using algebra to solve problems.
Part of learning math is learning to understand and use math terminology. Here are six words or phrases that are important in algebra:
STEP 3. Algebra is a tool that helps solve real world problems. Without using algebra, solve each of the word problems below. Here are some strategies you could try: guess and check, make a table, draw a diagram, use logic. Good luck!
STEP 4. Do the following and submit to me (Mr H). Write a sentence or two that uses at least four of the six vocabulary words and shows you understand them. Describe how you solved the word problems. What challenges did you face or do you think people might face when solving such number riddles?
- Equations are math sentences that show some mathematical expression equals another. For example, 3x + 15 = -60.
- Coefficients are numbers that are multiplied by the unknown. In 3x + 15 = -60, 3 is a coefficient because it is multiplied by the unknown, x.
- Constants are numbers that stand alone in an equation on the side of the unknown. In 3x + 15 = -60, 15 is the constant.
- Solve means to figure out what an unknown number is. In the equation, 3x + 15 = -60, solving means finding out what number works in place of x.
- Isolating the unknown is part of solving equations. We try to get the unknown by itself on one side of the equal sign. Algebra helps us remove the 15 and the 3 from the left side of 3x + 15 = -60 so x is alone.
- Solution is the number that works in an equation. The number that works in 3x + 15 = -60 is -25. So the solution is x = -25.
f + 20 = 25
f + 20 - 20 = 25 - 20 (we subtract 20 from both sides so we isolate f)
f = 5 (this is our solution)
g - 22 = -2Do you remember solving equations like this? Try using the step-wise process I used in the examples to solve this equation:
g - 22 + 22 = -2 + 22
g = 20
d + 13 = 3.
STEP 3. Algebra is a tool that helps solve real world problems. Without using algebra, solve each of the word problems below. Here are some strategies you could try: guess and check, make a table, draw a diagram, use logic. Good luck!
Brooke is 15 years younger than Josh. In 5 years Josh will be twice as old as Brooke. How old are Brooke and Josh now?
Petra has six times as many dimes as quarters in her pocket. She has 21 coins in her pocket totaling $2.55. How many of each type of coin does she have?
STEP 4. Do the following and submit to me (Mr H). Write a sentence or two that uses at least four of the six vocabulary words and shows you understand them. Describe how you solved the word problems. What challenges did you face or do you think people might face when solving such number riddles?
