Homework due Monday 10/3

Three parts to this assignment:

• Lesson 1.6 exercises 41, 43, 45
  
• Solve these three equations graphically:
  
  
  
  1. x^2=3-x
     
  2. 2^x=-x
     
  3. x^2=5
     
  
  
• Lesson 1.5 exercises 9, 11, 14, 22 (parts acd) [Ignore the part of the directions saying "Describe the correlation."]
  

IMPORTANT: Bring your book and your calculator on Monday.

Homework due Friday 9/30

Read Lesson 1.6 on equation solving. (Just skim the part that mentions
graphing calculators; we'll come back to it after the calculator shipment
arrives.) Do these 1.6 exercises: 13-37 alternating odds, 47-59 all.

Test Wednesday 9/28

This first test will cover linear functions and general function concepts. The relevant sections in your textbook are 1.1–1.3 and 2.3–2.6. Also look at your notes and the sheets of extra problems. Here’s a more detailed topic outline:

• Linear functions (1.1–1.3), especially point-slope form (see 9/13 handout or textbook p. 22).
  
• Function concept and its various representations — input/output, f(x) formula, table, graph (2.3).
  
• Functions defined using piecewise formulas (part of 2.6).
  
• Function operations (2.4; 9/20 extra problem handout).
  
• Inverses of functions (2.5; 9/23 notes handout; 9/26 extra problem handout).
  

Because the calculators ordered through school have not yet arrived, this will be a no-calculator test.

Homework due Tuesday 9/27

Tonight's homework is to finish the problem sheet from class, "More
problems on inverses." Also, start studying for Wednesday's test.

Homework due Monday 9/26

Lesson 2.5 Exercises 23, 25, 27, 28, 29-53 odd. Also review the sheet of
notes distributed in class.

Homework due Friday 9/23

See the homework assignment sheet "Finding pairs of inverse functions."

Homework due Wednesday 9/21

Sheet of problems distributed in class: "More problems on function operations."

Homework due Tuesday 9/20

Lesson 2.4 exercises 13, 21, 30-34, 37-59 odd, 60-63.

Homework due Monday 9/19

Lesson 2.3 Exercises 17, 21, 27, 31-36, 41, 47, 51-63 odd.


Lesson 2.6 Exercises 17, 19, 21, 25, 27.

Homework due Friday 9/16

The Algebra Pre-Test that you took yesterday will be returned today. Your homework due Friday is:

• For any pre-test problems where you didn't get full credit, write out a correct solution on separate paper.
  
• Do the pre-test "Follow Up Assignment" (handout distributed in class).
  

Homework due Wednesday 9/14

Do the problems on the handout "Linear equations in point-slope form."

Homework due Tuesday 9/13

Finish problems 7-10 from Monday's handout, "A few more review problems."

Tuesday we will have the pre-test on Algebra 1 content. See the previous post for details and links to optional review materials.

Homework due Monday 9/12

Finish "First problem set" begun in class.

Other things to do by Monday:

• Read the Course Guide.
  
• Cover your book, and bring it to class on Monday.
  
• If you're buying a calculator and want to order it through school, the order form is due Monday.
  
• If you're borrowing a calculator from school, pick up a borrowing form in office 711 (downstairs in the Math Building).
  

Pre-test on Tuesday 9/13

Early next week, all of the 9th grade Algebra 2 classes will have a pre‑test covering the Algebra 1 skills and concepts that are prerequisite for this course. The purpose of the pre-test is to see whether you know Algebra 1 well enough to be prepared for Honors Algebra 2.
For our class, the pre-test will be on Tuesday, September 13. For fairness, since some students may not have calculators yet, the pre-test will be a no-calculator test.
If you fully learned Algebra 1 last year, you might not have to study for this pre-test. However, for those who wish to do some reviewing, the following resources will be useful:

• Lexington Algebra 1 topic outline
  
• Questions and answers from the pre-tests we gave in 2003 and 2004 (find under Departmental exam archive)
  

The pre-test will not count toward your grade, but it will be a chance to see whether you have already learned the things you are supposed to have learned before taking this year’s course. If it turns out that you have a few gaps in your knowledge, the pre-test will help you identify where you need to fill in. If you have serious difficulty on the pre-test, it might mean that you’d be better off in a different level or a different course. It’s not too late to switch classes if you decide that you’re misplaced.

Autobiography assignment (due Fri. 9/9)

Your first assignment is to write me a letter or essay about yourself that will help me get to know you as a person and as a math student. It should have two parts:

1. Your personal autobiography. Tell about yourself and your interests. Describe a few of your activities and hobbies, talents and passions, values and commitments. What are the important things that you want me to know about you? [Note: If you’ve been given the same kind of assignment by another teacher, it’s OK to give me what you write for the other class.]

2. Your mathematical autobiography. Describe yourself as a math student in the past and in the present. What have been your best and worst experiences related to math? What kinds of math class activities are good or bad for you? When has learning math been easy, and when has it been hard? What do you like about math itself? And finally, what are your goals for this math class? [Note: If you’re new to the Lexington schools, be sure to identify your former school and describe your math classes there.]

Please write honestly and informally. This assignment is my first chance to learn about you, so it’s important to just be yourself. You will get credit just for handing in a paper, but I will not be grading your paper or judging your opinions in any way.

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Homework assignment reminders will be posted on this blog. You might want to bookmark it.