THIS IS THE WEEK BEFORE SPRING BREAK MIGHTY FALCONS SO LET'S MAKE IT COUNT BEFORE WE TAKE OFF TO OUR MUCH DESERVED BREAK!
AC2E MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH DEPARTMENT WILL BE HOSTING OUR VERY OWN 1ST ANNUAL PI DAY!
Every year on March 14, math lovers around the country celebrate pi. Some enthusiasts even go so far as to mark Pi Minute at 1:59, which takes into account the first six digits of the pi: 3.14159. Pi Day provides the perfect excuse for incorporating math and geometry into all aspects of the school day.
What Is Pi?
Pi is the circumference of a circle (the distance around the circle) divided by its diameter (the distance across). In other words, the circumference of any circle is approximately 3.14 times its diameter. Because pi is an irrational number, it has an infinite number of digits. No matter how many decimal places we calculate, pi will always be an approximation.
Because pi is the same for every circle, we can use it to determine the diameter if we know the circumference, or vice versa. And when we know the diameter, it’s easy to calculate the area.
Because pi is the same for every circle, we can use it to determine the diameter if we know the circumference, or vice versa. And when we know the diameter, it’s easy to calculate the area.
HONORS MATH CLASS:
WE WILL BEGIN SOLVING ONE STEP EQUATIONS THAT INCLUDE ALL FOUR OPERATIONS WHICH INCLUDE ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, MULTIPLICATION, AND DIVISION.
HERE IS A JUMP START TO WHAT WE WILL BEGIN WORKING WITH MIGHTY FALCONS:
ALSO, CONTINUE USING YOUR MATH/ALGEBRA VOCABULARY, YOU ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB KIDDOS!
How to Solve
Algebra is just like a puzzle where we start with something like "x − 2 = 4" and we want to end up with something like "x = 6".
But instead of saying "obviously x=6", use this neat step-by-step approach:
- Work out what to remove to get "x = ..."
- Remove it by doing the opposite (adding is the opposite of subtracting)
- Do that to both sides
Here is an example:
| We want to remove the "-2" | To remove it, do the opposite, in this case add 2: | Do it to both sides: | Which is ... | Solved! |
 |  |  |  |  |
Why did we add 2 to both sides?
To "keep the balance"...
 |
| In Balance |
| Add 2 to Left Side |
 |
| Out of Balance! |
| Add 2 to Right Side Also |
 |
| In Balance Again |
Just remember this:
| To keep the balance, what we do to one side of the "=" we should also do to the other side! |
Another Puzzle
Solve this one:| x | + | 5 | = | 12 |
| Start with: | x + 5 = 12 |
What we are aiming for is an answer like "x = ...", and the plus 5 is in the way of that!
We can cancel out the plus 5 by doing a subtract 5 (because 5−5=0)
| |
| So, let us have a go at subtracting 5 from both sides: | x+5 −5 = 12 −5 |
| A little arithmetic (5−5 = 0 and 12−5 = 7) becomes: | x+0 = 7 |
| Which is just: | x = 7 |
| Solved! | |
| (Quick Check: 7+5=12) | |
WE WILL ALSO BEGIN EXPLORING CIRCLES AND PI THIS WEEK TO BE READY FOR PI DAY THIS UPCOMING FRIDAY!
GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION:
WORK ON YOUR CITY DESIGN PROJECT AND MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW ALL THE CRITERIA PROVIDED TO EARN AN A.
REMINDERS:
TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL'S WEEK OPEN HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY FROM 4-6 PM.
SEE YOU THERE!
PI DAY ON FRIDAY MARCH 6TH!
All the so-called "secrets of success" will not work unless you do. ~Author Unknown
STUDENT'S WORKING ON TRIANGLE ACTIVITY IN GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION:
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16-20, 2015
