Week of Feb. 15th

Over the last couple of weeks we have been working on the following topics:
   - Probability
   - Perimeter
   - Circumference
   - Area of rectangles, triangles, trapezoids, and circles
I have noticed that overall the 7th graders are weak in these areas.  Below is a list of videos from www.virtualnerd.com by Pearson that might help some students.  These videos can also be accessed on a smart phone with the Virtual Nerd app.

Probability
- How Do You Find the Probability of a Simple Event?
- What is the Complement of an Event?
- Independent Events

Measurement
- How Do You Find the Perimeter of a Shape?
- How Do You Find the Area of a Rectangle?
- How Do You Find the Area of a Trapezoid?
- How Do You Find the Area of a Triangle?

- What is Circumference?

- How Do You Find the Area of a Circle if You Know the Radius?
- What is Pi?
- How Do You Find the Circumference of a Circle if You Know the Radius?
- How Do You Find the Circumference of a Circle if You Know the Diameter?
- How Do You Find the Diameter of a Circle if You Know its Radius?
- How Do You Find the Area of a Circle if You Know the Diameter?

- How Do You Find the Area of a Composite Figure?

This week we will begin discussing 3D figures and finding volume.

Bonus Question of the Week

Please copy the problem, not the picture, show your work, and circle your final answer.  Turn your answer in by Friday, Feb. 26th for 20 Bonus points.

You have a simple house but you would like to redo the floors in each room of your house.  In each bedroom and the living room you would like to add hardwood flooring which will cost $5.30 per square foot.  In the kitchen you want tile that costs $1.98 per square foot.  A friend is going to help you install the flooring so you won't have any labor cost.  However, you want to give your friend $200 for his help.  How much will it cost you to redo the floors in your house?

Week of Jan. 18th

Over the past two weeks we have been learning about Probability.  We have looked at simple probability, which is just the chance that something is going to happen, to finding the probability of independent and dependent events.  Here is a link to the vocabulary we have covered during this unit.

We will have a test over probability Thursday, January 21st.

Bonus Question of the week:

Please copy the problem down, answer the question, and show how you got that answer.  Turn your problem in by Friday, January 29th for 10 bonus points.

A card is chosen at random from a standard deck of 52 playing cards. Without replacing it, a second card is chosen. What is the probability that the first card chosen is a queen and the second card chosen is a jack?

Week of December 14th

This is the week before Christmas break.  This week, we will continue making the connection between the model, the algebraic expression, the t-chart, and the graph.  In class, this is know as BBOA or the Building Blocks of Algebra.  Monday and Tuesday we will be given t-charts and be asked to find the expression that makes the t-chart.  Wednesday and Thursday we will be working on an activity where, if I give you one part of the BBOA you will give me the other four.  Friday, we will be looking at BBOA on the Graphing Calculator.

I wish all and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Bonus Problem of the Week

Copy the problem down, solve, and label your final answer.  Please turn your answer in before you leave for Christmas Break.

One of your friends is heading north for the Christmas holiday and the other friend is heading south. If their destinies are 1029 miles apart and one car is traveling at 45 miles per hour and the other car is traveling at 53 miles per hour. How many hours before the two cars pass each other?

Week of Nov. 9th

Last week we began a unit over ratios, unit rates, proportions, and percents.  This series of lessons are probably the most important and most useful lessons we will cover because students will use them in one form another for the rest of their lives.  We started week learning how to convert fractions to decimals.  We were assigned 41 Fraction to Decimal Equivalents to memorize.  We have been working on them for a week now and will continue to practice this week for a series of 5 minute quizzes.  Please make sure you are studying.  Click Here for a list of the equivalents we need to learn.

This week we will be:
Monday - Solve Proportions using cross multiplication
Tuesday - Write and Solve Proportions from Word Problems
Wednesday - Find Percent of a Number using Multiplication
Thursday - Calculate Sales Tax, Discount, and Tip
Friday - Complete a Hallway activity over Proportions

Bonus Question of the Week

In order to receive 20 Bonus points this week you need to copy the problem down, work the problem showing the work, and answer the problem with the correct label.

BestBuy is having a sale on TV's.  The TV you are going to buy is a 65" Samsung 4K Ultra HD LED TV.  It costs $2,299.99.  It is on sale for 30% off the retail price.  You must pay 8% sales tax on the sale price.  You also need help getting the TV home.  BestBuy will deliever your new TV to your home for an additional $69.99.  How much money will you have to pay to purchase the TV? (Remember: Money is rounded to the nearest hundredth.  Round each answer to the nearest cent before you make the next calculation.)

Week of Oct. 26th

It has been awhile since I have posted.  I apologize for that.  Over the last two weeks we have been studying equations.  We have learned to solve 1 and 2-step equations for an unknown.  Here's an example:

2x + 3 = 15

2x + 3 + (-3) = 15 + (-3)

2x = 12

 2x  =   12 

2          2

x = 6

I teach students that solving an equation is a process that you do over and over again.

Step 1:  Get rid of your addition or subtraction

How:  Add the opposite to both sides of the equation.

Step 2:  Get rid of your multiply and divide.

How:  You do the opposite to both sides of the equation.

We have now moved on to solving 1 and 2-step inequalities.  The major difference between an equation and an inequality is that an inequality can have multiple answers that will make the problem true.

Example:

2x + 3 > 15

2x + 3 + (-3) > 15 + (-3)

2x > 12

 2x  >   12 

2          2

x > 6

So, any value greater than 6 will make this problem true.

2(8) + 3 > 15

16 + 3 > 15

18 > 15

This week we will finishing solving inequalities, take a Common Assessment over equations and inequalities, and learn how to play Sumdog.

Remember, Friday is Parent / Teacher Conference Day.  There will be no school for students.  Monday is a Staff Development day so students actually have a 4 day weekend.  Enjoy.

Bonus Question of the Week:

Roger is having a picnic for 78 guests. He plans to serve each guest at least one hot dog. If each package, p, contains eight hot dogs, which inequality could be used to determine how many packages of hot dogs Roger will need to buy?

A.  p > 78                     C.  8 + p > 78

B.  8p > 78                   D.  78 - p > 8

Also, how many packages will he need to buy?

To receive Bonus points you must write the problem on a sheet of paper, solve the problem, and turn it in by Thursday, Oct. 29th.

Have a good week!

Week of Sept. 21st

Last week we began discussing mixed number operations.  We reviewed addition and subtraction of mixed numbers along with subtracting mixed numbers where you have to borrow.  We determined that there are six basic steps to add or subtract mixed numbers.

Step 1 - Find a common denominator.
Step 2 - Change your numerator to match (what you did to change the denominator you do the same thing to the numerator).
Step 3 - Add or subtract your numerators (Borrow if you need to).
Step 4 - Keep your new denominator.
Step 5 - Add or Subtract your whole parts
Step 6 - SIMPLIFY!!!!!

Example of Adding Mixed Numbers

Example of Subtracting Mixed Numbers with borrowing

This week we will focus on Multiplying and Dividing Mixed Numbers.  We will learn a few "Raps" to help us remember how to multiply and divide.

Bonus Question of the Week

To earn 10 Bonus Points for the week you need to copy the following problem on a sheet of paper.  Work the problem showing your work.  Circle your final answer with its correct label.  Turn it in to me by Thursday, Sept. 24th.

4/7 of the birthday cake was eaten on your birthday. The next day your dad ate 1/2 of what was left. You get to finish the cake, how much is left?

Week of Sept. 7th

This week we will continue our study of Integers.  Last week we reviewed how to add and subtract integers so this week we will multiply and divide integers.  We will end the week with Test 1-1 over all integers.

We need to remember for addition of integers you:
- Ask the question "Are my signs alike or different?"
If your signs are alike you add your numbers and keep the sign of the problem.

ex.  5 + 8 = 13      -13 + (-7) = -20

If your signs are different then you subtract your numbers and take the sign of the number with the greatest absolute value (farthest from 0).

ex.  -8 + 6 = -2        -12 + 18 = 6

If you have a subtraction problem you:
Step 1:  Keep the first number the same.
Step 2:  Change you subtraction sign to an addition sign.
Step 3:  Change you next number to its opposite.

ex.     12 - (-5) =                   -20 - (-8) =

          12 + 5 = 17                 -20 + 8 = -12

This week we will learn about multiply and divide integers.  The good thing is the rules are the same.

Step 1:  Multiply or divide the numbers like always.
Step 2:  Count your negative signs.
 - If there is an even number of negatives your answer is positive.
 - If there is an odd number of negatives your answer is negative.

ex.  4 x (-6) = -24          -3 x (-2) x 3 = 18

      24 / -8 = -3              -15 / -3 = 5


Bonus Question of the Week:

To earn 10 Bonus Points for the Week you need to copy the following problem on a sheet of paper.  Work the problem showing your work.  Provide me with your final answer with its correct label.

You owe $225. on your credit card. You make a $55. payment and then purchase $87 worth of clothes at Dillards. What is the integer that represents the balance owed on the credit card?