Prompt # 1

Think about your favorite pasttimes.  What effect does math have on the things you like to do in your spare time?

Prompt # 2 (Sep 21, 2009)

Think about the profession / career that you will go into  after you graduate from college.  Describe how math has an impact on the things you will do.

Prompt # 3 (Oct 4, 2009)

Write a short story that includes the use of Integers, that is, positive and negative numbers including zero.  Your writing should be about a page long in your Journal without skipping lines.   (DUE ON FRIDAY, OCT 9th)

Prompt #4 (Oct 14, 2009)

Think about what you have learned about Integers, such as all the rules for math operations and how positives and negatives affect the outcomes.  What do you see in how integers are added that is similar to how they are multiplied?   How are those two operations different from each other?  What about subtraction and division?  What are the similarities and differences in those two operations?  

Write a paragraph on each explaining what you know to a younger student.  (DUE ON MONDAY, OCT 26th)  …gives you a little more time to get ‘er done:)!

Prompt #5  (Oct 22, 2009)

Why does 4 + (- 4) = 0?   Explain using absolute value and opposites.   Write at least a full paragraph and add a small drawing to illustrate your points.  (CHANGE: DUE ON FRIDAY, OCT 30th)

Prompt #6  (Nov 4, 2009)

Describe how to use the Distributive Property when you are mentally calculating the total cost of seven (7) items which cost $1.49 a piece.   (As in class, we won’t worry about the sales tax or any discounts.)  Give a detailed explanation in writing (this will take at least two full paragraphs) and then show all of the math involved.  (DUE ON FRIDAY, NOV 13th!)

Prompt #7 (Nov 18, 2009)

Explain Scientific Notation, fully and completely.  (DUE ON MONDAY, NOV 30th!)

Prompt #8 (Dec 5, 2009)

Why does the order of operations matter in mathematics?  What happens when you come across a problem that involves both division and multiplication, but has no parentheses?  Include examples in your discussion.  (DUE ON FRIDAY, DEC 11th!)

Prompt #9 (Jan 4, 2010)

Explain fully the differences between an expression, an equation and an inequality.  Use examples and explain the differences in detail.  Suggestion: keep your examples simple, and use the same group of numbers  to make your point in each part of your discussion.  (DUE ON FRIDAY, JAN 15th!)

Prompt #10 (Feb 2, 2010)

Go to the adults in your household and talk with them about inequalities.  After you have explained what they are in math, ask them about the inequalities that exist in your household.  Once you find one, the rest are usually easy to spot.  Choose at least three (yes, pun intended!) and write about them.  Also represent your choices mathematically.    (Yes, you may have to use a variable or two!)  (DUE ON FRIDAY, FEB 12th!)

Prompt #11 (Feb 27, 2010)

Ratios are an everyday part of our lives.  Think about the ratios that you have personally used or benefitted from outside the classroom this week.  Describe three of them (extra credit if you can find five!) by telling what they were and how they affected your life.  Also, try to draw a picture or diagram that represents the main idea in each one.  Remember to label them, and try to show the mathematical relationship(s) involved.  (DUE ON FRIDAY, MAR 12th!)

Prompt #12 (Mar 16, 2010)

What does your room look like?    Draw your room to scale, letting 1 inch represent 1 foot.  (If the drawing won’t fit on a nomal size sheet of paper, you may need to change your scale.  If that is the case, try using a different scale, such as 1 inch = 1.5 feet or 1 inch = 2 feet.)  Include your bed, your dresser and other main pieces of furniture that are in your room.  Label them neatly showing their dimensions as well.  Use a blank sheet of paper or graph paper if you have it, then tape your work onto the next page in your math journal.  (DUE ON FRIDAY, MAR 26th!)