Yesterday Ben took a test in class. Today, we reviewed it together. He got a 100% on it. I was SO SO proud of Ben. He is showing how capable he is to do higher order thinking mathematics. Next, we decided to listen to a podcast explaining why you cannot divide by zero in mathematics. Ben has been asking me why it results in something undefined. I tried to explain it to him but I realized I wasn't doing a good job. He found a podcast on it. We listened and it really opened up a world of existentialism. It got pretty deep explaining that there is no difference in "Zero World". It was quite interesting.

Lesson 11-4 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions – We discovered that the process of multiplying rational expressions is similar to that of multiplying rational numbers. If possible, we simplified the rational expressions, then we multiplied the numerators and the denominators. To divide rational expressions, we multiplied by the reciprocal of the divisor, just as we would do when dividing rational numbers.

Testing

Ben was to take a test on Absolute Value functions today. We began class by reviewing the transformations together. Just as we were beginning to start, Dr. Jordy came in to tell us Ben's mom was there for an appointment he had. So tomorrow he will take the test instead.

4-3 Solving Systems of Equations by Elimination – We practiced solving systems of linear equations by elimination and proving that the sum of one equation and a multiple of the other produces a system with the same solutions as the original system. Then we practiced representing constraints with a system of equations in a modeling context.
Assignment: For homework complete assigned problems.

Lesson 8-9 Perfect Squares – We practiced finding the product of the sum and difference of two quantities. We factored perfect square trinomials and solved equations involving perfect squares. We were preparing for a test that Hudson has tomorrow.

4-3 Solving Systems of Equations by Elimination – We learned that elimination is an alternate method for solving systems of equations when it is not easy to use substitution. We multiplied one or both equations by a constant to get like coefficients that are opposite integers to use elimination.
Assignment: For homework complete assigned problems.

Today we spent the class clarifying the mistakes that Ben made on Friday with his "mock" test. I gave him a test that I assumed he was prepared for but unfortunately he got all of the horizontal transformations swapped with the vertical transformations. So today we did an exercise on the board where Ben had to describe, up, down, left, right, stretch, shrink, or reflect. I did a few examples and then he did the rest. Next I gave him another mock exam. He did well on it this time. Tomorrow he will take a real test.

Ben had a Test today on absolute value functions. I asked him if he wanted to review first. He shrugged his shoulders and said let’s get it over with.. Ben worked through the problems. I asked him to”explain in words” the transformations. He asked me what I meant by that and I said “up 3, down 2, reflect over the y/axis, shrink by a 1/2, etc”. On his test he wrote D4 and L1. I told him I understood what he meant but another teacher or professor might require proper description. .I will grade the test and we will review it Monday.

MAP Testing