In today's class we discussed how to solve absolute value equations. We first discussed the ideas and how equations can be equal to a positive or negative result. We reviewed the steps to isolate the inequality, set up two cases, solve. At one point JPaul questioned the answers we got. I grabbed my solutions manual to check and the solutions we got were correct, but JPaul said "that wouldn't make sense bc an absolute value cannot result in a negative number." So we used the online calculator Wolfram Alpha to check. He was in fact, correct! Wolfram Alpha confirmed the equation we were trying to solve had NO solutions! I gave him a 1% bonus for that to be applied to his next quiz or Test.

Today we reviewed operating leverage and had an introduction to Capital Structure Theory.

Today's session addressed how to use fiction as evidence to support the argumentative essay on the AP exam. In this regard, I assigned and JP read, James' "Daisy Miller." While we can not know what issue the prompt on AP exam will raise ,we examined how the themes from the novel could support an argumentative essay on: Individualism and the cost of disregarding social norms, Social class systems, American culture , The double standard that governs male and female sexuality, and Forming superficial judgments. I noted how Daisy's death after visiting the Colosseum at night with a man in defiance of social mores invokes the imagery of the early Christians who were sacrificed for refusing to abjure their beliefs.

Today he wrote about his winter break.

Today we worked on pages 47,48 and 49 of the book. He is learning about the expressions: Me gustaria, and quisieras.

Complete assigned worksheet.

Define and discus predation and parasitoids. Discuss the behavioral, morphological, and chemical defense organisms have developed to counter predators. Introduce parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism. Discuss the part each effect has on the ecology of the community, particularly as it relates to resource partitioning.

We studied the classic scene of Lady Macbeth's hand washing/ sleepwalking as a manifestation of her guilty conscience. Critically ,we noted how Lady Macbeth repeats many lines from Act I wherein she persuades Macbeth to murder Duncan, and how the imagery within her comments now mimic Macbeth's early imagery of blood/water and the longing for redemption. As Macbeth's Fortune turns, I reintroduced the term "peripeteia" and we explored where and when Macbeth suffers a reversal of Fortune. Last, we reviewed Joshua's study guide answers .

JP completed his test on Unit 5 during today's session.

Review core concepts of the course.