Middle School Mathematics, Stafford, March 10 - 14

 

Math Counts:

Congratulations to our Stargate Math Counts Students and Team! These students are: Mikey Davis, C.J. Feinberg, Nancy Kim, Daniel Kinch, Aaron Sandoval, Sawyer Vaughan and Joe Yoshimura. Five of these students individually scored in the top 25% among Colorado’s best middle school students and Sawyer Vaughan earned a top 10 placement. In the team competition, Daniel Kinch, Aaron Sandoval, Sawyer Vaughan and Joe Yoshimura earned a coveted fifth place! Way to go students and Stargate. 

 

This week in Geometry we conclude the chapter on the Pythagorean Theorem.

The class should understand how to find the missing length (leg or hypotenuse) in a right triangle, how to find the hypotenuse in an isosceles right triangle, how to the sides are related in a 30-60 right triangle, how to find the distance between two points in a coordinate plane and how the theorem can be extended to three dimensions.

 

This week in College Prep Algebra we continue our study of factoring quadratics. In this unit the students are to:

·         Lean how to “undo” multiplying binomials by factoring trinomials

·         Explore how to factor special products, such as differences of squares and perfect square trinomials

·         Combine factoring skills, including common terms, special binomial products, and trinomials

·         Solve factorable quadratic equations algebraically using the Zero Product Property.

·         Study quadratic equations in relation to their graphs.

This week we will focus on factoring perfect square trinomials, and factoring completely.

 

This week in Integrated Algebra, the class continues Chapter 8, the Pythagorean Theorem, Surface area, and volume. From the study the students should:

·         Identify right triangles.

·         Develop and use the Pythagorean Theorem

·         Use the technique of sub-problems to solve complex problems.

·         Find the surface area and volume of prisms and cylinders.

This week we estimate square roots, construct 3-dimensional models and 2-dimensional drawings, and develop the formula and compute the volume of a prism.

 

This week in Pre Algebra II, we continue our study in chapter 8 of Geometry, Property and Equations. From this chapter the students should accomplish

·         Classify triangles by the length of their sides.

·         Solve angle problems involving complementary and supplementary angles.

·         Write and solve algebraic equations.

·         Solve problems by applying the Distributive, Associative, and Commutative Properties.

·         Combine like terms in algebraic expressions and equations.

This week we will focus on understanding the sum of the measures of the angles of triangles and quadrilaterals, solve angle problems with and without protractors, and verify conjectures about equilateral and isosceles triangles.