Our test today went well

About 95% of us know how to put fractions, decimals and percents in order. We were also very successful in determining the approximate location of a rational number on the number line. However, we need to work a little more on determining the appropriate operations in a word problem. Also, pay attention to the other words in a problem (the ones that are not math terms). These words may give additional information about what you should do.

The homework from yesterday is due tomorrow.

Also today we received our access code to view our grades online.

The following video will explain what you need to do to sign up.






This video explains a question that a student asked.

More on scientific notation

There are many ways to convert numbers from scientific notation to standard form. You could estimate the product and use that to verify your answer. For example 2.08 x 10^2 is close to 2 x 10^2. Since 2 x 10^2 is 200, you know that the answer to 2.08 x 10^2 is close to 200. So the answer is 208. Or you could move the decimal point according to the power of 10 that you have. If you have 3.16 x 10^3 you could move the decimal point three spaces to the right from where it is in 3.16. When you do that you end up with 3160.


The homework tonight is pg. 132 numbers 12-30 even.
Grades are exported Friday, please redo your study island assignment so that you can receive a higher grade. Also, please return the progress report that I handed out to you today. Make sure that it is signed by your parent. Also, test tomorrow.


If you do not have access to the textbook you may use the code (please see me) when you click the following link.

The following video is a student explaining one of the above ways to convert numbers from scientific notation.





The bottom of the paper was not visible in the video. But here is the paper that she was working on:

Recognizing a number that is in scientific notation

A number in scientific notation has the following requirements. One of the factors (usually the first number) is between 1 and 10. This number may be one but it may not be over 10. The other factor is a power of 10. The exponent may be any integer.

For example 9.7 x 10^5 is correct scientific notation, but 97 x 10^4 is not.


Homework tonight is pg. 132 numbers 11-29 (odd) and numbers 30-34, 36-44.

Also, don't forget grades for this progress report get exported this friday. You must also complete another study island assignment before friday at 5 p.m.

Yes we are still discussing rational numbers

We need to be able to look at a problem solving situation and determine what operations need to be done, and apply those operations to the information that the problem gives.


You have another web assignment on study island. You need to complete this assignment by Sunday. The assignment is titled: "Rational numbers assignment 2". Do not wait until then to do it. Remember that you have many opportunities to redo the assignment and receive a high grade.

No Homework tonight.

Open house is tonight.

Practice your problem solving skills

One plan you may use in solving a problem is to look for a pattern in the information and use it to find your answer. After you do this check your answer for reasonableness.


Homework tonight is to complete sections 1-6 and 2-8 in the glencoe study guide and intervention book. You may access these on the wiki Click the link that says "do you need step by step explanations on chapter problems?"

Also, do not forget that many of the topics we will discuss this year are already explained on our class wiki and on our podcast.

We will do a project involving creating a scripted situation explaining what we have learned so far. If you have an opportunity you may want to start playing around with this free text to action site at this link

Rational number suggestions

If you have a problem that seems difficult, don't forget that you may change it to an equivalent problem to find the solution. For example if you did not know how to calculate -3.5 - (-2.7) you could try the problem without decimals to see what you should do. - 3 - (-2) is an easier problem to work out.


Do not forget that your web assignment is due sunday. Don't procrastinate, as you have known since monday that this assignment is due. Also, your homework this weekend is to complete pg. 113 numbers 1,2,4-16.

Answering questions on rational numbers

You may receive the videos on this blog by downloading our podcast on itunes.

Homework tonight is to complete the sheet "word problem practice section 2-5". . Remember that if you received a poor grade on study island, you may redo it some time before sunday.

The following video explains some questions that were asked about the homework. If you have any additional questions, or if there are examples that you would like to see worked out, please visit our question area and post a comment at the bottom of the screen.

If you needed to see question 39 worked out visit the post for Monday.







Here are the lyrics the the integer song made by CORE educational tools.

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Even more on operations on rational numbers- integer rules

Don't forget to hand in your test corrections by tomorrow. Also, remember that your web assignment is due by sunday. I extended the date to allow those that do not have internet access at home to make arrangements to complete the assignment. Please let me know if you have any technical issues in accessing study island.


Homework tonight : pg 110 numbers 29-41,43,46-59
you may also want to listen to the integer song to remember how to use integers. The integer song was made by CORE (http://www.educationaltools.org/core/).

Addition and subtraction of like fractions (yes you still do this in grade 8)

The difference between adding these fractions in elementary school and doing so in grade 8 is that you will have to use your integer rules to know how to add them. remember that when adding integers if the signs are the same add the numbers and keep the sign. If they are different, subtract the numbers and keep the sign.

You can change any subtraction problem to addition using keep change change.

Homework tonight : read pg. 108-109 do numbers 11-28,44,45


Test corrections due wednesday.



Web assignment due friday : Go to study island and do the assignment ocalled "Operations on rational numbers".


The following video explains how to do the homework for tonight.

How do you divide rational numbers that are in fraction form?

To divide rational numbers that are in fraction form you just need to change the problem to multiplication using the multiplicative inverse. You should do KEEP CHANGE FLIP. Keep the first fraction the same, then change the operation to multiplication and flip the second fraction.

More on operations on rational numbers- multiplying fractions

To multiply fractions remember that like signs have a positive answer when multiplying, and unlike signs have a negative answer. Also to get the product you must multiply the numerators then multiply the denominators, and simplify as necessary.

The homework tonight is to read pg. 102 - 104 and do numbers 13-36,47,48

Also define : multiplicative inverse and reciprocal.

Identifying words or ideas that indicate addition, subtraction, or multiplication

The key to knowing what operation to do in a word problem is to understand what information is actually being given (what ideas or processes is the question indicating). Along with that you should know what operation certain key words indicate.


No Homework tonight.

Operations on rational numbers

The assignment today was to complete all problems for section 2-2 in the glencoe study guide and intervention book.

Also students were to complete the first four problems on page 13 of the glencoemastering the TAKS book.


Tonight's homework is to read pg. 96-98 and do numbers 12-29,55,56

If you do not remember how to access the textbook online click here.


Since we will soon discuss operations on rational numbers you should review how to perform operations on integers. Also, start to think about when a word problem requires addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

Questions about wednesday night's homework

The following video explains some of the questions that students had trouble with on the homework that was given on Wednesday 9/2/09

About the test

Unfortunately I was unable to upload a practice test and answers.
The answers to Friday's test are below if you would like to print a copy go to the sidebar and click inside of the box titled "box.net"

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The following video explains how the test questions should have been worked out and explains some of the errors in the above document. Unfortunately, there are also a few typing errors "fraction decimal" should just be "decimal."



If you would like to learn more about rational numbers click here or here. This link contains examples of how this question may be tested on the TAKS test.

Rational number comparison review

You have a test tomorrow.



The following are the homework questions that you should answer tonight:
(Click on the image to enlarge it)
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Test this friday

Do not forget that you have a test this friday. Please check the blog later, I will post a practice test with answers.

Tonight's homework is from the textbook : Do page 94 numbers 30-36, 38, 42-53 and read page 96 - 98.



The following are questions that we did today. They are answered in the video above.

Open publication - Free publishing - More rational

More on rational numbers

There will be a test on friday regarding comparing and ordering rational numbers, and placing them on a number line.

If you have any unresolved questions about rational numbers please click here to ask.

Tonight's homework is is to answer the following questions:
(give examples to support your explanation)

1. What is a rational number?

2. How do you put rational numbers in order?

3. How do you decide where to put rational numbers on a number line?


Also, the following are the answers to some of the questions that were posed at the end of the video in this post.