Working with Variable Expressions and Integer Operations

REMINDER: students have been provided with two copies of the syllabus for the course and are asked to sign one copy and return it to me.

Today students explored the idea of variable expressions; writing math sentences using symbols and operations.

For example, I want to show the sum of some number with 12. The variable expression is x + 12 where x represents some value.

We also explored what it means to add integers, some with the same signs, others with different signs.
Examples of adding integers with the same signs:
6 + 7= 13

-5 + (-16) = -21

The rule we devised was that you can simply add the absolute values of the two numbers and keep the sign that they had originally.

Examples of adding integers with different signs:
-18 + 23 = 5

26 + (-14) = 12

-9 + 5 = -4

The rule we devised had two parts: First, find the absolute difference of the two values. Second, attach the sign belonging to the number with the bigger absolute value.

NOTE: This blog will NOT always contain a 'review' of what took place in class. At the start of the school year, and especially considering the transition of students to the seventh grade, I want to make the class as accessible as possible. As the year progresses the blog will usually contain only that night's home nugget and possibly Focus Correction Areas. We want students to be accountable for recording assignments on their own as they prepare for high school.

Home Nugget #4
Assigned on Wednesday September 13, 2006
Due Thursday September 14, 2006
Redo Practice Sheet for Section 3-2 numbers 1 - 22 in addition to Section 3-3 numbers 1 - 29.

Tonight's FCAs:
3 points awarded if: both sheets are checked and 4 random questions are accurate
1 point awarded if: student has included the complete heading (see yesterday's blog for the complete heading)