Week Summary 11/8-11/11

After developing an understanding of how we can find slope last week, by comparing the rise over run, this week we put all that we have been learning about linear equations together in writing equations based on different information that we are given.

On Monday students practiced finding the slope, y-intercept and equation if they were given a pair of numbers, such as (-2, 1) and (2, 3). Students first graphed the given points, which then allowed them to determine the slope by drawing a triangle between two points and comparing the rise over run. Students then were able to use their graph to help them identify the y-intercept and write their equations in the format of y=mx+b.

On Tuesday, students were introduced to Alphonso's Inheritance puzzle. Alphonso had received a check from his grandfather for his birthday. Alphonso decides to save a certain amount of his allowance every week to add to his savings from his grandfather. Alphonso's sister Maria wants to find out how much money he received, and Alphonso gives her a puzzle to solve.

A. Alphonso tells Maria he will save the same amount from his allowance each week. He says that after five weeks he will have a total of $175 and after eight weeks he will have $190. How much money is Alphonso planning to save each week?

B. How much money did Alphonso’s grandfather give him for his birthday?

Write an equation for the total amount of money Alphonso will have saved after a given number of weeks (M= money, W = weeks). Describe the reasoning you used to write your equation.

Students worked with partners and used different strategies (from graphing, to finding the difference and determining the rate saved per week) to determine that Alphonso was saving $5 per week. Based on the slope of 5, students were able to work backwards to determine the y-intercept which was $150, or how much he received from his grandfather. Students determined the equations to be: M = 5w + 150.

On Thursday took their Linear Equation Quiz to assess what they had learned so far about linear equations.

Next stop on the 8th Grade Math Train...non-linear relationships!