M/J Accelerated Mathematics Grade 7   (#1205050)

Version for Academic Year:

Course Standards

General Course Information and Notes

General Notes

MAFS.7

In this Grade 7 Advanced Mathematics course, instructional time should focus on five critical area: (1) solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two- and three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume; (2) drawing inferences about populations based on samples; (3) formulating and reasoning about expressions and equations, including modeling an association in bivariate data with a linear equation, and solving linear equations and systems of linear equations; (4) grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships; and (5) analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem.

    1. Students continue their work with area from Grade 6, solving problems involving area and circumference of a circle and surface area of three-dimensional objects. In preparation for work on congruence and similarity in Grade 8 they reason about relationships among two-dimensional figures using scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and they gain familiarity with the relationship between angles formed by intersecting lines. Students work with three-dimensional figures, relating them to two-dimensional figures by examining cross-sections. They solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume of two- and three-dimensional objects composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, cubes and right prisms.
    2. Students build on their previous work with single data distributions to compare two data distributions and address questions about difference between populations. They begin informal work with random sampling to generate data sets and learn about the importance of representative samples for drawing inferences.
    3. Students use linear equations and systems of linear equations to represent, analyze, and solve a variety of problems. Students recognize equations for proportions (y/x = m or y = mx) as special linear equations (y = mx + b), understanding that the constant of proportionality (m) is the slope, and the graphs are lines through the origin. They understand that the slope (m) of a line is a constant rate of change, so that if the input or x-coordinate changes by an amount A, the output or y-coordinate changes by the amount m(A). Students also use a linear equation to describe the association between two quantities in bivariate data (such as arm span vs. height for students in a classroom). At this grade, fitting the model, and assessing its fit to the data are done informally. Interpreting the model in the context of the data requires students to express a relationship between the two quantities in question and to interpret components of the relationship (such as slope and y-intercept) in terms of the situation.

      Students strategically choose and efficiently implement procedures to solve linear equations in one variable, understanding that when they use the properties of equality and concept of logical equivalence, they maintain the solutions of the original equation. Students solve systems of two linear equations in two variables and relate the systems to pairs of lines in the plane; these intersect, are parallel, or are the same line. Students use linear equations, systems of linear equations, linear functions, and their understanding of slope of a line to analyze situations and solve problems.
    4. Students grasp the concept of a function as a rule that assigns to each input exactly one output. They understand that functions describe situations where one quantity determines another. They can translate among representations and partial representations of functions (noting that tabular and graphical representations may be partial representations), and they describe how aspects of the function are reflected in the different representations.
    5. Students use ideas about distance and angles, how they behave under translations, rotations, reflections, and dilation, and ideas about congruence and similarity to describe and analyze two-dimensional figures and to solve problems. Students show that the sum of the angles in a triangle is the angle formed by a straight line, and that various configurations of lines give rise to similar triangles because of the angles created when a traversal cuts parallel lines. Students understand the statement of the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse, and can explain why the Pythagorean Theorem holds, for example, by decomposing a square in two different ways. They apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find distances between points on the coordinate plane, to find lengths, and to analyze polygons. Students complete their work on volume by solving problems involving cones, cylinders, and spheres.

Honors and Advanced Level Course Note: Advanced courses require a greater demand on students through increased academic rigor.  Academic rigor is obtained through the application, analysis, evaluation, and creation of complex ideas that are often abstract and multi-faceted.  Students are challenged to think and collaborate critically on the content they are learning. Honors level rigor will be achieved by increasing text complexity through text selection, focus on high-level qualitative measures, and complexity of task. Instruction will be structured to give students a deeper understanding of conceptual themes and organization within and across disciplines. Academic rigor is more than simply assigning to students a greater quantity of work.

English Language Development ELD Standards Special Notes Section:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate information, ideas and concepts for academic success in the content area of Mathematics. For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success. The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL's need for communication and social skills. To access an ELL supporting document which delineates performance definitions and descriptors, please click on the following link:
https://cpalmsmediaprod.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/docs/standards/eld/ma.pdf

Additional Instructional Resources:
A.V.E. for Success Collection is provided by the Florida Association of School Administrators: http://www.fasa.net/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=139. Please be aware that these resources have not been reviewed by CPALMS and there may be a charge for the use of some of them in this collection.

Florida Standards Implementation Guide Focus Section:

The Mathematics Florida Standards Implementation Guide (found at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/standards/subject-areas/math-science/mathematics/fsig.stml) was created to support the teaching and learning of the Mathematics Florida Standards. The guide is compartmentalized into three components: focus, coherence, and rigor. Focus means narrowing the scope of content in each grade or course, so students achieve higher levels of understanding and experience math concepts more deeply. The Mathematics standards allow for the teaching and learning of mathematical concepts focused around major clusters at each grade level, enhanced by supporting and additional clusters. The major, supporting and additional clusters are identified, in relation to each grade or course. The cluster designations for this course are below.

Major Clusters

MAFS.7.EE.2 Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.

MAFS.8.EE.1 Work with radicals and integer exponents.

MAFS.8.EE.2 Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations.

MAFS.8.EE.3 Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations.

MAFS.8.F.1 Define, evaluate, and compare functions.

MAFS.8.F.2 Use functions to model relationships between quantities.

MAFS.8.G.1 Understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software.

MAFS.8.G.2 Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem.

Supporting Clusters

MAFS.7.SP.1 Use random sampling to draw inferences about a population.

MAFS.7.SP.3 Investigate chance processes and develop, use, and evaluate probability models.

MAFS.8.NS.1 Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational numbers.

MAFS.8.SP.1 Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data.

Additional Clusters

MAFS.7.G.1 Draw, construct, and describe geometrical figures and describe the relationships between them.

MAFS.7.G.2 Solve real-life and mathematical problems involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume.

MAFS.7.SP.2 Draw informal comparative inferences about two populations.

MAFS.G.3 Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres.

Note: Clusters should not be sorted from major to supporting and then taught in that order. To do so would strip the coherence of the mathematical ideas and miss the opportunity to enhance the major work of the grade with the supporting and additional clusters.

General Information

Course Number: 1205050
Course Path:
Abbreviated Title: M/J ACCEL MATH GR 7
Course Length: Year (Y)
Course Attributes:
  • Class Size Core Required
Course Type: Core Academic Course
Course Level: 3
Course Status: Course Approved
Grade Level(s): 7

Educator Certifications

One of these educator certification options is required to teach this course.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this course.

Original Student Tutorials

Modelling The Solar System Part 2: Scientific Notation:

Use scientific notation to compare the distances of planets and other objects from the Sun in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Modelling the Solar System Part 1: Astronomical Units:

Use astronomical units to compare distances betweeen objects in our solar system in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Pythagorean Theorem: Part 3:

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the legs of a right triangle in mathematical and real worlds contexts in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 3 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Pythagorean Theorem: Part 2:

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the hypotenuse of a right triangle in mathematical and real worlds contexts in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Pythagorean Theorem: Part 1:

Learn what the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse mean, and what Pythagorean Triples are in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Square Root Part 3: Simplifying Radicals:

Learn how to simplify radicals in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Square Root Part 2: Non-Perfect Squares:

Learn what non-perfect squares are and find the decimal approximation of their square roots in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Square Root Part 1: Perfect Squares:

Learn what perfect squares are and find their square roots in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Scientific Notation: Expressing Large Quantities:

Explore how to express large quantities using scientific notation in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Playground Angles Part 1:

Explore complementary and supplementary angles around the playground with Jacob in this interactive tutorial.

This is Part 1 in a two-part series. Click HERE to open Playground Angles: Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Playground Angles: Part 2:

Help Jacob write and solve equations to find missing angle measures based on the relationship between angles that sum to 90 degrees and 180 degrees in this playground-themed, interactive tutorial.

This is Part 2 in a two-part series. Click HERE to open Playground Angles: Part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Hailey’s Treehouse: Similar Triangles & Slope:

Learn how similar right triangles can show how the slope is the same between any two distinct points on a non-vertical line as you help Hailey build stairs to her tree house in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Math Models and Social Distancing:

Learn how math models can show why social distancing during a epidemic or pandemic is important in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Constructing Functions From Two Points:

Learn to construct a function to model a linear relationship between two quantities and determine the slope and y-intercept given two points that represent the function with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Multi-Step Equations: Part 5 How Many Solutions?:

Learn how equations can have 1 solution, no solution or infinitely many solutions in this interactive tutorial.

This is part five of five in a series on solving multi-step equations.

  • Click HERE to open Part 1: Combining Like Terms
  • Click HERE to open Part 2: The Distributive Property
  • Click HERE to open Part 3: Variables on Both Sides
  • Click HERE to open Part 4: Putting It All Together
  • [CURRENT TUTORIAL] Part 5: How Many Solutions?

 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Multi-Step Equations: Part 4 Putting it All Together:

Learn alternative methods of solving multi-step equations in this interactive tutorial. 

This is part five of five in a series on solving multi-step equations.

  • Click HERE to open Part 1: Combining Like Terms
  • Click HERE to open Part 2: The Distributive Property
  • Click HERE to open Part 3: Variables on Both Sides
  • [CURRENT TUTORIAL] Part 4: Putting It All Together
  • Click HERE to open Part 5: How Many Solutions?

 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Volume of Spherical Bubble Tea:

Learn how to calculate the volume of spheres while learning how they make Bubble Tea in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Multi-step Equations: Part 3 Variables on Both Sides:

Learn how to solve multi-step equations that contain variables on both sides of the equation in this interactive tutorial. 

This is part five of five in a series on solving multi-step equations.

  • Click HERE to open Part 1: Combining Like Terms
  • Click HERE to open Part 2: The Distributive Property
  • [CURRENT TUTORIAL] Part 3: Variables on Both Sides
  • Click HERE to open Part 4: Putting It All Together
  • Click HERE to open Part 5: How Many Solutions?

 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Multi-Step Equations: Part 2 Distributive Property:

Explore how to solve multi-step equations using the distributive property in this interactive tutorial. 

This is part two of five in a series on solving multi-step equations.

  • Click HERE to open Part 1: Combining Like Terms
  • [CURRENT TUTORIAL] Part 2: The Distributive Property
  • Click HERE to open Part 3: Variables on Both Sides
  • Click HERE to open Part 4: Putting It All Together
  • Click HERE to open Part 5: How Many Solutions?

 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Cruising Through Functions:

Cruise along as you discover how to qualitatively describe functions in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Multi-Step Equations: Part 1 Combining Like Terms:

Learn how to solve multi-step equations that contain like terms in this interactive tutorial. 

This is part one of five in a series on solving multi-step equations.

  • [CURRENT TUTORIAL] Part 1: Combining Like Terms
  • Click HERE to open Part 2: The Distributive Property
  • Click HERE to open Part 3: Variables on Both Sides
  • Click HERE to open Part 4: Putting It All Together
  • Click HERE to open Part 5: How Many Solutions?

 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Professor E. Qual Part 2: Two-Step Equations & Rational Numbers:

Practice solving and checking two-step equations with rational numbers in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 of the two-part series on two-step equations. Click HERE to open Part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Professor E. Qual Part 1: 2 Step Equations:

Professor E. Qual will teach you how to solve and check two-step equations in this interactive tutorial. 

This is part 1 of a two-part series about solving 2-step equations. Click HERE to open Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Functions, Sweet Functions:

See how sweet it can be to determine the slope of linear functions and compare them in this interactive tutorial. Determine and compare the slopes or the rates of change by using verbal descriptions, tables of values, equations and graphical forms.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Balancing the Machine:

Use models to solve balance problems on a space station in this interactive, math and science tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Summer of FUNctions:

Have some fun with FUNctions! Learn how to identify linear and non-linear functions in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Driven By Functions:

Learn how to determine if a relationship is a function in this interactive tutorial that shows you inputs, outputs, equations, graphs and verbal descriptions.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Notion of Motion, Part 3 - Average Velocity:

Describe the average velocity of a dune buggy using kinematics in this interactive tutorial. You'll calculate displacement and average velocity, create and analyze a velocity vs. time scatterplot, and relate average velocity to the slope of position vs. time scatterplots. 

This is part 3 of 3 in a series that mirrors inquiry-based, hands-on activities from our popular workshops.

  • Click  to open The Notion of Motion, Part 1 - Time Measurements
  • Click HERE to open The Notion of Motion, Part 2 - Position vs Time

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Pizza Pi: Circumference:

Explore the origins of Pi as the ratio of Circumference to diameter of a circle. In this interactive tutorial you'll work with the circumference formula to determine the circumference of a circle and work backwards to determine the diameter and radius of a circle.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Introduction to Probability:

Learn how to calculate the probability of simple events, that probability is the likeliness of an event occurring, and that some events may be more likely than others to occur in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Exploring Mean Absolute Deviation: Lionfish:

Compare multiple samples of lionfish to make generalizations about the population by analyzing the samples’ mean absolute deviations (MAD) and their distributions in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Notion of Motion, Part 2 - Position vs Time:

Continue an exploration of kinematics to describe linear motion by focusing on position-time measurements from the motion trial in part 1. In this interactive tutorial, you'll identify position measurements from the spark tape, analyze a scatterplot of the position-time data, calculate and interpret slope on the position-time graph, and make inferences about the dune buggy’s average speed

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Alice in Mathematics-Land:

Help Alice discover that compound probabilities can be determined through calculations or by drawing tree diagrams in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Pizza Pi: Area:

Explore how to calculate the area of circles in terms of pi and with pi approximations in this interactive tutorial. You will also experience irregular area situations that require the use of the area of a circle formula.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Scatterplots Part 6: Using Linear Models :

Learn how to use the equation of a linear trend line to interpolate and extrapolate bivariate data plotted in a scatterplot. You will see the usefulness of trend lines and how they are used in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 6 in 6-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Scatterplots Part 5: Interpreting the Equation of the Trend Line :

Explore how to interpret the slope and y-intercept of a linear trend line when bivariate data is graphed on a scatterplot in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 5 in 6-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Scatterplots Part 4: Equation of the Trend Line:

Learn how to write the equation of a linear trend line when fitted to bivariate data in a scatterplot in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 4 in 6-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Scatterplots Part 3: Trend Lines:

Explore informally fitting a trend line to data graphed in a scatter plot in this interactive online tutorial.

This is part 3 in 6-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Scatterplots Part 2: Patterns, Associations and Correlations:

Explore the different types of associations that can exist between bivariate data in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 in 6-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Scatterplots Part 1: Graphing:

Learn how to graph bivariate data in a scatterplot in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 in 6-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Predicting Outcomes at the Carnival:

Learn how to use probability to predict expected outcomes at the Carnival in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Home Transformations:

Learn to describe a sequence of transformations that will produce similar figures. This interactive tutorial will allow you to practice with rotations, translations, reflections, and dilations.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Where Have All the Scrub-Jays Gone?:

Investigate the limiting factors of a Florida ecosystem and describe how these limiting factors affect one native population-the Florida Scrub-Jay-with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Hot on the Trail:

Investigate how temperature affects the rate of chemical reactions in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Yes or No to GMO?:

Learn what genetic engineering is and some of the applications of this technology. In this interactive tutorial, you’ll gain an understanding of some of the benefits and potential drawbacks of genetic engineering. Ultimately, you’ll be able to think critically about genetic engineering and write an argument describing your own perspective on its impacts.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Swimming in Circles:

Learn to solve problems involving the circumference and area of circle-shaped pools in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Constructing Linear Functions from Tables:

Learn to construct linear functions from tables that contain sets of data that relate to each other in special ways as you complete this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Scale Round Up:

Learn to use architectural scale drawings to build a new horse arena and solve problems involving scale drawings in this interactive tutorial. By the end, you should be able to calculate actual lengths using a scale and proportions.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Arguing Mars:

Practice identifying and examining the evidence used to support a specific argument. In this interactive tutorial, you'll read several short texts about the exploration of Mars to practice distinguishing relevant from irrelevant evidence. You'll also practice determining whether the evidence presented is sufficient or insufficient.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Educational Games

Solving Equations: Same Variable, Both Sides, One Solution:

In this challenge game, you will be solving equations with variables on both sides. Each equation has a real solution. Use the "Teach Me" button to review content before the challenge. After the challenge, review the problems as needed. Try again to get all challenge questions right! Question sets vary with each game, so feel free to play the game multiple times as needed! Good luck!

Type: Educational Game

Transformation Complete:

Play this interactive game and determine whether the similar shapes have gone through rotations, translations, or reflections.

Type: Educational Game

Timed Algebra Quiz:

In this timed activity, students solve linear equations (one- and two-step) or quadratic equations of varying difficulty depending on the initial conditions they select. This activity allows students to practice solving equations while the activity records their score, so they can track their progress. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet.

Type: Educational Game

Algebra Four:

In this activity, two students play a simulated game of Connect Four, but in order to place a piece on the board, they must correctly solve an algebraic equation. This activity allows students to practice solving equations of varying difficulty: one-step, two-step, or quadratic equations and using the distributive property if desired. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the Java applet.

Type: Educational Game

Educational Software / Tools

Transformations Using Technology:

This virtual manipulative can be used to demonstrate and explore the effect of translation, rotation, and/or reflection on a variety of plane figures. A series of transformations can be explored to result in a specified final image.

Type: Educational Software / Tool

Glossary:

This resource is an online glossary to find the meaning of math terms. Students can also use the online glossary to find words that are related to the word typed in the search box. For example: Type in "transversal" and 11 other terms will come up. Click on one of those terms and its meaning is displayed.

Type: Educational Software / Tool

Perspectives Video: Experts

Mathematically Exploring the Wakulla Caves:

The tide is high! How can we statistically prove there is a relationship between the tides on the Gulf Coast and in a fresh water spring 20 miles from each other?

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

MicroGravity Sensors & Statistics:

Statistical analysis played an essential role in using microgravity sensors to determine location of caves in Wakulla County.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Practical Use of Area and Circumference:

A math teacher describes the relationship between area and circumference and gives examples in nature.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Using Statistics to Estimate Lionfish Population Size:

It's impossible to count every animal in a park, but with statistics and some engineering, biologists can come up with a good estimate.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Tow Net Sampling to Monitor Phytoplankton Populations:

How do scientists collect information from the world? They sample it! Learn how scientists take samples of phytoplankton not only to monitor their populations, but also to make inferences about the rest of the ecosystem!

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Measuring a Grid for Underwater Archeology:

Don't be a square! Learn about how even grids help archaeologists track provenience!

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiasts

Modeling with Polygons for 3D Printers:

Understand 3D modeling from a new angle when you learn about surface geometry and 3D printing.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

What's the Distance from Here to the Middle of Nowhere?:

Find out how math and technology can help you (try to) get away from civilization.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Sampling Bird Populations to Track Environmental Restoration:

Sometimes scientists conduct a census, too! Learn how population sampling can help monitor the progress of an ecological restoration project.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Presentation/Slideshow

The Pythagorean Theorem: Geometry’s Most Elegant Theorem:

This lesson teaches students about the history of the Pythagorean theorem, along with proofs and applications. It is geared toward high school Geometry students that have completed a year of Algebra and addresses the following national standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning: 1) Analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships; 2) Use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling to solve problems; 3) Understand and apply basic and advanced properties of the concepts of geometry; and 4) Use the Pythagorean theorem and its converse and properties of special right triangles to solve mathematical and real-world problems. The video portion is about thirty minutes, and with breaks could be completed in 50 minutes. (You may consider completing over two classes, particularly if you want to allow more time for activities or do some of the enrichment material). These activities could be done individually, in pairs, or groups. I think 2 or 3 students is optimal. The materials required for the activities include scissors, tape, string and markers.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

Problem-Solving Tasks

Smiles:

In this online problem-solving challenge, students apply algebraic reasoning to determine the "costs" of individual types of faces from sums of frowns, smiles, and neutral faces. This page provides three pictorial problems involving solving systems of equations along with tips for thinking through the problem, the solution, and other similar problems.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Tile Patterns I: octagons and squares:

Students use interior and exterior angles to to verify attributes of an octagon and square. Students are given a tile pattern involving congruent regular octagons and squares.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

The Titanic 1:

This task asks students to calculate probabilities using information presented in a two-way frequency table.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Partitioning a Hexagon:

The purpose of this task is for students to find a way to decompose a regular hexagon into congruent figures. This is meant as an instructional task that gives students some practice working with transformations.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How thick is a soda can? (Variation II):

This problem solving task asks students to explain which measurements are needed to estimate the thickness of a soda can. Multiple solution processes are presented.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Pennies to Heaven:

The goal of this task is to give students a context to investigate large numbers and measurements. Students need to fluently convert units with very large numbers in order to successfully complete this task. The total number of pennies minted either in a single year or for the last century is phenomenally large and difficult to grasp. One way to assess how large this number is would be to consider how far all of these pennies would reach if we were able to stack them one on top of another: this is another phenomenally large number but just how large may well come as a surprise.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Anna in D.C.:

The purpose of this task is to give students an opportunity to solve a challenging multistep percentage problem that can be approached in several different ways. Students are asked to find the cost of a meal before tax and tip when given the total cost of the meal. The task can illustrate multiple standards depending on the prior knowledge of the students and the approach used to solve the problem.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

DVD Profits, Variation 1:

In this task, students are asked to determine the unit price of a product under two different circumstances. They are also asked to generalize the cost of producing x items in each case.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Glasses:

In this resource, students will determine the volumes of three different shaped drinking glasses. They will need prior knowledge with volume formulas for cylinders, cones, and spheres, as well as experience with equation solving, simplifying square roots, and applying the Pythagorean theorem.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How Is the Weather?:

This task can be used as a quick assessment to see if students can make sense of a graph in the context of a real world situation. Students also have to pay attention to the scale on the vertical axis to find the correct match. The first and third graphs look very similar at first glance, but the function values are very different since the scales on the vertical axes are very different. The task could also be used to generate a group discussion on interpreting functions given by graphs.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Interpreting the Graph:

The purpose of this task is to help students learn to read information about a function from its graph, by asking them to show the part of the graph that exhibits a certain property of the function. The task could be used to further instruction on understanding functions or as an assessment tool, with the caveat that it requires some amount of creativity to decide how to best illustrate some of the statements.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Discounted Books:

This purpose of this task is to help students see two different ways to look at percentages both as a decrease and an increase of an original amount. In addition, students have to turn a verbal description of several operations into mathematical symbols. This requires converting simple percentages to decimals as well as identifying equivalent expressions without variables.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Fishing Adventures 2:

Students are asked to write and solve an inequality to determine the number of people that can safely rent a boat.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Guess My Number:

This problem asks the students to represent a sequence of operations using an expression and then to write and solve simple equations. The problem is posed as a game and allows the students to visualize mathematical operations. It would make sense to actually play a similar game in pairs first and then ask the students to record the operations to figure out each other's numbers.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Shrinking:

Students are asked to determine the change in height in inches when given a constant rate of change in centimeters. The answer is rounded to the nearest half inch.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Sports Equipment Set:

The student is asked to write and solve a two-step inequality to match the context.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Eight Circles:

Students are asked to find the area of a shaded region using a diagram and the information provided. The purpose of this task is to strengthen student understanding of area.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Floor Plan:

The purpose of this task is for students to translate between measurements given in a scale drawing and the corresponding measurements of the object represented by the scale drawing. If used in an instructional setting, it would be good for students to have an opportunity to see other solution methods, perhaps by having students with different approaches explain their strategies to the class. Students who can only solve this by first converting the linear measurements will have a hard time solving problems where only area measures are given.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Coupon Versus Discount:

In this task, students are presented with a real-world problem involving the price of an item on sale. To answer the question, students must represent the problem by defining a variable and related quantities, and then write and solve an equation.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Sand Under the Swing Set:

The 7th graders at Sunview Middle School were helping to renovate a playground for the kindergartners at a nearby elementary school. City regulations require that the sand underneath the swings be at least 15 inches deep. The sand under both swing sets was only 12 inches deep when they started. The rectangular area under the small swing set measures 9 feet by 12 feet and required 40 bags of sand to increase the depth by 3 inches. How many bags of sand will the students need to cover the rectangular area under the large swing set if it is 1.5 times as long and 1.5 times as wide as the area under the small swing set?

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Gotham City Taxis:

The purpose of this task is to give students an opportunity to solve a multi-step ratio problem that can be approached in many ways. This can be done by making a table, which helps illustrate the pattern of taxi rates for different distances traveled and with a little persistence leads to a solution which uses arithmetic. It is also possible to calculate a unit rate (dollars per mile) and use this to find the distance directly without making a table.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Quinoa Pasta 1:

This task asks students to find the amount of two ingredients in a pasta blend. The task provides all the information necessary to solve the problem by setting up two linear equations in two unknowns. This progression of tasks helps distinguish between 8th grade and high school expectations related to systems of linear equations.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Solving Equations:

In this activity, the student is asked to solve a variety of equations (one solution, infinite solutions, no solution) in the traditional algebraic manner and to use pictures of a pan balance to show the solution process.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Cell Phone Plans:

This task presents a real-world problem requiring the students to write linear equations to model different cell phone plans. Looking at the graphs of the lines in the context of the cell phone plans allows the students to connect the meaning of the intersection points of two lines with the simultaneous solution of two linear equations. The students are required to find the solution algebraically to complete the task.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

The Sign of Solutions:

It is possible to say a lot about the solution to an equation without actually solving it, just by looking at the structure and operations that make up the equation. This exercise turns the focus away from the familiar "finding the solution" problem to thinking about what it really means for a number to be a solution of an equation.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Two Lines:

In this task, we are given the graph of two lines including the coordinates of the intersection point and the coordinates of the two vertical intercepts and are asked for the corresponding equations of the lines. It is a very straightforward task that connects graphs and equations and solutions and intersection points.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Who Has the Best Job?:

This task asks the student to graph and compare two proportional relationships and interpret the unit rate as the slope of the graph. Students are also asked to write an equation and graph each scenario.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Coffee by the Pound:

Students will answer questions about unit price of coffee, make a graph of the information, and explain the meaning of constant of proportionality/slope in the given context.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Bike Race:

The purpose of this task is for students to interpret two distance-time graphs in terms of the context of a bicycle race. There are two major mathematical aspects to this: interpreting what a particular point on the graph means in terms of the context and understanding that the "steepness" of the graph tells us something about how fast the bicyclists are moving.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Foxes and Rabbits:

This task emphasizes the importance of the "every input has exactly one output" clause in the definition of a function, which is violated in the table of values of the two populations. Noteworthy is that since the data is a collection of input-output pairs, no verbal description of the function is given, so part of the task is processing what the "rule form" of the proposed functions would look like.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Function Rules:

This task can be played as a game where students have to guess the rule and the instructor gives more and more input output pairs. Giving only three input output pairs might not be enough to clarify the rule. Instructors might consider varying the inputs in, for example, the second table, to provide non-integer entries. A nice variation on the game is to have students who think they found the rule supply input output pairs, and the teachers confirms or denies that they are right. Verbalizing the rule requires precision of language. This task can be used to introduce the idea of a function as a rule that assigns a unique output to every input.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Introduction to Linear Functions:

This task lets students explore the differences between linear and non-linear functions. By contrasting the two, it reinforces properties of linear functions.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Modeling with a Linear Function:

The primary purpose of this task is to elicit common misconceptions that arise when students try to model situations with linear functions. This task, being multiple choice, could also serve as a quick assessment to gauge a class' understanding of modeling with linear functions.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Tides:

This is a simple task about interpreting the graph of a function in terms of the relationship between quantities that it represents.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Riding by the Library:

In this task students draw the graphs of two functions from verbal descriptions. Both functions describe the same situation but changing the viewpoint of the observer changes where the function has output value zero. This small twist forces the students to think carefully about the interpretation of the dependent variable. This task could be used in different ways: To generate a class discussion about graphing. As a quick assessment about graphing, for example during a class warm-up. To engage students in small group discussion.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Calculating the Square Root of 2:

This task is intended for instructional purposes so that students can become familiar and confident with using a calculator and understanding what it can and cannot do. This task gives an opportunity to work on the notion of place value (in parts [b] and [c]) and also to understand part of an argument for why the square root of 2 is not a rational number.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Comparing Snow Cones:

Students will just be learning about similarity in this grade, so they may not recognize that it is needed in this context. Teachers should be prepared to give support to students who are struggling with this part of the task. To simplify the task, the teacher can just tell the students that based on the slant of the truncated conical cup, the complete cone would be 14 in tall and the part that was sliced off was 10 inches tall. (See solution for an explanation.) There is a worthwhile discussion to be had about parts (c) and (e). The percentage increase is smaller for the snow cones than it was for the juice treats. The snow cones have volume which is equal to those of the juice treats plus the volume of the dome, which is the same in both cases. Adding the same number to two numbers in a ratio will always make their ratio closer to one, which in this case means that the ratio - and thus percentage increase - would be smaller.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Congruent Segments:

Students' first experience with transformations is likely to be with specific shapes like triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, and figures with symmetry. Exhibiting a sequence of transformations that shows that two generic line segments of the same length are congruent is a good way for students to begin thinking about transformations in greater generality.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Congruent Triangles:

This task has two goals: first to develop student understanding of rigid motions in the context of demonstrating congruence. Secondly, student knowledge of reflections is refined by considering the notion of orientation in part (b). Each time the plane is reflected about a line, this reverses the notions of ''clockwise'' and ''counterclockwise.''

Type: Problem-Solving Task

A Rectangle in the Coordinate Plane:

This task provides an opportunity to apply the Pythagorean theorem to multiple triangles in order to determine the length of the hypotenuse; the converse of the Pythagorean theorem is also required in order to conclude that certain angles are right angles.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Mr. Brigg's Class Likes Math:

In a poll of Mr. Briggs's math class, 67% of the students say that math is their favorite academic subject. The editor of the school paper is in the class, and he wants to write an article for the paper saying that math is the most popular subject at the school. Explain why this is not a valid conclusion and suggest a way to gather better data to determine what subject is most popular.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Offensive Linemen:

In this task, students are able to conjecture about the differences and similarities in the two groups from a strictly visual perspective and then support their comparisons with appropriate measures of center and variability. This will reinforce that much can be gleaned simply from visual comparison of appropriate graphs, particularly those of similar scale.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Tossing Cylinders:

The purpose of this task is to provide students with the opportunity to determine experimental probabilities by collecting data. The cylindrical objects used in this task typically have three different resting positions but not all of these may be equally likely and some may be extremely unlikely or impossible when the object is tossed. Furthermore, obtaining the probabilities of the outcomes is perhaps only possible through the use of long-run relative frequencies. This is because these cylinders do not have the same types of symmetries as objects that are often used as dice, such as cubes or tetrahedrons, where each outcome is equally likely.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Reflecting Reflections:

In this resource, students experiment with the reflection of a triangle in a coordinate plane.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How Many Buttons?:

This resource involves a simple data-gathering activity which furnishes data that students organize into a table. They are then asked to refer to the data and determine the probability of various outcomes.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Election Poll, Variation 2:

This task introduces the fundamental statistical ideas of using data summaries (statistics) from random samples to draw inferences (reasoned conclusions) about population characteristics (parameters). In the task built around an election poll scenario, the population is the entire seventh grade class, the unknown characteristic (parameter) of interest is the proportion of the class members voting for a specific candidate, and the sample summary (statistic) is the observed proportion of voters favoring the candidate in a random sample of class members. Variation 2 leads students through a physical simulation for generating sample proportions by sampling, and re-sampling, marbles from a box.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Election Poll, Variation 1:

This task introduces the fundamental statistical ideas of using data summaries (statistics) from random samples to draw inferences (reasoned conclusions) about population characteristics (parameters). There are two important goals in this task: seeing the need for random sampling and using randomization to investigate the behavior of a sample statistic. These introduce the basic ideas of statistical inference and can be accomplished with minimal knowledge of probability.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Waiting Times:

As studies in statistics and probability unfold, students will not yet know the rules of probability for compound events. Thus, simulation is used to find an approximate answer to these questions. In fact, part b would be a challenge to students who do know the rules of probability, further illustrating the power of simulation to provide relatively easy approximate answers to wide-ranging problems.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Rolling Dice:

This task is intended as a classroom activity. Students pool the results of many repetitions of the random phenomenon (rolling dice) and compare their results to the theoretical expectation they develop by considering all possible outcomes of rolling two dice. This gives them a concrete example of what we mean by long term relative frequency.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Rolling Twice:

The purpose of this task is for students to compute the theoretical probability of a compound event. Teachers may wish to emphasize the distinction between theoretical and experimental probabilities for this problem. For students learning to distinguish between theoretical and experimental probability, it would be good to find an experimental probability either before or after students have calculated the theoretical probability.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Sitting Across From Each Other:

The purpose of this task is for students to compute the theoretical probability of a seating configuration. There are 24 possible configurations of the four friends at the table in this problem. Students could draw all 24 configurations to solve the problem but this is time consuming and so they should be encouraged to look for a more systematic method.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Estimating Square Roots:

By definition, the square root of a number n is the number you square to get n. The purpose of this task is to have students use the meaning of a square root to find a decimal approximation of a square root of a non-square integer. Students may need guidance in thinking about how to approach the task.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Point Reflection:

The purpose of this task is for students to apply a reflection to a single point. The standard asks students to apply the effect of a single transformation on two-dimensional figures. Although this problem only applies a reflection to a single point, it has high cognitive demand if the students are prompted to supply a picture. This is because the coordinates of the point (1000,2012) are very large. If students try to plot this point and the line of reflection on the usual x-y coordinate grid, then either the graph will be too big or else the point will lie so close to the line of reflection that it is not clear whether or not it lies on this line. A good picture requires a careful choice of the appropriate region in the plane and the corresponding labels. Moreover, reflections of two-dimensional figures are found by reflecting individual points.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Reflecting a Rectangle Over a Diagonal:

The task is intended for instructional purposes and assumes that students know the properties of rigid transformations. Note that the vertices of the rectangles in question do not fall exactly at intersections of the horizontal and vertical lines on the grid. This means that students need to approximate and this provides an extra challenge. Also providing a challenge is the fact that the grids have been drawn so that they are aligned with the diagonal of the rectangles rather than being aligned with the vertical and horizontal directions of the page. However, this choice of grid also makes it easier to reason about the reflections.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Converting Decimal Representations of Rational Numbers to Fraction Representations:

Requires students to "convert a decimal expansion which repeats eventually into a rational number." Despite this choice of wording, the numbers in this task are rational numbers regardless of the choice of representation. For example, 0.333¯ and 1/3 are two different ways of representing the same number.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Downhill:

This task would be especially well-suited for instructional purposes. Students will benefit from a class discussion about the slope, y-intercept, x-intercept, and implications of the restricted domain for interpreting more precisely what the equation is modeling.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Find the Angle:

Use informal arguments to establish facts about the angle sum and exterior angle of triangles, about the angles created when parallel lines are cut by a transversal, and the angle-angle criterion for similarity of triangles.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Find the Missing Angle:

This task provides students the opportunity to see how the mathematical ideas embedded in the standards and clusters mature over time. The task uses facts about supplementary, complementary, vertical, adjacent, and alternate interior angles in a multi-step problem to write and solve simple equations for an unknown angle in a figure. It is a good introduction to writing paragraphs, 2-column, and/or flow chart proofs.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Flower Vases:

The purpose of this task is to give students practice working the formulas for the volume of cylinders, cones and spheres, in an engaging context that provides and opportunity to attach meaning to the answers.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Is This a Rectangle?:

The goal of this task is to provide an opportunity for students to apply a wide range of ideas from geometry and algebra in order to show that a given quadrilateral is a rectangle. Creativity will be essential here as the only given information is the Cartesian coordinates of the quadrilateral's vertices. Using this information to show that the four angles are right angles will require some auxiliary constructions. Students will need ample time and, for some of the methods provided below, guidance. The reward of going through this task thoroughly should justify the effort because it provides students an opportunity to see multiple geometric and algebraic constructions unified to achieve a common purpose. The teacher may wish to have students first brainstorm for methods of showing that a quadrilateral is rectangle (before presenting them with the explicit coordinates of the rectangle for this problem): ideally, they can then divide into groups and get to work straightaway once presented with the coordinates of the quadrilateral for this problem.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Identifying Rational Numbers:

The task assumes that students can express a given repeating decimal as a fraction. Teachers looking for a task to fill in this background knowledge could consider the related task "Converting Decimal Representations of Rational Numbers to Fraction Representations".

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Irrational Numbers on the Number Line:

When students plot irrational numbers on the number line, it helps reinforce the idea that they fit into a number system that includes the more familiar integer and rational numbers. This is a good time for teachers to start using the term "real number line" to emphasize the fact that the number system represented by the number line is the real numbers. When students begin to study complex numbers in high school, they will encounter numbers that are not on the real number line (and are, in fact, on a "number plane"). This task could be used for assessment, or if elaborated a bit, could be used in an instructional setting.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Shipping Rolled Oats:

Students should think of different ways the cylindrical containers can be set up in a rectangular box. Through the process, students should realize that although some setups may seem different, they result in a box with the same volume. In addition, students should come to the realization (through discussion and/or questioning) that the thickness of a cardboard box is very thin and will have a negligible effect on the calculations.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Tile Patterns II: hexagons:

This task is ideally suited for instruction purposes where students can take their time and develop several of the standards, as the mathematical content is directly related to, but somewhat exceeds, the content of the standard on sums of angles in triangles. Careful analysis of the angles requires students to construct valid arguments using abstract and quantitative reasoning. Producing the picture in part (c) helps students identify a common mathematical argument repeated multiple times. Students may use pattern blocks to develop the intuition for decomposing the hexagon into triangles.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Triangle congruence with coordinates:

In this resource, students will decide how to use transformations in the coordinate plane to translate a triangle onto a congruent triangle. Exploratory examples are included to prompt analytical thinking.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Comparing Rational and Irrational Numbers:

Students are given a pair of numbers. They are asked to determine which is larger, and then justify their answer. The numbers involved are rational numbers and common irrational numbers, such p and square roots. This task can be used to either build or assess initial understandings related to rational approximations of irrational numbers.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Music and Sports:

This task asks the student to gather data on whether classmates play an instrument and/or participate in a sport, summarize the data in a table and decide whether there is an association between playing a sport and playing an instrument. Finally, the student is asked to create a graph to display any association between the variables.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

What's Your Favorite Subject?:

Students are asked to examine data given in table format and then calculate either row percentages or column percentages and state a conclusion about the meaning of the data. Either calculation is appropriate for the solution since there is no clear relationship between the variables. Whether the student sees a strong association or not is less important than whether his or her answer uses the data appropriately and demonstrates understanding that an association means the distribution of favorite subject is different for 7th graders and 8th graders.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Texting and Grades 1:

Students are asked to examine a scatter plot and then interpret its meaning. Students should identify the form of the relationship (linear, curved, etc.), the direction or correlation (positive or negative), any specific outliers, the strength of the relationship between the two variables, and any other relevant observations.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

US Airports:

In this resource, real-world bivariate data is displayed in a scatter plot. The equation of the linear function which models the relationship between the two variables is provided, and it is graphed on the scatter plot. Students are asked to use the model to interpret the data and to make predictions.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Comparing Speeds in Graphs and Equations:

This task provides the opportunity for students to reason about graphs, slopes, and rates without having a scale on the axes or an equation to represent the graphs. Students who prefer to work with specific numbers can write in scales on the axes to help them get started.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Velocity vs. Distance:

In this task students interpret two graphs that look the same but show very different quantities. The first graph gives information about how fast a car is moving while the second graph gives information about the position of the car. This problem works well to generate a class or small group discussion. Students learn that graphs tell stories and have to be interpreted by carefully thinking about the quantities shown.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

US Garbage, Version 1:

In this task, the rule of the function is more conceptual. We assign to a year (an input) the total amount of garbage produced in that year (the corresponding output). Even if we didn't know the exact amount for a year, it is clear that there will not be two different amounts of garbage produced in the same year. Thus, this makes sense as a "rule" even though there is no algorithmic way to determine the output for a given input except looking it up in the table.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Selling Fuel Oil at a Loss:

The task is a modeling problem which ties in to financial decisions faced routinely by businesses, namely the balance between maintaining inventory and raising short-term capital for investment or re-investment in developing the business.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Chicken and Steak, Variation 1:

In this problem-solving task students are challenged to apply their understanding of linear relationships to determine the amount of chicken and steak needed for a barbecue, which will include creating an equation, sketching a graph, and interpreting both. This resource also includes annotated solutions.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Kimi and Jordan:

Students are asked to create and graph linear equations to compare the savings of two individuals. The purpose of the table in (a) is to help students complete (b) by noticing regularity in the repeated reasoning required to complete the table.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Peaches and Plums:

This task asks students to reason about the relative costs per pound of two fruits without actually knowing what the costs are. Students who find this difficult may add a scale to the graph and reason about the meanings of the ordered pairs. Comparing the two approaches in a class discussion can be a profitable way to help students make sense of slope.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Video Streaming:

Construct a function to model a linear relationship between two quantities. Determine the rate of change and initial value of the function from a description of a relationship or from two (x,y) values, including reading these from a table or from a graph. Interpret the rate of change and initial value of a linear function in terms of the situation it models, and in terms of its graph or a table of values.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Running on the Football Field:

Students need to reason as to how they can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distances ran by Ben Watson and Champ Bailey. The focus here should not be on who ran a greater distance but on seeing how to set up right triangles to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to this problem. Students must use their measurement skills and make reasonable estimates to set up triangles and correctly apply the Theorem.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Chicken and Steak, Variation 2:

In this problem-solving task students are challenged to apply their understanding of linear relationships to determine the amount of chicken and steak needed for a barbecue, which will include creating an equation, sketching a graph, and interpreting both. This resource also includes annotated solutions.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Distance Across the Channel:

This problem-solving task asks students to find a linear function that models something in the real world. After finding the equation of the linear relationship between the depth of the water and the distance across the channel, students have to verbalize the meaning of the slope and intercept of the line in the context of this situation. Commentary and illustrated solutions are included.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Equations of Lines:

This task asks the student to understand the relationship between slope and changes in x- and y-values of a linear function.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Find the Change:

This activity challenges students to recognize the relationship between slope and the difference in x- and y-values of a linear function. Help students solidify their understanding of linear functions and push them to be more fluent in their reasoning about slope and y-intercepts. This task has also produced a reasonable starting place for discussing point-slope form of a linear equation.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Fixing the Furnace:

Students are asked to write equations to model the repair costs of three different companies and determine the conditions for which each company would be least expensive. This task can be used to both assess student understanding of systems of linear equations or to promote discussion and student thinking that would allow for a stronger solidification of these concepts. The solution can be determined in multiple ways, including either a graphical or algebraic approach.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Giantburgers:

The student is asked to perform operations with numbers expressed in scientific notation to decide whether 7% of Americans really do eat at Giantburger every day.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Extending the Definitions of Exponents, Variation 1:

This is an instructional task meant to generate a conversation around the meaning of negative integer exponents. It is good for students to learn the convention that negative time is simply any time before t=0.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Log Ride:

Students are asked to solve an inequality in order to answer a real-world question.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How Many Solutions?:

The student is given the equation 5x-2y=3 and asked, if possible, to write a second linear equation creating systems resulting in one, two, infinite, and no solutions.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

It's Raining!!! (Compare areas of wiped windshields):

In this problem-solving task, students are challenged to determine whether the windshield wipers on a car or a truck allow the drivers to see more area clearly. To solve this problem, students must apply the Pythagorean theorem and their ability to find area of circles and parallelograms to find the answer. Be sure to click the links in the orange bar at the top of the page for more information about the challenge. From NCTM's Figure This! Math Challenges for Families.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Student Center Activity

Edcite: Mathematics Grade 8:

Students can practice answering mathematics questions on a variety of topics. With an account, students can save their work and send it to their teacher when complete.

Type: Student Center Activity

Tutorials

Rotating polygons 180 degrees about their center:

Students will investigate symmetry by rotating polygons 180 degrees about their center.

Type: Tutorial

Finding Missing Angle Measures:

In this video, we find missing angle measures from a variety of examples.

 

Type: Tutorial

Finding the Measure of Complementary Angles:

The video will use algebra to find the measure of two angles whose sum equals 90 degrees, better known as complementary angles.

Type: Tutorial

Proving congruent angles:

In this tutorial, students are asked to prove two angles congruent when given limited information. Students need to have a foundation of parallel lines, transversals and triangles before viewing this video.

Type: Tutorial

Cylinder Volume and Surface Area:

This video demonstrates finding the volume and surface area of a cylinder.

Type: Tutorial

Introduction to Transformations:

This video introduces the concept of rigid transformation and congruent figures.

Type: Tutorial

Scaling Down a Triangle by Half:

This video demonstrates the effect of a dilation on the coordinates of a triangle.

Type: Tutorial

Testing Similarity Through Transformations:

This video shows testing for similarity through transformations.

Type: Tutorial

Volume of a Sphere:

This video shows how to calculate the volume of a sphere.

Type: Tutorial

Volume of a Cone:

This video explains the formula for volume of a cone and applies the formula to solve a problem.

Type: Tutorial

Bhaskara's Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem:

This video demonstrates Bhaskara's proof of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Type: Tutorial

Pythagorean Theorem Proof Using Similar Triangles:

This video shows a proof of the Pythagorean Theorem using similar triangles.

Type: Tutorial

Find Measure of Complementary Angles:

Watch as we use algebra to find the measure of two complementary angles. 

Type: Tutorial

Find Measure of Supplementary Angles:

Watch as we use algebra to find the measure of supplementary angles, whose sum is 180 degrees.

Type: Tutorial

Distance formula and the Pythagorean Theorem:

This tutorial shows students how to find the distance between lines using the Pythagorean Theorem. This video makes a connection between the distance formula and the Pythagorean Theorem.

Type: Tutorial

Sum of measures of triangles proof:

This video gives the proof of sum of measures of angles in a triangle. This video is beneficial for both Algebra and Geometry students.

Type: Tutorial

Example 3: Solving Systems by Substitution:

This example demonstrates solving a system of equations algebraically and graphically.

Type: Tutorial

Substitution Method Example 2:

This video demonstrates a system of equations with no solution.

Type: Tutorial

The Substitution Method:

This video shows how to solve a system of equations using the substitution method.

Type: Tutorial

Pythagorean Theorem: A Carpet Example:

In this tutorial, you will practice finding the missing width of a carpet, given the length of one side and the diagonal of the carpet.

Type: Tutorial

Limits and Infinity:

We will look at examples of limits at infinity.

Type: Tutorial

Checking Solutions to Systems of Equations Example:

This video demonstrates testing a solution (coordinate pair) for a system of equations

Type: Tutorial

Using a Graph to Analyze Solutions to Linear Systems:

This video demonstrates analyzing solutions to linear systems using a graph.

Type: Tutorial

Example of System with No Solution:

This video shows how to algebraically analyze a system that has no solutions.

Type: Tutorial

Does a Vertical Line Represent a Function?:

This video explains why a vertical line does not represent a function.

Type: Tutorial

Check if a Verbal Description Is a Function:

This video demonstrates how to check if a verbal description represents a function.

Type: Tutorial

How to Check if Points on a Graph Represent a Function:

This video shows how to check whether a given set of points can represent a function. For the set to represent a function, each domain element must have one corresponding range element at most.

Type: Tutorial

Recognizing Linear Functions:

In this video, you will determine if the situation is linear or non-linear by finding the rate of change between cooordinates. You will check your work by graphing the coordinates given.

Type: Tutorial

Comparing linear functions from a graph:

In this tutorial, students will compare linear functions from a graph. Students should have an understanding of slope and rate of change before reviewing this tutorial.

Type: Tutorial

Compare linear functions from a table and graph:

This tutorial shows how to compare linear functions that are presented in both a table and graph. Students should have an understanding of rate of change before viewing this video.

Type: Tutorial

Comparing linear functions :

Students will compare linear functions presented in a graph and in a table. Students should have a strong understanding of rate of change before viewing this tutorial.

Type: Tutorial

Linear Function: Spending Money:

In this tutorial, you will practice using an equation in slope-intercept form to find coordinates, then graph the coordinates to predict an answer to the problem.

Type: Tutorial

Finding and Interpreting Slope from a Table:

In this video, you will practice finding the slope of a line from data in a table, and interpret what the slope means in the problem.

Type: Tutorial

Interpreting Linear Graphs: Cats, Cats and More Cats!:

In this video, you will use a linear graph to determine the y-intercept (starting point) and slope (rate of change), as well as interpret what these mean in the given scenario.

Type: Tutorial

Interpreting Linear Graphs:

In this tutorial, you will look at several real-world examples of linear graphs and interpret the relationship between the two variables.

Type: Tutorial

Slope-Intercept Form from a Table:

In this video, you will practice writing the slope-intercept form for a line, given a table of x and y values.

Type: Tutorial

Finding the x and y intercepts from an equation:

Students will learn how to find and graph the x and y intercepts from an equation written in standard form.

Type: Tutorial

Graphing x and y intercepts from an equation:

Students will learn how to find the x and y intercepts from an equation in standard form.

Type: Tutorial

Finding intercepts from a table:

This tutorial shows students how to find the y inercept from a table.

Type: Tutorial

Slope-Intercept Equation from Two Solutions:

Given two points on a line, you will find the slope and the y-intercept. You will then write the equation of the line in slope-intercept form.

Type: Tutorial

Graphing a linear equation using a table:

Students will learn how to graph a linear equation using a table. Students will not be required to graph from slope-intercept form, although they will convert the equation from standard form to slope-intercpet form before they create the table.

Type: Tutorial

Slope-Intercept Equation from Slope and Point:

Given the slope of a line and a point on the line, you will write the equation of the line in slope-intercept form.

Type: Tutorial

Solving Percentage Problems with Linear Equations:

Many real world problems involve involve percentages. This lecture shows how algebra is used in solving problems of percent change and profit-and-loss.

Type: Tutorial

Determining a linear equation by checking solutions:

Students will learn how to determine an equation by checking solutions. Students will be given a table and 4 linear equations and they will have to determine which equation created the table.

Type: Tutorial

Solve a Consecutive Integer Problem Algebraically:

This video will show how to solve a consecutive integer problem.

 

Type: Tutorial

Finding the slope from two ordered pairs:

This tutorial shows how to find the slope from two ordered pairs. Students will see what happens to the slope of a horizontal line.

Type: Tutorial

Using the Slope-Intercept Form of a Line:

In this video, you will practice writing the equations of lines in slope-intercept form from graphs. You will then practice graphing lines from equations in slope-intercept form.

Type: Tutorial

Using Similar Triangles to Prove that Slope is Constant for a Line:

In this tutorial, you will use your knowledge about similar triangles, as well as parallel lines and transversals, to prove that the slope of any given line is constant.

Type: Tutorial

Graph a line in slope-intercept form:

This tutprial shows how to graph a line in slope-intercept form.

Type: Tutorial

Finding the slope from two ordered pairs:

This tutorial shows an example of finding the slope between two ordered pairs. Slope is presented as rise/run, the change in y divided by the change in x and also as m.

Type: Tutorial

Age word problem:

This tuptorial shows students how to set up and solve an age word problem. The tutorial also shows how tp check your work using substitution.

Type: Tutorial

Comparing Irrational Numbers With and Without a Calculator:

In this video, you will practice comparing an irrational number to a percent. First you will try it without a calculator. Then you will check your answer using a calculator.

Type: Tutorial

Approximating Square Roots to the Hundredths:

In this video, you will learn how to approximate a square root to the hundredths place.

Type: Tutorial

How to Approximate Square Roots:

In this video, you will practice approximating square roots of numbers that are not perfect squares. You will find the perfect square below and above to approximate the value of the square root between two whole numbers.

Type: Tutorial

Classifying Numbers:

In this tutorial, you will practice classifying numbers as whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, and irrational numbers.

Type: Tutorial

Age word problem :

Students will learn how to set up and solve an age word problem.

Type: Tutorial

Distributive Property to Simplify Equations:

Use the Distributive Property while solving equations with variables on both sides.

Type: Tutorial

Introduction to solving an equation with variables on both sides:

Students will learn how to solve an equation with variables on both sides. This tutorial shows a final answer expressed as an improper fraction and mixed number.

Type: Tutorial

Application of the Distributive Property to Solve a Multi-Step Equation:

This video shows how to solve the equation (3/4)x + 2 = (3/8)x - 4 using the Distributive Property.

Type: Tutorial

Solving Equations with the Distributive Property:

This video shows how to solve an equation involving the Distributive Property.

Type: Tutorial

Solving a Multi-Step Equation:

This example involves a variable in the denominator on both sides of the equation.

Type: Tutorial

Exponent Properties Involving Products:

This video discusses exponent properties involving products.

Type: Tutorial

Solving an equation with variables on both sides:

Students will learn how to solve an equation with variables on both sides. Students will also learn how to distribute and combine like terms.

Type: Tutorial

Exponent Properties Involving Quotients:

This video models how to use the Quotient of Powers property.

Type: Tutorial

An introduction to rational and irrational numbers:

Students will learn the difference between rational and irrational numbers.

Type: Tutorial

Multiplying in Scientific Notation:

This video demonstrates multiplying in scientific notation.

Type: Tutorial

Calculating Red Blood Cells in the Body Using Scientific Notation:

This example demonstrates mathematical operations with scientific notation used to solve a word problem.

Type: Tutorial

Negative exponents:

This tutorial shows students the rule for negative exponents. Students will see, using variables, the pattern for negative exponents.

Type: Tutorial

U.S. National Debt (Scientific Notation Word Problem):

This video demonstrates a scientific notation word problem involving division.

Type: Tutorial

Simplifying an Expression into Scientific Notation:

This is an example showing how to simplify an expression into scientific notation.

Type: Tutorial

Finding Probability:

This video demonstrates several examples of finding probability of random events.

Type: Tutorial

The Limits of Probability:

This video discusses the limits of probability as between 0 and 1.

Type: Tutorial

Comparing Theoretical to Experimental Probabilites:

This video compares theoretical and experimantal probabilities and sources of possible discrepancy.

Type: Tutorial

Negative exponents:

In this tutorial, students will learn about negative exponents. An emphasis is placed on multiplying by the reciprocal of a number.

Type: Tutorial

Converting a fraction to a repeating decimal:

Students will learn how to convert a fraction into a repeating decimal. Students should know how to use long division before starting this tutorial.

Type: Tutorial

Finding the square root of a decimal:

Students will learn how to find the square root of a decimal number.

Type: Tutorial

Finding cube roots:

Learn how to find the cube root of -512 using prime factorization.

Type: Tutorial

Introduction to cube roots:

Students will learn the meaning of cube roots and how to find them. Students will also learn how to find the cube root of a negative number.

Type: Tutorial

Introduction to square roots:

Students will earn about the square root symbol (the principal root) and what it means to find a square root. Students will also learn how to solve simple square root equations.

Type: Tutorial

Impact of a Radius Change on the Area of a Circle:

This video shows how the area and circumference relate to each other and how changing the radius of a circle affects the area and circumference.

 

Type: Tutorial

Circles: Radius, Diameter, Circumference, and Pi:

In this video, students are shown the parts of a circle and how the radius, diameter, circumference and Pi relate to each other.

Type: Tutorial

Circumference of a Circle:

This video shows how to find the circumference, the distance around a circle, given the area.

Type: Tutorial

Finding Probability of a Simple Event:

This video demonstrates how to find the probability of a simple event.

Type: Tutorial

Making Predictions with Probability:

Watch the video as it predicts the number of times a spinner will land on a given outcome.

Type: Tutorial

Constructing Probability Model from Observations:

This video demonstrates development and use of a probability model.

Type: Tutorial

Compound Sample Spaces:

This video explores how to create sample spaces as tree diagrams, lists and tables.

Type: Tutorial

Probability of Compound Events:

This video shows how to use a sample space diagram to find probability.

Type: Tutorial

Die Rolling Probability:

The video will show how to use a table to find the probability of a compound event.

Type: Tutorial

Count Outcomes Using a Tree Diagram:

This video shows an example of using a tree diagram to find the probability of a compound event.

Type: Tutorial

Find Measure of Vertical Angles:

This video uses knowledge of vertical angles to solve for the variable and the angle measures.

Type: Tutorial

Introduction to Vertical Angles:

This video uses facts about supplementary and adjacent angles to introduce vertical angles.

Type: Tutorial

Find Measure of Angles in a Word Problem:

This video demonstrates solving a word problem involving angle measures.

Type: Tutorial

Construct a Right Isosceles Triangle:

This video discusses constructing a right isosceles triangle with given constraints and deciding if the triangle is unique.

Type: Tutorial

Construct a Triangle with Given Side Lengths:

This video demonstrates drawing a triangle when the side lengths are given.

Type: Tutorial

Area of a Circle:

In this video, watch as we find the area of a circle when given the diameter.

Type: Tutorial

Basic Linear Equation Word Problem:

This video shows how to construct and solve a basic linear equation to solve a word problem.

Type: Tutorial

Exponents with Negative Bases:

In this tutorial, you will apply what you know about multiplying negative numbers to determine how negative bases with exponents are affected and what patterns develop.

Type: Tutorial

Find the Volume of an Object in a Rectangular Prism:

Find the volume of an object, given dimensions of a rectangular prism filled with water, and the incremental volume after the object is dropped into the water.

Type: Tutorial

Volume of a Rectangular Prism Problem:

This video involves packing a larger rectangular prism with smaller ones which is solved in two different ways.

Type: Tutorial

Find the Volume of a Triangular Prism and Cube:

This video will show to find the volume of a triangular prism, and a cube by applying the formula for volume.

Type: Tutorial

Complementary and Supplementary Angles:

The video will demonstrate the difference between supplementary angles and complementary angles, by using the given measurements of angles.

Type: Tutorial

Multiplying and Dividing Inequalities :

The video will solve the inequality and graph the solution.

Type: Tutorial

Linear equation word problem:

Learn how to solve a word problem by writing an equation to model the situation. In this video, we use the linear equation 210(t-5) = 41,790.

Type: Tutorial

Solving Equations: Word Problem:

This tutorial shows a word problem in which students will find the dimensions of a garden given only the perimeter. Students will create an equation to solve.

Type: Tutorial

Solving a more complicated equation:

This example demonstrates how to solve an equation expressed in the form ax + b = c.

Type: Tutorial

Solving a two-step equation with a numerator of x:

This video shows how to solve an equation by isolating the variable in the numerator.

Type: Tutorial

Two-Step Equations:

Students will practice two step equations, some of which require combining like terms and using the distributive property.

Type: Tutorial

Dependent and independent variables exercise: graphing the equation:

It's helpful to represent an equation on a graph where we plot at least 2 points to show the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Watch and we'll show you.

Type: Tutorial

Dependent and Independent Variables Exercise: Express the Graph as an Equation:

Given a graph, we will be able to find the equation it represents.

Type: Tutorial

Solving two-step equations:

This video shows how to solve a two step equation. It begins with the concept of equality, what is done to one side of an equation, must be done to the other side of an equation.

Type: Tutorial

Proof: Vertical Angles are Equal:

This 5 minute video gives the proof that vertical angles are equal.

Type: Tutorial

Linear Equations:

This tutorial will help you to explore slopes of lines and see how slope is represented on the x-y axes.

Type: Tutorial

Exponents and Powers:

This tutorial reviews the concept of exponents and powers and includes how to evaluate powers with negative signs.

Type: Tutorial

Vertical, Adjacent and Linearly Paired Angles:

This resource will allow students to have a good understanding about vertical, adjacent and linear pairs of angles.

Type: Tutorial

Power of a Power Property:

This tutorial demonstrates how to use the power of a power property with both numerals and variables.

Type: Tutorial

Solving One-Step Equations Using Multiplication and Division:

This tutorial will help you to solve one-step equations using multiplication and division. For practice, take the quiz after the lesson!

Type: Tutorial

Linear Equations:

Equations of the form y = mx describe lines in the Cartesian plane which pass through the origin. The fact that many functions are linear when viewed on a small scale, is important in branches of mathematics such as calculus.

Type: Tutorial

Solving Multi-Step Equations:

This short video explains how to solve multi-step equations with variables on both sides and why it is necessary to complete the same steps on both sides of the equation.

Type: Tutorial

Solving Two-Step Equations:

This short video uses both an equation and a visual model to explain why the same steps must be used on both sides of the equation when solving for the value of a variable.

Type: Tutorial

Raising Exponential Expressions to Powers:

If a term raised to a power is enclosed in parentheses and then raised to another power, this expression can be simplified using the rules of multiplying exponents.

Type: Tutorial

Raising Products and Quotients to Powers:

Any expression consisting of multiplied and divide terms can be enclosed in parentheses and raised to a power. This can then be simplified using the rules for multiplying exponents.

Type: Tutorial

Scatter Plots:

Scatterplots are used to visualize the relationship between two quantitative variables in a binary relation. As an example, trends in the relationship between the height and weight of a group of people could be graphed and analyzed using a scatter plot.

Type: Tutorial

Solving Inconsistent or Dependent Systems:

When solving a system of linear equations in x and y with a single solution, we get a unique pair of values for x and y. But what happens when try to solve a system with no solutions or an infinite number of solutions?

Type: Tutorial

Slope-Intercept Form:

Linear equations of the form y=mx+b can describe any non-vertical line in the cartesian plane. The constant m determines the line's slope, and the constant b determines the y intercept and thus the line's vertical position.

Type: Tutorial

Scientific Notation:

Scientific notation is used to conveniently write numbers that require many digits in their representations. How to convert between standard and scientific notation is explained in this tutorial.

Type: Tutorial

Linear Equations in One Variable:

This lesson introduces students to linear equations in one variable, shows how to solve them using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division properties of equalities, and allows students to determine if a value is a solution, if there are infinitely many solutions, or no solution at all. The site contains an explanation of equations and linear equations, how to solve equations in general, and a strategy for solving linear equations. The lesson also explains contradiction (an equation with no solution) and identity (an equation with infinite solutions). There are five practice problems at the end for students to test their knowledge with links to answers and explanations of how those answers were found. Additional resources are also referenced.

Type: Tutorial

Primary Additive Colors:

This resource helps the user learn the three primary colors that are fundamental to human vision, learn the different colors in the visible spectrum, observe the resulting colors when two colors are added, and learn what white light is. A combination of text and a virtual manipulative allows the user to explore these concepts in multiple ways.

Type: Tutorial

Primary Subtractive Colors:

The user will learn the three primary subtractive colors in the visible spectrum, explore the resulting colors when two subtractive colors interact with each other and explore the formation of black color.

Type: Tutorial

Solving Equations With the Variable on Both Sides.:

This video models solving equations in one variable with variables on both sides of the equal sign.

Type: Tutorial

Solving Equations with One Variable :

This Khan Academy presentation models solving two-step equations with one variable.

Type: Tutorial

Converting Speed Units:

In this lesson, students will be viewing a Khan Academy video that will show how to convert ratios using speed units.

Type: Tutorial

Video/Audio/Animations

Solving Motion Problems with Linear Equations:

Based upon the definition of speed, linear equations can be created which allow us to solve problems involving constant speeds, time, and distance.

Note: This video exceeds basic expectations for the mathematical concept(s) at this grade level. The video is intended for students who have demonstrated mastery within the scope of instruction who may be ready for a more rigorous extension of the mathematical concept(s). As with all materials, ensure to gauge the readiness of students or adapt according to student's needs prior to administration.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Solving Problems with Linear Equations:

The video explains the process of creating linear equations to solve real-world problems. 

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Irrational Numbers:

Although the Greeks initially thought all numeric quantities could be represented by the ratio of two integers, i.e. rational numbers, we now know that not all numbers are rational. How do we know this?

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Trend Lines (Smoking in 1945):

This 5-minute video provides an example of how to solve a problem using a trend line to estimate data through a problem called, "Smoking in 1945."

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Compound Probability of Independent Events:

This 6-minute video provides an example of how to work with compound probability of independent events through the example of flipping a coin. If you flip a coin and it lands on heads, is the next flip more likely to be tails? Or are those events independent?

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Probability Explained:

This 8-minute video provides an introduction to the concept of probability through the example of flipping a coin and rolling a die.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Solving Mixture Problems with Linear Equations:

Mixture problems can involve mixtures of things other than liquids. This video shows how Algebra can be used to solve problems involving mixtures of different types of items.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Exponentiation:

Exponentiation can be understood in terms of repeated multiplication much like multiplication can be understood in terms of repeated addition. Properties of multiplication and division of exponential expressions with the same base are derived.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Exponents of One, Zero, and Negative:

Integer exponents greater than one represent the number of copies of the base which are multiplied together. hat if the exponent is one, zero, or negative? Using the rules of adding and subtracting exponents, we can see what the meaning must be.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Simplifying Multiplied Exponential Expressions:

Exponential expressions with multiplied terms can be simplified using the rules for adding exponents.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Simplifying Divided Exponential Expressions:

Exponential expressions with divided terms can be simplified using the rules for subtracting exponents.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Simplifying Mixed Exponential Expressions:

Exponential expressions with multiplied and divided terms can be simplified using the rules of adding and subtracting exponents.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Slope:

"Slope" is a fundamental concept in mathematics. Slope of a linear function is often defined as " the rise over the run"....but why?

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Linear Equations in the Real World:

Linear equations can be used to solve many types of real-word problems. In this episode, the water depth of a pool is shown to be a linear function of time and an equation is developed to model its behavior. Unfortunately, ace Algebra student A. V. Geekman ends up in hot water anyway.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Fitting a Line to Data:

Khan Academy tutorial video that demonstrates with real-world data the use of Excel spreadsheet to fit a line to data and make predictions using that line.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Annotated Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem :

This resource gives an animated and then annotated proof of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Averages:

This Khan Academy video tutorial introduces averages and algebra problems involving averages.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Virtual Manipulatives

Slope Slider:

In this activity, students adjust slider bars which adjust the coefficients and constants of a linear function and examine how their changes affect the graph. The equation of the line can be in slope-intercept form or standard form. This activity allows students to explore linear equations, slopes, and y-intercepts and their visual representation on a graph. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Spinner:

In this activity, students adjust how many sections there are on a fair spinner then run simulated trials on that spinner as a way to develop concepts of probability. A table next to the spinner displays the theoretical probability for each color section of the spinner and records the experimental probability from the spinning trials. This activity allows students to explore the topics of experimental and theoretical probability by seeing them displayed side by side for the spinner they have created. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Cross Section Flyer - Shodor:

With this online Java applet, students use slider bars to move a cross section of a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid. This activity allows students to explore conic sections and the 3-dimensional shapes from which they are derived. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Circle Tool:

This applet allows students to investigate the relationships between the area and circumference of a circle and its radius and diameter. There are three sections to the site: Intro, Investigation, and Problems.

  • In the Intro section, students can manipulate the size of a circle and see how the radius, diameter, and circumference are affected. Students can also play movie clip to visually see how these measurements are related.
  • The Investigation section allows students to collect data points by dragging the circle radius to various lengths, and record in a table the data for radius, diameter, circumference and area. Clicking on the x/y button allows students to examine the relationship between any two measures. Clicking on the graph button will take students to a graph of the data. They can plot any of the four measures on the x-axis against any of the four measures on the y-axis.
  • The Problems section contains questions for students to solve and record their answers in the correct unit.

(NCTM's Illuminations)

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Linear Function Machine:

In this activity, students plug values into the independent variable to see what the output is for that function. Then based on that information, they have to determine the coefficient (slope) and constant(y-intercept) for the linear function. This activity allows students to explore linear functions and what input values are useful in determining the linear function rule. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the Java applet.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Graphing Lines:

Allows students access to a Cartesian Coordinate System where linear equations can be graphed and details of the line and the slope can be observed.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Box Plot:

In this activity, students use preset data or enter in their own data to be represented in a box plot. This activity allows students to explore single as well as side-by-side box plots of different data. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the Java applet.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Data Flyer:

Using this virtual manipulative, students are able to graph a function and a set of ordered pairs on the same coordinate plane. The constants, coefficients, and exponents can be adjusted using slider bars, so the student can explore the affect on the graph as the function parameters are changed. Students can also examine the deviation of the data from the function. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Function Flyer:

In this online tool, students input a function to create a graph where the constants, coefficients, and exponents can be adjusted by slider bars. This tool allows students to explore graphs of functions and how adjusting the numbers in the function affect the graph. Using tabs at the top of the page you can also access supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Interactive Marbles:

This online manipulative allows the student to simulate placing marbles into a bag and finding the probability of pulling out certain combinations of marbles. This allows exploration of probabilities of multiple events as well as probability with and without replacement. The tabs above the applet provide access to supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the Java applet.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Advanced Data Grapher:

This is an online graphing utility that can be used to create box plots, bubble graphs, scatterplots, histograms, and stem-and-leaf plots.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Number Cruncher:

In this activity, students enter inputs into a function machine. Then, by examining the outputs, they must determine what function the machine is performing. This activity allows students to explore functions and what inputs are most useful for determining the function rule. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Plinko Probability:

The students will play a classic game from a popular show. Through this they can explore the probability that the ball will land on each of the numbers and discover that more accurate results coming from repeated testing. The simulation can be adjusted to influence fairness and randomness of the results.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Curve Fitting:

With a mouse, students will drag data points (with their error bars) and watch the best-fit polynomial curve form instantly. Students can choose the type of fit: linear, quadratic, cubic, or quartic. Best fit or adjustable fit can be displayed.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Equation Grapher:

This interactive simulation investigates graphing linear and quadratic equations. Users are given the ability to define and change the coefficients and constants in order to observe resulting changes in the graph(s).

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Box Plotter:

Users select a data set or enter their own data to generate a box plot.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Line of Best Fit:

This manipulative allows the user to enter multiple coordinates on a grid, estimate a line of best fit, and then determine the equation for a line of best fit.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Random Drawing Tool - Individual Trials (Probability Simulation):

This virtual manipulative allows one to make a random drawing box, putting up to 21 tickets with the numbers 0-11 on them. After selecting which tickets to put in the box, the applet will choose tickets at random. There is also an option which will show the theoretical probability for each ticket.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Scale Factor:

Explore the effect on perimeter and area of two rectangular shapes as the scale factor changes.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Rotation of a Point:

This virtual manipulative is an interactive visual presentation of the rotation of a point around the origin of the coordinate system. The original point can be dragged to different positions and the angle of rotation can be changed with a 90° increment.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this course.