Mistake of the week-7

Math Vocabulary:

Coefficient– Number that represents a constant value, usually multiplies the expression.

Factorize/ factor/ factoring– In math factoring or to factor is to find the smallest numbers that multiplied together will give you the original number. This is used so you can work with simpler and smaller numbers.

Ex: 250= 25 x 10, you can still make those numbers smaller, 25= 5 x 5 and 10 = 2 x 5.

Therefore it will end up being 250 = 5 x 5 x 2 x 5.

Like terms– Terms that have the same base and same exponent. Ex: x and x^2 are not like terms because they do not share the same exponent. xy^3 and 4xy^3 are like terms because their variables and exponents are the same (the coefficient is the only thing that can different in like terms)

Binomial– An algebraic expression consisting of two terms. Ex: 24x – 8

Polynomial–  An algebraic expression consisting of more that two terms. Ex:

Conjugate– Every binomial has a conjugate. This conjugate is the same binomial but you change the middle symbol. Ex: The conjugate of 2x + 8 is 2x – 8. As you can see you change the symbol between both terms.

Zero pairs– A set of two numbers that when added together equal zero.

Quadratic Equation– An equation in which the highest exponent of a function is 2. The equation has two solutions.

Best mistake of the week:

Unit 2 Worksheet 13, number 3:

My mistake:

The new thing that we learned this week was using the square method. The confusing part is figuring out what to do with the third digit because it is a trinomial. However, after some of the problems I was able to figure out how the answer should be displayed. Another problem I encountered was that because it is a quadratic equation, the answer will have a square root, therefore I had to remember the rules that we need to follow with square roots.

Why is this important? 

If you do not have a clear idea on how to solve the problems using different strategies, you will be very lost on a test.

What I did:

For these problems you have to focus on the first two digits in the trinomial (x^2 and #x), you will then put them into a square and you will have to compare the value on the low right side in the square and the last digit of the trinomial. The thing that confused me was to see which symbol I was supposed to write down depending on the value of the trinomial digit. Something that really helped me was search for a pattern and it ended up showing me that if your value is bigger that the one you need (extra), it will be a plus sign; If it is a lower value then it will be a negative sign.

See example for a visual explanation.

Solution:

That is how i figured the answer out.

Extra example: