Month: May 2021

This week in Math 10 we started our polynomials unit. In this blog post I am going to explain how to use algebra tiles. Algebra tiles can help you because it can be more visual to see the blocks instead of doing more of it in your head and leaves less room for mistakes.

First you need to know what the different algebra tiles mean. If an algebra tile is coloured in that means it’s a positive tile, that represents a positive number or variable. If the algebra tile is not coloured in it’s a negative algebra tile, which is representing a negative number/variable.

• A square tile represents a x^2.
• A rectangle tile represents a x.
• A small square represents a constant.

Now that we worked through some basics we can get on to a question. In these types of questions you will see an expression given to you and you need to expand it out to algebra tiles.

Our first step here is to draw the equation dawn on the sides of the square.

Our next step is to draw in the algebra tiles on the inside. A trick I use is you draw the vertical line of the algebra tile the length of the tile on the left and the horizontal line the same length as the tile on the top

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Now that we have all of our blocks drawn in the only step left is to draw in the positive squares and then cross out any zero pairs you may have. All you need to do is look at what is multiplying what. Remember when two negatives multiply the product is positive and when a negative and a positive multiply the product is negative!

And it’s that simple! Algebra tiles can be useful if you are a more visual person and need to draw something out. Just remember to always finish it by seeing what is positive and what is negative!

This week in math we finished up our trigonometry unit and started up our polynomial unit. In this weeks blog post I am going to focus on how to solve word questions in trigonometry. Word questions aren’t always easy but you have to look for clues throughout the question to make it easier. In this post I will show you what clues you should be looking for and then I will solve step by step a word question.

Clue 1: Ladder, string, guy wire is always going to be the side on a triangle that’s the angled side.

Clue 2: Tree, building, pole is always going to be the vertical side of the triangle and if you think about it, it makes sense because all those things are vertical objects that stands straight up and down.

Clue 3: Shadow, ground is always going to be the horizontal line of the triangle.

Clue 4: The angle of elevation is the angle from the horizontal line upwards and the angle it creates is the angle of elevation.

Clue 5: The angle of depression is the angle from the top of the triangle but it is on the outside of the triangle.

Word  question:

Step 1: First we need to take the clues the question gives us and draw a diagram. I first notice in the question, they say that the building stands 1063ft high, which I know is referring to the vertical line. I then see they give us the angle of elevation which is 34.1 degrees. Then they ask us to find the length of the shadow, which I know is going to be the horizontal line.

After analyzing this information I can now make a diagram of the information they gave me.

Step 2: Now that  have a diagram drown I can solve this just like any other question.

The most important thing while solving word questions is drawing the right diagram. I recommend that you have the diagram drawn above, at the top of the blog to help identify the clues the questions are giving you. And once you draw your diagram it is very easy, you just solve it like any other question!

This week in math we learnt how to deal with negative exponents. When dealing with a negative exponent you need to move it to the other side of the fraction line. Remember every number is over 1. I will first explain the simple way to do it and then explain how to deal with a negative exponent while solving a bigger problem.

Step 1: As you can see it is very simple, take the base and power and move then to the other side of the fraction line; in this case you can’t see a fraction so you have to remember there is always an invisible 1, making it one over x to the third.

Step 2: If you have a coefficient in front of the power and the base it does not move with them. You take the base and the power and move it under the coefficient.

Now for a harder problem:

Step 1:  To start with you need to put the entire problem over 1. Without changing anything in the brackets you change the exponent outside of the bracket to a positive exponent.

Step 2: Next step is to distribute the exponent by following the power law. Multiply the exponents.

Step 3: Next you need to take the y^-4 and move it to the top of the fraction to get rid of the negative exponent.

Step 4: You’re going to get rid of the 1 because it doesn’t change anything. And you have simplified it as much as you can.

And just like that now you know hoe to deal with negative exponents. Always remember every number is over 1 even if you can’t see it!

This is my first week having math in person in about a year. The adjustment to having to do it online last march was very difficult as we were all preoccupied with what was going on in the world and the uncertainty of it all. As we move back into in person learning I have seen my grades, mental health and overall happiness go up a significant amount.

This week we learnt how to find the Greatest Commun Factor or GCF. When you are finding a GCF you are essentially finding the largest factor that the numbers share. You do. this process in a few different steps. Here is how:

Step 1: Break the two numbers down in factor trees and find all the prime factors. To make a factor tree you need to keep breaking the number down until you get to a prime number (2,3,5,7,11…)

Step 2: Find all the factors of both numbers and right them all down. If you want to check you did it right, all the factors of its respected number, when multiplied together should equal the number.

Step 3: Looking at the list of number in front of you find the common factors. I circle them for a visual. In this case it would be 3.

Step 4: And just like that you have found the GCF. 3 is the largest number that divides into both 18 and 21. Tip: Even if there are 3 common factors always pick the greatest of them.

Now that we have the basics down, we can use some bigger numbers. Using the same steps, we will be able to find the GCF of any number. In this case I first broke down 78 and 112 into factor trees to find its prime factors. I then wrote out the prime factors and was easily able to identify that 2 is the GCF of 78,112.

Tip: When finding the GCF of bigger numbers instead of using a factor tree you could use a factor ladder which will allow you to stay more organized.

And just like that you now know how to find the Greatest Common Factor of any number big or small.