Up Coming Quizzes

There will be quizzes in both classes on Tuesday (or Wednesday depending on block).

1)  Tuesday:  Sin / Cos/ Tan triangles.
3)  Wednesday:  Negative Exponents, Scientific Notation, Multiplying Powers
4)  Tuesday:  Sin / Cos/ Tan triangles.
5)  Wednesday:  Negative Exponents, Scientific Notation, Multiplying Powers
6)  Tuesday:  Negative Exponents, Scientific Notation, Multiplying Powers

Tentatively the BA for Geometry on chapter 8 will be on Monday March 14.  In Algebra it will be, tentatively, on Tues/Wed March 22/23 depending on Block.

Talk About Algebra: Scientific Notation

We're working with some pretty big numbers in class lately and for an example I pulled up the national debt as a big number probably better written in Scientific Notation rather than Standard Notation.  For those interested here is the website that uses Standard Notation:

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

Off Topic: Friday Fun: Les Mis International

After having One Day more stuck in my head for two straight weeks I recalled this collection of Val Jean's singing parts of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in their native languages.  Enjoy!

 

Algebra Study Videos

All of the vidoes for chapter 6 can be found on the YouTube Channel Playlist for Chapter 6:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ROsterman92?feature=mhsn#p/c/6872B277C4F5FA07

But for those that need a quick refresh of what's on tomorow's test:

Test Prep Reposted

Here are two articles from earlier this year that I wrote to help students prepare for upcoming exams.  There are exams in both Geometry and Algebra between now and the day we leave for midwinter break.  I'm reposting them for those that might find the advice in them useful.

Click on Read More to see them:

Geometry: Stagecraft Project

For those that need the extra review/ assignment here is the Stage Modeling project again.

This is due 2/28, the Monday after Holiday Break:

Algebra: Quiz 2 Answer Key

Geo: Quiz Answers

Friday Fun: In FRENCH!

Students have been asking a lot lately about me playing the World of Warcraft in the evening. I'm guessing it's a way to mock me.

Well.... would they mock the world renowned martial arist and action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme?

(probably....)

Talk about Math: Forced Perspective

In geometry we've been talking a lot about the use of camera tricks to create various optional illusions related to scale.  One trick often employed in the theatre is to use different scaled back drops and flats to make the stage appear to be deeper than it really is by having the scaling shrink as you move away from the action.  Only if an actor walks upstage and stands next to the small scale tree do you realize that the tree is not 40 feet away, but only 10. 

It's nearly impossible to talk about these kind of scalings without talking about The Lord of the Rings, a cinematic masterpiece that combined computers and cutting edge digital technology as well as some good old fashioned 1920's era camera manuevers to create the illusion that Elija Wood was a 4 foot hobbit, towered over by Ian McKellen's Gandalf. 

But how did they do it?  Click below to see: