Caboose is working on factoring for least common denominators and stuff like that. I'm so okay with that. Makes me remember why I'm a math geek and love it so much. I always did like fractions. I even like fractions that have fractions in them. I used to make them up and do them for fun.
Comment at your own risk.
The girls on the other hand are in their third year of algebra, which is called Algebra II. Go figure that one out and I give you permission to have some chocolate as a reward. Their factoring is not so much fun. Actually it is no fun. I don't remember anymore why I loved Algebra II when I was in school.
The last week or so we have done:
- Monomial Factors
- Perfect Square Trinomials
- Factoring a Perfect Square Trinomial
- Difference of Two Squares
- Factoring the Difference of Two Squares
- Difference of Two Squares — Special Case
- Sum or Difference of Two Cubes
- Sum or Difference of the Same Odd Powers (here is where we got into the tricky stuff)
- Difference of Even Powers of Two Numbers
- Factoring Binomials (where you have to choose your method — yuck!)
- The Quadratic Trinomial
- Trinomials of the General Form ax² + bx + c
- Polynomials Whose Terms May Be Grouped to Show a Common Polynomial Factor
- Making a Perfect Square Trinomial in Order to Factor a Difference of Squares (you add something in to the problem to make it a perfect square trinomial and then subtract it at the end of the problem so that the problem is still equivalent to what it started out as...you got that, right?)
All this with a cold running rampant through my head. I'm starting to have difficulty explaining to Chatty (who does not enjoy math or any form of it) how she is ever going to use this in real life. Feel free to come to my rescue if you do.
I'm ready to go back to 4th grade.
Posts
5 comments:
No rescuing from me! Math was never my best thing and this sounds tough!
Okay, that just cements that you are a bit odd dearie..."did them for fun." Sheesh! No help from me either, I'm afraid. The only math I do on a regular basis is for cooking or grocery shopping. Of course, if you grow up to be an engineer like my dear Loverbrains you work with algebra and calculus in your head ALL DAY...which, is just scary!!!
I used to do them for fun too!! LOL!
I love math, and used to be quite good at it. I have always prided myself at math, until Ky brought her math home a few months ago and I couldn't help her at all..in fact, I got confused :( I was so upset!! I don't know how you homeschool moms do it when they get this age, I'm very impressed you know how to do all of that, and that you know how to teach it...that's great! :) Have fun!
Heather
Well, Heather, this is the first year that I've had to look at the examples in the book. Up until now I've done well on my own.
Now, I have to not only look at the examples much of the time, which are usually excellent, but occasionally I have to use the solutions guide. The beautiful thing about it is that not only does it give the answer but it works every problem step-by-step. So I have help when I need it.
I'd be in trouble this year otherwise.
mmmm Algebra...I'd go back to school just to take Algebra again :)
Post a Comment