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October 16, 2007
Connor Math Work 2007/10/17
OK, so Connor doesn't actually understand distribution, commutation, association or precedence, so today we will work through yesterday's problems to show how those properties work, and then we'll drill more:
Simplify each of the following expressions, showing each simplification step.
- 4 + 3 • 5 + 2 / 7 • 7
- (4 + 3) • 5 + (2 / 7) • 7
- 4 + 3 • (5 + 2) / 7 • 7
- 4 + (3 • 5) / (7 • 7)
- (4 + 3 • 5 / 7) • 7
- 4 - 3 • 5 / 7 + 7
- 4 - (3 - 5) + 3
For each of the following expressions, show the implied precedence by grouping (with parentheses) operations that should be done together:
- 4 + 3 • 5 + 2 / 7 • 7
- (4 + 3) • 5 + 2 / 7 • 7
- a + b • c - d / e + f(g + h)
Rewrite each of the following expressions two other ways that mean the same thing (hint, you can distribute, commute, or express association for both of these):
- a(b + c) + d + d(b + c)
- ab + ac + a(b+c)
Update: So, so close. Apparently Connor gets the hard ones, but not the easy ones, because he doesn't have to think on the easy ones, so he doesn't. But because he doesn't think on the easy ones, he makes mistakes. So tomorrow, we're going to redo the 4 he missed (the last two of the first set, and the whole last set).
Posted by jeff at October 16, 2007 8:46 PM
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Comments
These things can take a while.
Good effort, and wise for not moving on :-)
Posted by: LH at October 17, 2007 8:55 AM
Actually we've now worked on this lesson all week. This is why I'm glad to be able to hand off the math to Jeff - I am too prone to just "get through the book." While we certainly have taken time in the past to leave off the book and work on difficult concepts, it makes me nervous. Jeff doesn't feel that same time stress I do, and so is more focused on working until Connor really gets it.
My way gets us through arithmetic and basic operations, but I'm so glad that I can recognize what a mess we'd end up in we kept going under my direction!
Posted by: Stephanie at October 19, 2007 11:42 AM