Archive of old announcements for Math 170, Autumn 2010

[Date posted.]

• Warning: Math department servers sometimes go down for a few hours in the afternoon or evening. Don't wait for the last minute to look up assignments and other information you need.
• [9/20] If you are trying to add the course, please note: Keep trying! Usually several students who have signed up for this course drop it before or during the first week of classes, and everyone who really wants to take the course is able to get in. I will consider overloads, if necessary, for students who attend the first two classes and do the first assignments.
• [9/20] Please read the Course description, including textbook information, before the first class.
• [9/27] I've added several new links below, and more information about the textbook and reflection papers on existing links. (Remember you may have to "refresh" or "reload" a page you've visited before to see changes.)
• [9/30 Class summary] Overview of course (see website), and groupwork on two problems. Link also shows the checkerboard problem ("Extra problem") you should read before the Boaler reading in Homework 1.
• [10/1] Here are the problems from classwork on 9/30, including the checkerboard problem ("Extra problem") you should read before the Boaler reading in Homework 1.
• [10/4 Class summary] Discussed project (see webpage on same); variety of ways to solve "Pigs and Chickens" problem; set up permanent groups; groupwork on Activity 3, p. 7, and exercise 6, p. 9.
• [10/6] Note link below to course gradebook. If you don't have credit for a class you attended or a homework you've gotten back, see Cris.
  Bring Chapter 2 to class starting next week.
• [10/6 Class summary] Comments on first reflection paper. See also the individual comments I posted at the Drop Box. Discussion of strip diagrams (§1.4). Groupwork: Exercise 6 in §1.2, p. 9. Introduction to Chapter 2: read §§2.1-2 and work through Example 2 and discussion 2, pp. 24-25.
• [10/11 Class summary] Quiz on chapter 1: If you missed it, see me about a makeup. (Later note: makeup will be in class on 10/18.) Comments on returned homework: READ INSTRUCTIONS! Most people overlooked the instructions for §1.2, Exer. 8 to compare the conditions and solutions of the three problems, and the instructions for the exercises in §1.4 to use strip diagrams. Some useful vocabulary. Our first "Number talk": how many ways can you think of to easily compute 83 - 45 in your head? Groupwork: worked through p. 27, first page of §2.3, and also Example 3, p. 29.
• [10/13 Class summary] I've decided it makes more sense to post class summaries here with announcements (instead of on the "Attendance" link). Announcements and discussion from Oct. 13. I am still working on typing up student solutions from the quiz that we discussed in class. We also did groupwork on converting from base 10 to other bases, because I think example 4 in §2.3, p. 29, is a bit too brief an explanation.
• [10/15] Quiz 1 solutions by students, with additional instructor comments. If you got the ratio information backwards, or wonder how to avoid that mistake, you might want to read the last paragraph of the solutions.
• [10/20] If you don't have credit ("C") yet for Quiz 1, please take Make-up Quiz 1 on your own, then see me to discuss your solution. (Note to those who took the make-up on Monday, I changed the problem slightly so that the answer now is in whole numbers.)
  [10/18 Class announcements and summary] Start bringing Chapter 4 to class. (We will study Ch 3 after Ch. 4.)
  Portfolio requirements for Chapter 1 are now on the Portfolio webpage (link below).
  In class, discussed questions on homework, §2,2, p.26, Exer.2, and §2,3, p. 31, Activity 4.
• [10/20 Class summary] Addition and subtraction by three methods (using base blocks, expanded standard algorithm, standard algorithm). Worksheet: Work through part E before Monday if not done in class.
• [10/25] Announcements: Start bringing Chapter 3 to class. Quiz Wednesday (10/27) on subtraction in another base. Midterm postponed to Wed. 11/10, but Boaler reflection paper still due on 11/12.
  [10/25 Class summary]Classwork: Finish and discuss worksheet from 10/20. "Scaffolding" or "Partial-Quotients Algorithm" for division: See examples in §4.1: p. 81 after Activity 2, and 5th grade worksheet, p. 82; also at end of §3.6, p. 73, Student 4. Groupwork: Activities 3 and 4,§4.1, pp. 82-83.
• [10/27 Class summary] Intro to §§3.1-2, especially vocabulary. Groupwork on Activity 2, §3.1, p. 45.
• [11/1 Class summary] Announcements and groupwork.
• [11/3] I've posted information about the midterm next Wednesday (11/10) at Information about Quizzes and Tests. Don't forget the reflection on the Boaler book is due at the end of next week; turn in on Catalyst.
• [11/3 Class summary] Discussed §3.3 and terminology in §§3.4-5. Groupwork: Act. 10 & Disc. 4, p. 68 in §3.5; and in §3.4, two "Think About's": the one about 6 times 1/2 cooky vs. 1/2 times 6 cookies at bottom of p. 60, and second one on p. 61, 5.3 lbs of cheese at $4.20 a pound, also represent with array model.
• [11/8 Class summary] Announcements and groupwork.
• [11/15 Class summary] Return of midterms; if you were absent, email Cris to make an appointment ASAP to pick up your midterm and get the makeup information. Makeups need to be done before Thanksgiving.
  Announcements and groupwork.
• [11/17 Class summary] More "number sense" work: §5.1, Exer. 3d and §5.2, Exer. 4 & 6. Start Chapter 6: We went over the ideas and vocabulary in §6.1 and worked on Activity 3, p. 103 and Exer. 6, p. 104 with the following addition: (d) Let the hexagon = 6/5. Give the value for each ot the other pieces. Also outline the hexagon on your paper and shade an area that is = 1. Explain how you know the shaded are = 1.This chapter 6 groupwork is important; if you missed it, work on it then review it with your group on Monday.
• [11/22 Class summary] Announcements. We worked on almost all the activities and discussions in §6.3, be sure you understand these.
• [12/7] Various announcements. Review problems for the final will be handed out in class on 12/8. Study session (work with other students, instructor available for questions) Sunday, 12/12 4-6 in SAV 136. See email sent Friday 12/3 regarding classwork anf homework totals for the quarter.
• [12/8] Worksheet on division discussed in class 12/1 and 12/6.
  Link to the handout about the final exam is on the Information about Quizzes and Tests page.