Kevin's Great Big Book of Algebra

Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Chapter 1:

Adding Integers(Picture Poem)
Add
Sum
Positive and Negatives
Combine Like-Terms
Zero
Pairs

Subtracting Integers(Haiku)
I never subtract
Instead, Add the opposite
Makes it easier

Rule of Multiplying Integers(Free Verse)
In Mathematics,
There are rules to make it easy
Especially for multiplying integers
Don't worry, you won't feel queasy

An even amount of negatives,
will result in a positive answer
An odd amount of negatives
will result in a negative answer
That wasn't so hard,
now was it?
It isn't hard to remember,
only a little bit.

Quotative Division(Free Verse)
Dividing integers is easy
It is okay
Quotative division will help
It is one way
Partitive Division(Haiku)
One way to divide,
Integers that are crazy,
When others don't help

Chapter 2:
Combining Like
Terms
and
Distributive Property


Ninja: Hi, I'm a ninja

Betty: Hello, I'm Betty

Ninja: How are yo-- Oh wait *farts*

Betty: Anyway, I'm good, you?

Ninja: Confused.

Betty: Oh? About what?

Ninja: I had math homework from school today,
and it's algebra

Betty: Oh really? I'm great with algebra! I can help you if you want.

Ninja: Yes please. I need help. I had to do two algebra questions, one of them is, n plus three minus five n plus twelve.

Betty: Alright, first you must identify which are variables, and which are constants. Then you combine the like terms. By combining like terms, yo u simplify the question.

Ninja: So, is the answer negative six n plus fifteen?

Betty: Very close, but it is incorrect. In the question there is a negative five n. You must have combined the n. with negative five n. and thought th at it would add up. Remember that just an n represents a positive 1 n. if there is no negative sign behind it. So you added it up incorrectly. The correct answer should have been negative four n. plus fifteen.

Ninja: Whoa, you're so smart! Thanks I get it now. But there is one more question, can you help me with this one too?

Betty: Sure, what does it ask?

Ninja: Alright the question is two. plus four times the sum of three n plus eight.

Betty: Alright, this question includes Distributive Property. You use Distributive property when you are multiplying more than two terms. First,
you have to multiply four, with one of the terms in the brackets. Then multiply four with the other term in the bracket. Now, you restate the question, and it should look something like twelve n plus two pl us eight. Now the final step is to combine the like terms.

Ninja: That's a lot of stuff to remember.

Betty: Not really, just explaining is long. Once you know how to do it, it's easy peezy.

Betty: Anyway, the answer should be twelve n plus ten. There you go!

Ninja: Whoa, thanks a lot for your help!

Betty: Alright no problem, Bye!

Ninja: See you later!.... *fart*

Here's the video!

Chapter 3:
One Step Equation
Solving
In this chapter, I will be showing you how to solve one-step algebra equations, with pictures and words! I'll be showing how to this in four ways, addition, subtraction, multipli cation, and division.
Addition:


In this picture, you see an equation in step 1(at the top). Your goal in all algebraic equations is to isolate the variable, or in other words, have the letter "n" all by itself. The variable is a letter that represents a number, and your goal is to find that number.
First, you must cancel out the positive number, by adding it's opposite. In this case, the opposite of +5, is -5. Once you have added -5 next to +5, you must also add -5 to the 7 (step 2) to balance it out. Negative five, and positive five, are zero pairs, so t hat leaves you with just an "n", so you've isolated the variable. You want only one material o
n each side (step 3). Then finish it off like this, " (variable) = (answer) ".
Oh, you aren't done just yet, now you must verify, to make sure your answer is correct, don't worry, this step is easy if you know how to do it correctly. First you must re-write the question(step 1 in verify). Then, you have to substitute "n" with the answer you got, or in other words, replace "n" with the answer you got. If you got it correctly, it should be something like, "(same number) = (same number)" . Both sides of the equation should have the same number, this proves that you solved for the variable correctly.

Subtraction:
This is basically the same as addition. First you have to cancel out the negative number, by adding it's opposite. In this case, the opposite of -3, is +3. Yup, you also have to add +3 to the other side of the equation too(step 2)! Simply solve it, and finish it with your variable equaling your answer on the other side of the equation(step 3).
YUP, you have to verify again! Basically, verifying is substituting the variable with your answer. First, you re-write the question. Second, you substitute the variable. Then, solve it. Finish it off by showing that both sides are the same(step 3 in verify)!

Multiplication:
This is where things start to look a lot different! You should know by now, that the opposite of multiplication is division! Yup, that's right! You must once again, cancel! Whatever "n" is multiplied by, "n" must be divided by the same number. For example, in that picture, "n" is multiplied by 3, so in order to cancel that, you must divide it by 3. If you divide one side, you must divide the other side, to balance it out of course! There you go, you solved for "n"!
Yes, you must verify once again.. You should know the steps by now for verification. Substitute the variable with your answer. If all goes right, it should mean that your answer is correct.

Division:
Division might confuse some, because of the way it looks. It looks like a fraction, because fraction is simply division. Yup, you got it, the key to canceling division, is multiplication. You multiply "n", by the same number that it is divided by. Do the same to the other side of the equation to balance it out. It should now end like all other equations, variable equaling your answer.
Hate verifying now? I know it can be troublesome but you'll just have to deal with it! In my opinion, verifying for division is easiest because once you substitute for the variable, it'll look just like a fraction, and it makes it look easier for me. Anyway, re-write your question out. Substitute the variable with your answer. Solve, and write out.

I know this all seemed long, but if you didn't know to solve one-step algebra equations, this should help out a lot! That's all for this chapter, stay tuned for chapter 4, where we show you how to solve algebra equations with "algetiles"!

Chapter 4:
AlgeTiles Video

3 comments:

  1. Joysie 817 said...

    Kevin! Good Job! I liked how all of your poems were all rhyming, even the haikus! It was so colourful too.

    but I find that i cannot read the firest picture poem. The top of it is too light to see! Lol.
    I dont see any other problems withyour poems though, so Good Job! ☺☺

    December 4, 2008 at 10:11 PM  

  2. linda 9-05 said...

    HI KEVIN! I'm going to talk about each poem because they are just so COOL LOOKING!

    Your adding integers one is really interesting, the top starts off as a light green, then descends to the darkest green! TRES CHOUETTE!
    The subtracting integers haiku you wrote was VERY colourful! I liked how you pointed out the important words. Although you capitilized the "A" in add. You don't have to because there isn't a period before it.
    You really like colours don't you? HEY, YOU DID THAT LIGHTEST GREEN TO DARKEST GREEN THING AGAIN ON QUEASY! I see no mistakes...only pretty colours! It's kind of ironic how you made the word "little" big. Well, it made me laugh! :P
    I like your free verse on quotative division! It rhymes! I'll probably remember this one, haha.
    Hmm. For your partitive division poem you don't need that comma at the end of that first line because it connects to the next line, right? I think so, but I could be wrong.
    Overrall, GOOD JOB KEVIN! I like them all! (YY)
    - Ducky.

    December 7, 2008 at 1:43 AM  

  3. linda 9-05 said...

    HI KEVIN, AGAIN! :)
    You're video was so funny! I don't see any errors, BUT your video made me realize the errors in MY video, so I give you a thousand thank-you's! :) KEEP IT UP (Y)

    December 16, 2008 at 11:25 PM  

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