The May #ProblemSolving Calendar is here! Solve yourself or w/your students & share your working-out thoughts here or on the blog.
*special theme* -- Function Composition #Algebra2 #precalculus
#iTeachMath #MTBoS #T3Learns #RecreationalMath #MathsToday #ClassroomMath
https://karendcampe.wordpress.com/2026/05/01/may-calendar-problems-4/
New blog post! "Really Radical" talks about how to handle teaching a tough topic in #algebra2 so students aren't lost in the weeds.
#iTeachMath #MTBoS #T3Learns #ClassroomMath
https://karendcampe.wordpress.com/2026/04/22/really-radical/
@dandersod I've done the "finding the quadratic two ways:
Top method: set x = known root.
Isolate the imaginary part, square, & rearrange to a•x^2 + bx + c = 0 form.
Bottom: build in fact that if r is a solution, (x–r) is a factor, & that compels roots occur in conjugate pairs.
(x – (1 –2i))(x – (1 + 2i))
Distribute the subtraction, then notice difference of two squares pattern to expand (many Ss don't, and slog thru the 3 by 3 polynomial multiplication).
Today's highlight from the Back-To-School Tour of the TI84 is Function Fundamentals: TI84 Tips for #Algebra2
How to call on function definitions for easier calculations & graphing!
#MTBoS #iTeachMath #T3Learns #ClassroomMath #MathEd #MathsEdChat #TI84 @TICalculators
https://karendcampe.wordpress.com/2021/08/29/function-fundamentals/
Open box problem in #Algebra2 today. Students made a variety of open boxes by folding up index cards where each square corner (x by x) has been cut away. What should x be to produce a box of maximum volume?
I had students look at their boxes and make a guess. It was interesting to hear their reasoning. Afterwards, they measured all the volumes, and we learned that most students guessed wrong.
We then found the polynomials for the volume of our box, graphed it and our data and realized both looked kind of quadratic in the domain we were using. Had students zoom out to discover what the functions actually looks like. This is the first time they have seen a graph of a cubic, so they were pretty impressed by it.
More discussion ensued about a proper domain and range for our data set and how that related to the graph. Students left feeling saturated with math.
If your students know nothing of vectors, how would you introduce multiplying matrices? I have always done dot products as a lead in to matrix multiplication but that is not an option this year. How can I make multiplying all those rows and columns make sense to a student without that background?
Introducing systems today. Had the students make 2 lists; one where pairs of numbers summed to 6, and the other with pairs of numbers whose difference is 11. Then asked them to find a pair of numbers that are on both lists.
Absolute crickets.
I had to ask leading questions, give hints, ask them if they had tried such and such. I really had to drag them along before they realized they could do something other than stare at their paper.
So the next period I had them start standing at the whiteboards before I gave them this task. And I did not have to seed them at all. Some were graphing the pairs and realized they made lines. Others were finding the equations of the lines and realizing they needed to find the intersection point. All in all, in 15 minutes I watched the whole class figure out systems of equations. I taught them nothing.
I really feel like when the students are sitting in their desks, they are waiting for me to give out answers and pour knowledge into their brain. But when they are standing at the whiteboards, they take control of their learning. They are willing to try different things, take risks. And they don't wait for me to tell them what to do.
#ThinkingClassroom for the win.
It's been a long week. We lost a student from our school over the labor day weekend and the atmosphere has been low. Time for a light hearted activity to end the week.
Inspired by Fawn Nguyen's "Vroom Vroom" post on her blog.
https://www.fawnnguyen.com/teach/vroom-vroom
Students measured the pullback distance of a car and then measured the distance it rolled. Graphed the data. Found the line of best fit by eye, then found the linear regression. Made some predictions, calculated some residuals. Summed up all the stuff we've been learning the past week.
I then picked a random distance and groups calculated their pullback distance. Everyone lined up their cars that distance from the finish line, pulled back their calculated distance, and let 'em rip. The group whose car got the closest to the "finish line" (marked by tape on the floor) got bragging rights.
#ThinkingClassroom #ClassroomMath #MTBoS #iTeachMath #Algebra2
I normally share a lesson that I've already done with students, but I'm still tweaking this one and needing to write some thoughts down before my noggin turns back into soft tofu. I bought these 14 pull-back friction toy cars (2 sets) for $30 at Costco. Amazon posts a video of ho
Karen Campe
Adrienne Hestenes