Re: [MATHEDCC] Curriculum Guide for H.S. Algebra 1
Roger Denat (rdenat@cbcc.bcwan.net)
Sat, 14 Mar 1998 00:15:33
At 12:13 PM 3/9/98 -0500, Edward Laughbaum wrote:
>At 06:10 PM 3/3/98 -0800, Jim C. Gajniak wrote:
>[snip]
>
>Proposed Intermediate Algebra Course:
>>> >1. Solving Equations in one variable
>>> >2. factoring polynomials
>>> >3. solving simultaneous equations
>>> >4. graphing linear and quadratic equations
>>> >5. Basic Definitions of: "term", "coefficient", etc.
>>> >6. graphing "equalities" and "inequalities"
>>> >7. working with fractional exponents.
>>> >8. translating English sentences into algebraic expressions
>>
>>> IS THE ORDER LISTED ABOVE THE ORDER OF PRESENTATION?
>>
>>There was no attempt to list the above in any particular order.
>>
>>IT SEEMS DISJOINTED.
>>
>>I would agree that the list is disjointed; do you think these
>>topics, are candidates for Algebra I High School instruction??
>>
>>> ALSO, WHY AREN'T YOU USING FUNCTIONS AS THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURE THAT
>>> CONNECTS ALL THE TOPICS?
>>
>>This is where I need some help; your definition of a function (or
>>anyone's definition of a "function") would be helpful here.
>>
>>My initial reaction to a function is that you've got a collection
>>of two sets of numbers; you perform some math calculation on any number
>>of the first set to get some member belonging to the second set.
>>The name of the first set is "X" ; it contains all the "x's"; the
>>name of the second set is "Y"; it contains all the calculated
>>values, the y's. Is this the definition of function or is there
>>a more meaningful defintion of function?
>____________________________________________________________________________
>Below is a rather wordy response to Jim regarding his question about the
>function approach in intermediate algebra. I was attending a conference
>when I wrote this and didn't have much else to do. Investigations,
>explorations, projects, and collaborative learning are not addressed.
>
>Just an opinion,
>Ed Laughbaum
>>
>On teaching intermediate algebra from a function approach.
>
>[snip]
Ed, I am interested in finding out more about teaching Intermedeiate Algebra
from a function approach at the undergraduate level. Have you come across any
good text books that truly utilize this approach?
Helen Denat
Berkshire Community College
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