All posts by mathconfidence

March 2016 Brain Teaser Solution

Q:  What whole number can be added to 36, 300 and 596 so they all become perfect squares?

A: 925

36 + 925 = 961 (31^2)
300 + 925 = 12225 (35^2)
596 + 925 = 1521 (39^2)

Can try with a list of perfect squares subtract 36 and see if it is a perfect square.  If it is, now subtract 300 and check that answer.  If that one works, then try subtracting 596.
The lowest perfect square we can start with is 625 (25^2) as it is the first one larger than 596.
625 – 596 = 29 which is not a perfect square so we move to the next perfect square, 676 (26^2).

 

 

This was a modified problem from a 1989 contest:
https://www.artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=1989_AIME_Problems/Problem_7

 

Learn. Pass. Graduate Jan 2016 Alg I Rgents #26

Jan 2016 Alg I Regents 26

The 3rd graph (the one on the right) is not a function as a vertical line passes through twice.
The idea of a function vs not a function is mostly important for calculus although the curriculum did not used to focus on this.  One of the reasons that Math has adopted this topic is that a calculator will not help with this type of problem.

So look at Marcel’s graph: if you draw a vertical line at x = 2, it will hit the graph twice and therefore this is not a function.  Do you hear Staples saying “That was easy”?

So Marcel is not correct as this is not a function as it fails the vertical line test!
Hooray you just got 2 more points!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Learn, Pass Regents, Graduate!!! Jan 16 Alg I #25

How to help your students pass the Regents, your son or daughter, niece or nephew, or yourself.
This is a series to help students pass the Regents and graduate high school while learning some Math in the process
For most students, the Math Regents they will focus on is Common Core Algebra I but we will also discuss Common Core Geometry.

Ready for Learn, Pass Graduate??
Let’s go!!

The Common Core exams are much harder than the old ones and students will need
1. more practice
2. more content knowledge
3. more content exposure
4. more motivation

Are you ready?  See  below for the first installment: January 2016 long answer #25:
Jan 2016 Alg I Regents 25
This is an easy problem!!
Students should be able to see that for every increase of 2 in x the y value is going down by 2.5 and therefore the function is linear
Here is a model response from the model response set from http://www.nysedregents.org/algebraone/116/algone12016-mrs.pdf
Jan 2016 Alg I Graphing Model Response Set 1

Another easy way is to draw it (again from the Model Response Set)
Jan 2016 Alg I Graphing Model Response Set 2

This is worth 2 points folks and it’s an easy 2 points so make sure you review.
It is also not exponential because it does not have a pattern like an exponential — here is an example of an exponential pattern of y = 2^x: 1, 2,4, 8, 16  each number in the sequence is double the number before.  The pattern has a constant multiplier, while our list of 10, 7.5, 5, 2.5, 0 has a constant rate of change of -2.5 which means it is a linear function or a line!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contest: Interpret Math Myth Cover by Weds 3/9 3PM EST

July 2012: The New York Times Sunday Review: the artwork below and  the headline “Is Algebra Necessary?”.  I was so stunned I couldn’t even think of how to respond, let alone write a Letter to the Editor (FYI, I have had 4 Letters published and many unpublished — this is something I usually love to do!).    It took me a week and a half to think of a clever retort and by then it was too late to send a letter so here goes — let’s see if y’all see it :)

Hint :”What are the people in the cover drawing below doing?” (looking for a particular perspective)
Please comment or send a tweet by Weds 3/9 3PM .
Winner(s) will get a folder of their choice from http://www.jetpens.com/Folders/ct/2008

math_myth_final