How to keep a math notebook

College Algebra

Get started right

1) Use a loose leaf binder. NO SPIRAL TYPES!

2) Have plenty of notebook paper and pencil.

3) Put your syllabus in the back. 4) All returned and graded papers go

behind the syllabus. 5) Bring your notebook every day. 6) Keep all papers in order. 7) Keep textbook, or papers from other classes, OUT!

3-ring binder

No such thing as “scratch work” All problems on all tests, quizzes,

and homework should be written legibly, in order and numbered.

All that you might be tempted to call “scratch work” is important in this class. It shows you are working the problems yourself.Duh…

may I scratch my head?

Take notes in class

On the left put “Section # Notes”

On right put date (0ptional) Do all work orderly. Keeping good notes may

help your quiz grades because sometimes I allow you to use your notes on a quiz, but if you don’t take notes, you won’t have that advantage.

.

Section 1.1 notes Jan. 15

A natural number is like a counting number. 1,2,3…

All naturals and 0 are the whole numbers.

Integers are whole humbers and their opposites.

Rationals can be written as ratios of two integers.

Irrationals can never be written as repeating or terminating decimals.

Real numbers can be placed on the number line.

Take notes from other sources

Taking notes from online videos is optional, but they do help on your notebook grade.

Be sure to label “Section # video notes.”

Date is optional. You may also take notes

from online powerpoints or examples. (Optional.)

You may also take notes from your textbook. (Optional).

Section 1.1 video notes Jan.16

Write using set notation N = { 1, 2, 3, …} W = { 0, 1, 2, 3, …} J = { …-3,-2,-1, 0, 1,2,3…} Q = { p/q| p and q are

integers}

Section 1.1 notes from text. The opposite of a number is

like 4 and -4. zero is its own opposite.

A number and its reciprocal will multiply together to get 1.

Do the online homework

On left, write section # OLHW Show all work, number your

problems and be orderly. You may just put a check mark

by problems you could answer without work, such as a multiple choice or short answer.

Work that must be done to determine a graph should be shown on your notebook paper.

(see next slide)

Section 4.1 OLHW Feb. 25

1) 2x – 3y = 6 2(2y) – 3y = 6 x= 2y 4y – 3y = 6

y = 6x = 2(6) = 12

(12, 6)

2)

3) 6x – 3y = 0 6(1) – 3y = 0

3) 2x + 3y = 8 -3y = -6

8x = 8 y = 2

x = 1 (1,2)

4)

Graphing

Use graph paper if doing classwork, extra credit, or quiz, but you may freehand sketches that you transfer to online homework.

Show your work on how you determined points on the graph.

Transfer graph to online if needed.

5.) Graph 2x + 3y = 12 If x = 0 then 3y = 12 so y = 4 (0, 4) is on the graph. If y = 0 then 2x = 12 so x =6 (6,0) is on the graph

Section 1.4 OLHWHeadingon each page

Number your problems

Other work

Classwork, extra credit, or group work must be appropriately labeled on the top left side of every paper. You must write the section number and number all problems.

You may also do odd problems and check them from the book for practice before turning in evens for extra credit. This will help your notebook grade.

Section 5.2 classwork March 14

1. (-2)2 = -4 2. (-8)/(-2) = 4

Section 5.2 textbook odds 1. (-3)(-4) = 12 3. (-3) + 1

= -2 5. 24 – (-2) = 26 7. -3 – (-5)

= 2 9. 54 -68 = 14 11. 6 + (-

2) = 4

Check your workGo on and fill up each page with your math work.

Calculator useNever use math websites on the internet to do your math problems for you.

Phones or ipads may never be used for calculating in this class.

If you bring some calculator to class other than the TI-83 or TI-84 you may have trouble using it for the purposes we have in this class. Also, I may not be able to help you figure out how your calculator works.

Notebooks are importantDeveloping an orderly notebook and keeping accurate records of your work is an important life skill, but it also gives credence to your efforts in this class.

Ten percent of your grade is the notebook.

Much educational research lately has confirmed the value of keeping a good notebook.

Student success in this course will depend on learning how to keep a notebook and using it.

MAY YOU HAVE GREAT SUCCESS IN THIS CLASS.