Integer Football Game

I came across this cool way to explain integers. Integer football. See for yourself at...

Integer Football

Don't Call it Algebra (And Nobody Will Know!)

The word Algebra can be intimidating to GED students.

Many people have this conception of Algebra...

I always tell my students that they did algebra back in Grade 2 but they just didn't know it.

Grade 1 -    1 + 1 = ▭

We followed the directions and added the 2 numbers together and wrote "2" in the box.

1 + 1 = 2

Grade 2  Day 1

1 + 1 = ▭

We followed the directions and added the 2 numbers together and wrote "2" in the box.

Grade 2  Day 2

1 + ▭ = 4

We followed the directions and added the 2 numbers together and wrote "5" in the box.

1 + 5 = 4

It looked wrong, and we knew it was wrong, but we followed the directions that said we had to add the two numbers together and put the answer in the box.

After a leap in our thinking, we were able to say that...

1 + "something" = 4

That "something" is 3. 

1 + 3 = 4

1 + ▭ = 4        The ▭ = 3

So how about 1 + x = 4?

"x" is just a ▭                  x = 3

I tell my students that they did Algebra in Grade 2 so they can certainly do it now in GED study.

Hot Dog! It is the Top Dog! Speed Distance Time Triangles

Any question involving Speed Distance Time 

can be solved with this triangle...

and... your thumb

Oh, and a bit of multiplication and division...

But let`s worry about the 

first.

They key here is COVER. You COVER the letter of the element that you are looking for.

1) Here's a sample question...

You drive at a speed of 50 km per hour for 2.5 hours. What distance will you have driven? 

Let's get that thumb out!

You COVER the letter of the element that you are looking for. (Distance) The S and T are next to each other, so you need to multiply the values.

You drive at a speed of 50 km per hour for 2.5 hours. What distance will you have driven? 

50 X 2.5 = 125  What distance will you have driven? 125 km.

2) Here's another sample question...

You drive a distance of 125 miles at a speed of 50 km per hour. How much time will it take you? 

Let's get that thumb out!

You COVER the letter of the element that you are looking for. (Time)  The D is on top of the S, so you need to divide.  

You drive a distance of 125 miles at a speed of 50 km per hour. How much time will it take you? 

125 divided by 50 = 2.5   2.5 hours.

3)  Here's a third sample question...

You drive a distance of 125 miles in 2.5 hours. What was your average speed? 

Let's get that thumb out!

You COVER the letter of the element that you are looking for. (Speed) 

The D is on top of the T, so you need to divide.  

You drive a distance of 125 miles in 2.5 hours. What was your average speed? 

125 divided by 2.5 = 50    50 mph.

So how do you remember which letter goes where on this triangle? Which, by the way, is worth its weight in gold....

Easy... just thing of the Top Dog...

and guess what? The order of the S and T doesn't really matter. You'll get the same answer if the S and T are reversed. The important thing is to keep that DOG on top. 

Work SMART and not HARD

Purr Cent

What Does "Percent" Mean? 

I always say it means "for every hundred."   

Per = for 

cent (dollar, century) = 100.

Percent – think of Purr – Cent.    

One Hundred Cats. 

1 cat = 1 PurrCent.

1  / 

1/100 is...                1 %

9/100      is          9 %

18/100  is 18 %

        

I have to shut our 100 cats in the basement at night because they makes too much noise. 

Remembering that we put ALWAYS put cats in the basement...

So here's a question...

What is 18% of 25?

 18   X 25   

100 (basement)

18 x 25 = 450

Now divide 450 by those 100 pesky cats down in that basement!

450 divided by 100 = 4.5

 Answer - 18% of 25 is 4.5

Work SMART, not HARD

Nice Day Updated

Which one is the numerator and which one is the denominator? A common question, answered easily by "Have a Nice Day." N, D - Nice Day, Numerator, Denominator.

Here are a few more... ND - No Date

ND - No Dice

ND - Nice Dog

ND - North Dakota

ND - Nice Dangle (Hockey players will get this one.)