1. What is Algebra in the Middle School?
Dr. Eric Milou
Rowan University
Department of Mathematics
x3876

2. Overview Traditional Algebra Patterns & Algebra Problems
States’ Test Problems
Algebra I Placement

3. Algebra
If x + y = 28 and xy = 7,
then

4. x + y = 28 and xy = 7

5. Find x

6. Define “ALGEBRA”
The intensive study of the last three letters of the alphabet.
using variables to replace something significant in a problem
equations, formulas, numbers, headaches
using letters such as x to represent an unknown number and solving for that letter
The class between prealgebra and geometry

7. Traditional Definitions!
Dolciani Verbs
Solve
Simplify
Factor
Rationalize

8. We need a BALANCE Traditional Algebraic Symbolic Manipulation
Patterns & Algebraic Thinking
Contextual problem solving

9. Patterns to Algebra Swimming Pool Walkway Given a 2 by 2 pool:
How many 1 by 1
concrete slabs (tiles)
are needed for
the walkway?

10. What if the pool was 3 by 3?

11. Extend to algebra 20 24 4n + 4 Pool Size Tiles for walkway 2 by 2 1216
4 by 4
5 by 5
n by n 20 24
4n + 4

12. Connect the algebra back to the geometry

13. Piles of Tiles: 3rd grade algebra

14. Construct a Table
Figure
Total Squares 1 4 2 7 3 10 5 x 13 16
3x+1

15. Growing Tiles
size # of tiles size # of tiles size # of tiles 3 4 2 3 3 4 3 2 3 4 2 3 3 2 4 3
3x-1
2x+1
3x+2

16. Crossing the River
8 adults and 2 children need to cross a river and they have one small boat only available. The boat can hold ONLY:
One adult
One or two children
How many one-way trips does it take for all 8 adults and 2 children to cross?

17. 8 adults and 2 children # of ad. + 2ch. One ways trips 1 5 2 9 3 13
1 5
2 9
3 13
4 17
5 21
x 4x+1

18. 8 adults and 3 children # of ad. + 3ch. One ways trips 1 7 2 11 3 15
1 7
2 11
3 15
4 19
5 23
x 4x+3

19. a adults and c children a ad. + # ch. One ways trips 2 4a + 1 3 4a + 3
c 4a + ( )
2c - 3

20. Scratch off game cards
A game card has 5 scratch off spots. Exactly two of them have a million dollar prize. The other three spots are blank.
You can ONLY scratch off two spots.
What is the probability that the two spots you scratch off have the million dollar prize?

21. Change the Number of Spots
Spots  Probability
3 1/3
4 1/6
5 1/10
6 1/15
7 1/21 x 3 1 4 1 5 1 6

22. To Medicate or Not?
Thursday at 9 PM, an athlete is considering taking a cold preparation medicine (16 gr. dose).
He will be drug tested before competing on Saturday at 9 AM. The test can detect 1 gram or more or the drug.
His body eliminates 1/4 of the drug every four hours.
If he takes the 16 gr. dose, will he fail the test?

23. 16 gram dose
Number Hours Grams Remaining
of Intervals Elapsed in Body
x 4x

24. Back to 3rd grade
13 x 17 = ? 2 10 3
1 3
x 1 7
1 0 0
7 0
3 0
2 1 9 1 1 3
2 2 1
221

25. Algebra: (x + 3) (x + 7) = x2 3x 21 This approach leads to ? x 7 x 7x

26. Texas State Assessment
Herman claimed that the square of a number is always greater than or equal to the number. Which of the following examples disproves Herman’s claim?
A) A comparison of (-1.5)2 with -1.5
B) A comparison of (-0.5)2 with -0.5
C) A comparison of (0.5)2 with 0.5
D) A comparison of (1.5)2 with 1.5
The graph of y = 11x2 + c is a parabola with a vertex at the origin. Which of the following is true about the value of c?
A) c > 0
B) c < 0
C) c = 0
D) c = 11

27. Connecticut State Assessment
Elena plans to rent a motorbike at the beach. She uses a rental service that charges a fixed fee of $25 plus $15 for each hour or part of an hour that she uses the bike. Fill in the table and extend the patterns to show the total charges if she works from 9:15 am to 5:40 pm.
Hours
Charges
0 < h ≤ 1
1 < h ≤ 2
2 < h ≤ 3
3 < h ≤ 4

28. Massachusetts State Assessment
The graph below shows the number of milligrams of a medication in the bloodstream from the time it was administered to 300 minutes after administration. Using the information from the graph, which of the following statements is true?
A. The maximum amount of
medication in the bloodstream
was 12 milligrams.
B. The minimum amount of
medication was in the bloodstream
300 minutes after administration.
C. The amount of medication in the bloodstream increased at a faster rate than it decreased.
D. The maximum amount of medication was in the bloodstream 100 minutes after administration.

29. Idaho State Assessment
a. In the space provided, draw in the diagonals for the six-sided polygon.
b. How many diagonals are there in an 8-sided polygon? Show or explain how you found your answer.
c. Explain how you would determine the number of diagonals in a 15-sided polygon. 9

30. Algebra Placement
Districts should not encourage all students to take Algebra I in grade 8; students should be taking Algebra I in grade 8 only if they are highly motivated, have a strong foundation in middle school mathematics, receive high grades in previous courses, intend to study calculus in high school, and only if the Algebra I courses are taught by teachers with mathematics certification.

31. Summary Algebra Courses: Traditional Algebraic Symbolic Manipulation
Patterns & Algebraic Thinking
Contextual problem solving

32. Thank You
Dr. Eric Milou
Rowan University