Algebra I Questionbook - The Project
                © '04, A. Azzolino

    The project focuses on written and oral communications skills and mastery of some topic in mathematics. Some project related questions are completed in class, others "at home," others in the instructor's office. They include: choosing a topic, rough draft, final draft, presentation, extra problem, web page.

The project includes:
• a 10-minute oral presentation to the class with a not-longer-than-2-page handout.
• preparation and submission of a draft of the hand-out for the presentation.
• conferences with the instructor to finalize the presentation and hand-out.
• presentation of the project to the class.
• an additional question and answer which might be used as a test question on your project.
• creation of a web page with final handout content.

The project questions are:

Pr1. Obtain instructor's approval of title/topic.

Choose a topic and through an email message obtain the instructor's approval of a project topic for a 10-minute lecture presentation on material covered in the course or related to the course.

 

Pr2.& Pr3. Write and submit a draft of your presentation notes and hand out.

Obtain approval of the a 2-page, 8-1/2" x 11" paper, draft of your project notes.

Notes should include:
• The Title
• Your Name, Semester & Year, Course Title
• notes on how this is done with examples
• notes on why this is done and examples
• a set of typical question (and answers)

The draft serves two purposes:

  · It provides a written record of your oral presentation & permits students to listen and supplement your notes rather that take extensive notes.

  · It is a prop or invisibe means of support reminding you that you are the expert on the topic and have planned the presentation well.

 

Pr4. Conference with prof.

Have a conference with the instructor about the focus, content, and presentation of your project.

 

This is not a formal meeting, just a few minutes of discussion, after the prof has reviewed and made suggestions on you first draft or its revision(s) and because the draft is in need of further revision.

 

If the prof feels after your revision(s) that a conference is not necessary, credit will be given for the conference, but the meeting need not occur.

 

Pr5. Obtain approval of the final version of your notes.

Once obtained, an INK or COMPUTED PRINTED copy of the final version must be submitted to the prof to be duplicated for the class and posted on the college web site.

 

Pr6. Make your presentation to the class.

 

Pr7. Write and answer, after you have made your oral presentation, one additional test or exam question of "B student difficulty."

 

Pr8. After approval of final draft, create a web page using this content.

Some of the Possible Project Topics or Titles

Basic Arithmetic & Algebraic Expressions

Order of Operations

0 ÷ 4 = 0 BUT 4 ÷ 0 is Undefined

Writing Expressions: Sum, Product, Difference, Quotient

Evaluating Expressions on the Graphing Calculator

Properties and Operations with Real Numbers

Properties and Operations with Complex Numbers

Properties and Operations with Just Radical Expressions

Properties and Operations with Just Rational Expressions (Fractions)

Polynomial Expressions

Laws of Exponents

Scientific Notation

Adding & Subtracting Polynomials with Term Tiles

Adding & Subtracting Polynomials the Mentally, Horizontally, Vertically

Multiplying Polynomials with Term Tiles

Multiplying Polynomials the Long and Short Ways

Dividing Polynomials with Term Tiles

Dividing Polynomials

Factoring

Factoring Trinomials with Term Tiles

Factoring Special Products

The Sum and Difference of Two Cubes

Binomial Expansion

Factoring Ordinary Polynomials

Factoring Trinomials where the Leading Coefficient Is Not One

Equations

Equation Versus Expression

Solving Equations with Term Tiles

Solving equations using the graphing calculator

Solving systems of equations by graphing

Solving systems of equations by linear combination

Solving systems of equations by substitution

How to Solve Quadratic Equations by Factoring

Solutions to Equations with One Variable and with Two Variables

Application Problems in Two Variables

Geometry & Algebra

Angles and Computing Their Measures Algebraically

Trinagles and Computing Their Sides Algebraically

Area Formulas

Volumes

Solutions to Linear Equations: Symbolic

Solutions to Linear Equations: Graphic

Solution and Mixture Problems

A Calculator Program for Slope

Basic Trig Functions -- Computation in a Triangle

Basic Trig Functions -- Graphs

Rational (Fractional) Expressions

Addition of algebraic fractions

Multiplying algebraic fractions

Dividing a Polymomial by a Monomial

Simplifying Complex Fractions

Graphic Representation

Writing Equations for Lines

Graphing Linear Inequalities

Irrational (Radicals) & Rational Expressions

Simplifying Radical Expressions