"Mathematics is NOT a spectator sport."  My wish for you is to become as

EIGHTH GRADE MATH GOALS

To build a foundation for functions

a.     describe independent and dependent quantities;

b.     gather and record data and use data sets to determine functional relationships;

c.     write equations or inequalities from situations;

d.     interpret and make decisions, predictions, and critical judgments from functional relationships;

e.     identify and sketch the general forms of linear and quadratic parent functions;

f.       identify domains and ranges, both continuous and discrete;

g.     collect and organize data; make and interpret scatterplots;

h.     use symbols to represent variables;

i.       look for patterns and represent generalizations algebraically; and

j.       simplify algebraic expressions and solve equations and inequalities in problem situations

To understand linear functions

a.     determine if a given situation can be represented       

           by a linear function;

b.     interpret the meaning of slope;

       c.  graph and write equations of lines given two

points, a point and a slope or a slope and y-intercept;

d.   determine the intercepts of the graphs of         

linear functions and zeros of linear functions

from graphs, tables, and algebraic representations;

e.  analyze situations and formulate systems of

linear equations in two unknowns to solve problems; and

f.    solve systems of equations.

To understand quadratic functions and nonlinear functions

a.     determine domain and range for quadratics;

b.     solve quadratic equations using tables, graphs, and algebraic methods;

c.     make connections among the solutions(roots) of quadratic equations, the zeros of their related functions, and the horizontal intercepts(x-intercepts) of the graph of the function; 

d.     use patterns to generate the laws of exponents and apply them to problem-solving situations;

e.     analyze data and represent situations involving inverse variation using concrete models, tables, graphs, or algebraic methods; and

f.       analyze data and represent situations involving exponential growth and decay using concrete models, tables, graphs, or algebraic methods.

 

Most all concepts will be further enhanced with the integration of technology, namely computer and the TI-83 graphing calculator.