Overview

Task: Study and work through the following math lesson AND complete the Math Gathering Activity prior to Gathering.

This semester we started with addition and subtraction, the building blocks of arithmetic. We then moved on to multiplication and division. We also introduced how to apply these skills to different kinds of numbers such as whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. Each week you have continued to add to your list of arithmetic skills. These skills have prepared you to now start doing algebra. The only difference between arithmetic and algebra is that algebra uses variables or symbols.

Unknowingly, you use algebra in your daily life all the time. Whenever you are solving for something that you don’t know yet or something that can change, you are doing algebra. In fact, the variable X is a twist on the translation of the word shay-un from Arabic which means “something” meaning something unknown (read the Why X marks the unknown article to learn more). The word variable means something that changes. What are some variables in your own life? Examples: The distance you travel or the time you spend sleeping can be variables that change from day to day.

Making a Connection: Taxes

Imagine you know the percentage of tax you pay on your earnings. You also know the total amount of tax you paid. How can you check to see if the amount of tax you paid is the correct amount for your tax percentage? How can variables and algebra help you set up an equation to help solve your question?

Math Instruction and Practice

This math lesson is broken into several mini-lessons, each containing a lot of material. Be sure to start early in the week in case you need extra time to study and practice. To save you time and quickly discover which concepts you need more help with, you may first take the W11 Math Lesson exercises quiz. If you choose a wrong answer on any quiz question, you will receive feedback linking to lessons you can study to improve your skills in that area. You may take these quizzes as many times as you like until the due date in order to improve your score.

All the mini-lessons to help you improve your skills in this week's Math concepts are linked below, located in the PathwayConnect Resource Center. If you still need help after going through the available materials, there are suggestions at the bottom of each lesson page to get more help.

Solving for a Variable

Week 11 Math Gathering Activity

Sandra pays $\frac{4}{25}$ of her income as taxes. If the amount of money she paid as taxes was $900 last year, how much was her total income?
Hint: Let $T$ = Total Income
$\frac{4}{25} T = $ 900$
Solve for $T$ .

Check Answers

5625