Keeping the Meaning in Mathematics: The Craft of Word Problems

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 07.06.12

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Objectives
  2. Analysis
  3. Strategies
  4. Classroom Activities
  5. Resources
  6. Materials for Classroom Use
  7. Appendix A - Implementing District Standards
  8. Appendix B - Collection of Word Problems

Quadratic Equations in Word Problems Students Can Relate To

Nancy Rudolph

Published September 2007

Tools for this Unit:

Appendix A - Implementing District Standards

Our district standards align with state standards, so the following is a list of State of Delaware Mathematics Standards that are addressed by this unit.

Content Standard 2 - Algebraic Reasoning:

Students in grade 10 will be able to use linear, quadratic and cubic functions to describe length, area and volume relationships and also estimate solutions to…quadratic functions using tables and graphs.

Students in grade 11 will be able to use algebraic techniques to identify the vertex and intercepts for quadratic functions and also apply the quadratic formula to solve problems.

Content Standard 3 - Geometric Reasoning

Students in Grade 8 will be able to demonstrate the effects of scaling on volume and surface area of rectangular prisms. (NOTE: I find this to be an area of weakness, despite it being an 8 th grade standard, so the 3 rd lesson in this unit is trying to reinforce it from another approach.)

Students in Grade 10 will be able to find missing dimensions of a shape given the area, volume, or surface area.

Process Standard 5 - Problem Solving

All students in Grades K-12 will be able to build new mathematical knowledge, solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts, apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to solve problems, and monitor and reflect on the process of mathematical problem solving. (NOTE: I believe more exposure to word problems should improve problem-solving skills.)

Process Standard 8 - Connections

All students in Grades K-12 will be able to recognize and use connections among mathematical ideas, understand how mathematical ideas interconnect and build on one another to produce a coherent whole, and recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics. (NOTE: This standard summarizes the goal of this unit. Quadratic functions relate to many contexts, and, in this unit, students are given the opportunity to practice the mathematics of quadratic functions in multiple contexts.)

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