Polynomials Unit – 17 class days (minus 3-5 for review)

We’re going to do this unit a little differently; call it Math 3.0. I’m going to tell you a
list of the things you need to know, and you can decide how you want to learn about
them.

I’ll do lessons (all-class or mini-lessons) as you request them. But it’s up to each of you
to plan how you want to do this unit and how you want your understanding to be
assessed. You pick the number of quizzes, assignments, projects and tests you want for
each chapter/the unit as a whole.

Each of you needs to do at least 3 journal entries per week!

(There will be marks – about 15% – for this unit on the exam; these will be conventional
exam-style questions.)

Why are polynomials useful?

We work with polynomials a lot in PreCal. So if you’re planning to take Pre-Cal, you
need to ace this unit.

Polynomial equations are also used to model many real-world situations. The most
common and useful polynomials involve speed – maybe a car braking, and also how fast
something falls from the sky.

You should know:

Chapter 5.1 – January 10
• Vocabulary
o polynomial
o monomial, binomial, trinomial
o degree
o coefficient
o constant
o variable
o term
• What is/is not a polynomial
• How to use algebra tiles to model a polynomial

Chapter 5.2 – January 12

• Pchewh (what happens when you combine +1 and -1 or +x and –x or +x
2
and –x )
• How to recognize like terms
• How to group like terms
• How to simplify a polynomial
• What are “equivalent” polynomials
• How to recognize like terms if there are two variables (or 3 or 4?)
 Chapter 5.3 – January 14
• How to add polynomials
o using tiles
o just with paper
• You must simplify first
• Dealing with positive and negative integers (remember Pchewh)
• Working with perimeter and polynomials
o How to add up sides of rectangles if length is given as polynomial
o How to add up sides of triangles if length is given as a polynomial

Chapter 5.4 – January 17

• How to subtract polynomials
o using tiles
o just with paper
o remember to use PEDMAS
• You must simplify first
• Dealing with positive and negative integers (remember Pchewh)
• Working with perimeter to find the length of certain sides if you know the
total perimeter

Chapter 5.5 – January 19

• How to multiply and divide polynomials by a constant
o go term by term
o represent it with tiles
o what is the distributive property?
• How a division equation and multiplication equation are related

Chapter 5.6 – January 21

• How to multiply and divide polynomials by a monomial
o go term by term
o represent it with tiles
• How a division equation and multiplication equation are related
• Be careful about the degree of the solution

Mr. Plett will do introductory lessons to the chapters on the dates listed above. If you
want additional mini-lessons, you can always request them!
 My unit plan (with assessment tools)
Date Description of Goals Assessment Tools
Exam Review – Unit 1
January 10, 2011
January 11, 2011
January 12, 2011
January 13, 2011
Exam Review – Unit 2
January 14, 2011
January 17, 2011
January 18, 2011
January 19, 2011
January 20, 2011
Exam Review – Unit 3
January 21, 2011
January 24, 2011
January 25, 2011
January 26, 2011
Exam Review – Unit 4
January 27, 2011
Exam Review – Final Class before exam
January 28, 2011

Course exam will be February 2, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 58.

You may have a handwritten single-sided “cheat sheet” for the mid-term exam;
you must use the page that Mr. Plett hands out to you. You will have class time to
work on this cheat sheet during the “exam review” classes. It can include
anything you wish. You may not ask Mr. Plett any questions about how to do
things on the exam.

My unit plan has:

_______ assignments
_______ quizzes
_______ tests
_______ projects
 Example unit plan (with assessment tools)
Date Description of Goals Assessment Tools
Exam Review – Unit 1 Chapter 5.1 – make vocab. list
January 10, 2011
Chapter 5.1 – do “discuss” and 3 questions hand in 3 questions
January 11, 2011
Chapter 5.2 – read examples
January 12, 2011
Chapter 5.2 – do 5 questions hand in 3 questions
January 13, 2011
Exam Review – Unit 2 Chapter 5.3 – read
examples
January 14, 2011
Chapter 5.3 – do 4 questions and quiz quiz on 5.1 – 5.3
January 17, 2011
Chapter 5.4 – do 6 questions
January 18, 2011
Chapter 5.4 – do 3 questions and start 5.5
January 19, 2011
Chapter 5.5 – read examples and do 4 hand in 3 questions
January 20, 2011 questions from 5.4
Exam Review – Unit 3 Chapter 5.5 – do 5 more
January 21, 2011 questions
Chapter 5.5 – do “discuss” and 3 questions hand in 3 questions
January 24, 2011 from 5.5
Chapter 5.6 – do “discuss” and 3 questions quiz on 5.4 and 5.5
January 25, 2011 and quiz
Chapter 5.6 – do 6 more questions hand in 3 questions
January 26, 2011 from 5.6
Exam Review – Unit 4 Catch-up day and make cheat
January 27, 2011 sheet
Exam Review – Final Class before exam test
January 28, 2011 Polynomials Test

My unit plan has:

____5___ assignments
____2___ quizzes
____1___ tests
____0___ projects
 Example unit plan (with assessment tools)
Date Description of Goals Assessment Tools
Exam Review – Unit 1 Chapter 5.1 – make vocab. list
January 10, 2011
Chapter 5.1 – do “discuss” and 3 questions
January 11, 2011
Chapter 5.2 – read examples start on project (a
January 12, 2011 story)
Chapter 5.2 – do 5 questions, work on
January 13, 2011 project
Exam Review – Unit 2 Chapter 5.3 – read
January 14, 2011 examples
Chapter 5.3 – do 4 questions and quiz quiz on 5.1 – 5.3
January 17, 2011
Chapter 5.4 – do 6 questions & mid-unit
January 18, 2011 review
Chapter 5.4 – do 3 questions and start 5.5 hand in Mid-Unit
January 19, 2011 Review
Chapter 5.5 – read examples and do 4 hand in first half of
January 20, 2011 questions project
Exam Review – Unit 3 Chapter 5.5 – do 5 more
January 21, 2011 questions
Chapter 5.5 – do “discuss” and 3 questions
January 24, 2011
Chapter 5.6 – do “discuss” and 3 questions
January 25, 2011 and work on project
Chapter 5.6 – do 6 more questions quiz on 5.4 – 5.6
January 26, 2011
Exam Review – Unit 4 Finish project
January 27, 2011
Exam Review – Final Class before exam Hand in project and do Practice Test
“Practice Test”
January 28, 2011

My unit plan has:

____1___ assignments
____2___ quizzes
____1___ tests
____1___ projects