Unit Title: Equalities and Inequalities – Linear Functions Made Easy

Grade level: 9/10 – TEKS §111.31.c.3

Time Frame: 2 class periods

Goals:  Students will understand equations and inequalities based on linear functions, use them to solve problems, become familiar with graphs and models and determines the reasonableness of solutions to linear equations.

Objectives: Given a short quiz, the students will correctly answer 4 out of 5 problems without using a calculator.

Resources: For the lesson, a text book, pencil/pen, paper, calculator.  The calculator will not be allowed during the quiz.

Problem-Solving Lesson

A.                 Identify the problem – How do we formulate lines that are associated with the following situations:

1.      You must be taller than 5’1” in order to ride this roller coaster.

2.      Drivers between 18 and 25 pay higher auto insurance rates.

3.      Batman’s grappling hook can only support 275lbs or less.

B.                 Students will be shown the equation y<= x + 3.  I will ask them how it is different from the equations we have dealt with thus far in the year.  They will note that we have only dealt with equalities.

C.                 I will attempt to get them to understand the concept by asking them how to graph the equation. 

D.                 This should lead to a short discussion on the similarity to equalities.  If the students need help, I will ask them to graph the equation y=x+3, and then ask how to add the < into the graph.  Using this approach should familiarize them with the concept of inequalities, and I will use more examples such as Batman’s grappling hook to keep the interested.

E.                  After having the students assist me in working some problems on the board, they will have time to work individually on their homework until the end of class.  The next class the students will be expected to ask questions over anything they did not understand and the quiz will follow a couple of practice problems that I will work on the board.

Assessment of learning: Students will be assessed by their participation in class, their homework and the results from the quiz.

Homework: Will consist of several inequalities that the students will have to graph, and also graphs for which the students will have to indicate the equation of the graph.