We study the slopes of line graphs, which is to measure the steepness of a straight line, and is defined to be ratio of y rise over x run, or the ratio of vertical change over the horizontal change.

We talk about the meaning of positive slope and negative slope. We study the special cases of horizontal line where the slope is always 0, and vertical lines where the slope is undefined.

We practice on how to calculate slopes based on the given information.

Homework:

Page 11, #9 to #17.

We introduce Cartesian Coordinate System, how to plot points in the coordinate system, the quadrants.

We look at linear graphs, how to draw them and interpret them.

Homework: Page 9, #1 – #8.

We focus on geometric sequences. A geometric sequence is a sequence where the ratio between any two consecutive terms is always the same. We usually use r to represent this common ratio.

So for a geometric sequence whose first term is a and whose common ratio is r, its nth term is:

an  = ar^(n-1)

Keep in mind that the complete sequence of a geometric sequence is determined by a particular term and the common ratio.

We did a bunch of exercises in the classroom.

Homework:

http://blog.newtonchineseschool.org/wangweidong/files/2014/09/HomeworkGeometricSequence.pdf

We focus on Arithmetic sequences. An arithmetic sequence is a sequence where the difference between any two consecutive terms is always the same. We usually use d to represent this common difference.

So for an arithmetic sequence whose first term is a and whose common difference is d, its nth term is:

an  = a + (n-1)d

Keep in mind that the complete sequence of an arithmetic sequence is determined by a particular term and the common difference.

We did a bunch of exercises in the classroom.

Homework: Workbook Page 4, #21, #22, #26, #27 and the following:

http://blog.newtonchineseschool.org/wangweidong/files/2014/09/HomeworkArithmeticSequence.pdf

We covered number patterns, sequence, and general term of a sequence.

An ordered list of numbers is called a sequence. Each number in a sequence is called a term, and is identified by its position in the ordered list.

Terms are usually denoted by T1, T2, T3, …, or a1, a2, a3, … Note the use of subscripts to identify the positions.

The nth term of a sequence is called a general term of the sequence. And if we can use a formula to represent the general term, then we can find any term in the sequence of substituting in a real value.

For example, given Tn = n^2 + 2n -1, we can easily find T1, T101, T31, etc. by setting n to a particular value.

We looked at real world examples of number patterns.

Homework: workbook page 1:

1a – 1d, 2e – 2h, 3(a, c, e, g), 4(b, d, f, h), 5(a, c, e), 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19