MATH 101 Lecture #1 - Algebra Basics
Welcome to Math 101, ignorant children students. I hope you haven't misplaced your brains lately, for I will try to allow you to learn some math before you graduate from this high school.
Since I do not exactly know each student's math skill level, I will just do an introductory algebra lecture for now. Then, depending on how many understand it, I will go a little further on more specific topics like number theory, geometry, combinatorics...so on.
*pauses briefly on whiteboard before writing*
...Algebra is the branch of mathematics that uses letters in place of some unknown numbers.
You have been using algebra since your early schooling, when you learned formulas like the area of a rectangle, with width w, height h:
A = w × h
We used letters to stand for numbers. Once we knew the width and height, we could substitute them into the formula and find our area.
Another one you may have seen is the area of a square, with sides s:
A = s2
As soon as we know the length of the sides, we can find the area.
Literal numbers (the letters used in algebra) can either stand for variables (the value of the letter can change, like in the examples of the area of a rectangle and the area of a square) or constants (where the value does not change), for example e (which has a constant value of 2.781828...).
*looks around at the students before continuing*
Well here are some problem you can try to do. Just raise your hand if you need any problems so I can help and make me feel superior compared to you kids.
--Solve --
2x - 37 = 25
x - 17 = 4x
x2 - 1 = 0
x2 - 2x = -1
--END--
Afterwards, I will hand you out your first problem set (homework). It's due the next class and if you need help with that, please come to my office. Extra credit for those that inexplicably FAIL cannot make their desired grade can also talk to be privately.
Since I do not exactly know each student's math skill level, I will just do an introductory algebra lecture for now. Then, depending on how many understand it, I will go a little further on more specific topics like number theory, geometry, combinatorics...so on.
*pauses briefly on whiteboard before writing*
...Algebra is the branch of mathematics that uses letters in place of some unknown numbers.
You have been using algebra since your early schooling, when you learned formulas like the area of a rectangle, with width w, height h:
A = w × h
We used letters to stand for numbers. Once we knew the width and height, we could substitute them into the formula and find our area.
Another one you may have seen is the area of a square, with sides s:
A = s2
As soon as we know the length of the sides, we can find the area.
Literal numbers (the letters used in algebra) can either stand for variables (the value of the letter can change, like in the examples of the area of a rectangle and the area of a square) or constants (where the value does not change), for example e (which has a constant value of 2.781828...).
*looks around at the students before continuing*
Well here are some problem you can try to do. Just raise your hand if you need any problems so I can help and make me feel superior compared to you kids.
--Solve --
2x - 37 = 25
x - 17 = 4x
x2 - 1 = 0
x2 - 2x = -1
--END--
Afterwards, I will hand you out your first problem set (homework). It's due the next class and if you need help with that, please come to my office. Extra credit for those that inexplicably FAIL cannot make their desired grade can also talk to be privately.