A couple of important lessons from Tuesday's test: many still struggle with Order of Operations, many still confuse when/how to use Venn diagrams to find GCF and LCM, many confuse when to use common factors and when to use common multiples, and careless errors can bring down math grades.
Order of Operations
P-parenthesis
E-exponents
MD-multiplication and division
AS-addition and subtraction
Math problems must be worked in the order of these rules. Multiplication and Division are of equal importance, so are worked left to right. Addition and Subtraction are of equal importance, so are worked left to right. I am working with my students to not skip steps. Examples:
Order of Operations
P-parenthesis
E-exponents
MD-multiplication and division
AS-addition and subtraction
Math problems must be worked in the order of these rules. Multiplication and Division are of equal importance, so are worked left to right. Addition and Subtraction are of equal importance, so are worked left to right. I am working with my students to not skip steps. Examples:
I have an earlier post about using Venn diagrams to find GCF and LCM. The main problem I saw was people who attempted to use T-charts (or finding factors of two numbers) to create their Venn diagram. Using the Venn diagram method requires finding the Prime Factorization for two numbers and placing the shared prime factors in the middle of the Venn diagram, then placing the prime factors not shared in the circles that 'belong' to each separate number (see post from 9-4 for a more thorough explanation).
The problem of when to use common factors and when to use common multiples are addressed in the study materials (dated 9-13).
The problem of when to use common factors and when to use common multiples are addressed in the study materials (dated 9-13).