few_shots: 
Example 1:
Problem/activity:
You’re mixing ingredients for cookies. The recipe says to combine 6 tablespoons, or ¾ stick, of butter with 1 cup of sugar. You accidentally mix in a whole stick of butter (8 tablespoons) with the cup of sugar. How can you fix this?


Concept/skill: 
Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities.

Answer: 
No. Usually problems that teach recognizing and representing proportional relationships between quantities involve deciding whether two quantities are in a proportional relationship or identifying the constant of proportionality, and then representing proportional relationships by equations or explaining proportional relationship using coordinate graphs.

Example 2:
Problem/activity:
For each pair of numbers, determine if the values are equivalent. Explain your reasoning for each one.
a.
$$-0.25$$
and
$$\frac{1}{-4}$$
b.
$$-\left ( \frac{1}{4} \right )$$
and
$$\frac{-1}{-4}$$
c.
$$\frac{-1}{4}$$
and
$$-\frac{1}{4}$$


Concept/skill: 
Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division and of fractions to multiply and divide rational numbers.

Answer: 
Yes. This problem involves understanding fractions and division to divide rational numbers, such as 1, -4, 4, and -1. This problem also involves an understanding of multiplication: if p and q are integers, then -(p/q) = (-p)/q = p/(-q).

Example 3:
Problem/activity:
Problem 1
The table below contains single equations in a single variable, single equations in two variables, and pairs of simultaneous equations in two variables. Check the appropriate box to show whether there is no solution, exactly 1 solution, or if there is an infinite number of solutions.
|                                                          | **           No solution          ** | **           Exactly 1 solution          ** | **           Infinite number of solutions          ** |
|----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
|                       $${9=4x+7}$$                       |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
|                       $${y=3y+5}$$                       |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
|                    $${y={x\over2}}$$                     |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
|                     $${3x+6y-9=0}$$                      |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
|    $${x=y}$$                        $${1.25x=1.25y}$$    |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
| $${9.9=6x+8y}$$                        $${9x=2.5y-8.8}$$ |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
| $${11x-2y=1.5}$$                        $${11x-2y=2.5}$$ |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
Problem 2
Kim has a small container and a large container as shown.
[IMG]
It takes 16 of the small containers to fill the large container. Three small containers leave 1.95 gallons of space in the big container.
What is the size of each of the two containers?


Concept/skill: 
Analyze and solve pairs of simultaneous linear equations.

Answer: 
Yes. The last three rows of the table in the first problem involves solving pairs of simultaneous linear equations. The second word problem can also be represented as two simultaneous linear equations.

Now, does the problem or activity shown below enable students to learn the full intent of the following concept or skill?

shot_info: fl_problem_000972_neg_0

6

fl_problem_001097_pos_0

7

fl_problem_001392_pos_0

8
standard_description: Use special triangles to determine geometrically the values of sine, cosine, tangent for π/3, π/4 and π/6, and use the unit circle to express the values of sine, cosines, and tangent for π–x, π+x, and 2π–x in terms of their values for x, where x is any real number.
problem_activity: Activity
The purpose of this activity is to give students practice finding missing side lengths in a right triangle using the Pythagorean Theorem.
Teacher Notes for IM 6–8 Math Accelerated
Adjust time to 15 minutes. After 2–3 minutes of work time, select 1–2 groups to share their work for the first question before continuing with the remaining questions. If time is limited, tell students that the final question is optional.
Launch
Arrange students in groups of 2. Give students 10 minutes of quiet work time and then have them compare with a partner. If partners disagree about any of their answers, ask them to explain their reasoning to one another until they reach agreement. Follow with a whole-class discussion.
Representation: Internalize Comprehension.
Activate or supply background knowledge by displaying the Pythagorean Theorem with a labeled diagram. Allow students to use calculators to ensure inclusive participation in the activity.
Supports accessibility for: Memory; Conceptual processing
Student Facing
Find
\(c\)
.
[IMG]
Find
\(b\)
.
[IMG]
A right triangle has sides of length 2.4 cm and 6.5 cm. What is the length of the hypotenuse?
A right triangle has a side of length
\(\frac14\)
and a hypotenuse of length
\(\frac13\)
. What is the length of the other side?
Find the value of
\(x\)
in the figure.
[IMG]
Student Response
Teachers with a valid work email address can
click here to register or sign in
for free access to Student Response.
Student Facing
Are you ready for more?
The spiral in the figure is made by starting with a right triangle with both legs measuring one unit each. Then a second right triangle is built with one leg measuring one unit, and the other leg being the hypotenuse of the first triangle. A third right triangle is built on the second triangle’s hypotenuse, again with the other leg measuring one unit, and so on.
[IMG]
Find the length,
\(x\)
, of the hypotenuse of the last triangle constructed in the figure.
Student Response
Teachers with a valid work email address can
click here to register or sign in
for free access to Extension Student Response.
Activity Synthesis
Ask students to share how they found the missing side lengths. If students drew triangles for the two questions that did not have an image, display a few of these for all to see, noting any differences between them. For example, students may have drawn triangles with different orientations or labeled different sides as
\(a\)
and
\(b\)
.
For the last question, ask students to say what they did first to try and solve for
\(x\)
. For example, while many students may have found the length of the unknown altitude first and then used that value to find
\(x\)
, others may have set up the equation
\(34-5^2=18-x^2\)
.
Point out that when you know two sides of a right triangle, you can always find the third by using the Pythagorean identity
\(a^2 + b^2 = c^2\)
. Remind them that it is important to keep track of which side is the hypotenuse.
Reading, Writing, Speaking: MLR3 Clarify, Critique, Correct.
Before students share their method for the questions that did not have an image, present an incorrect solution based on a common error related to labeling the sides of a right triangle. For the right triangle with a side of length
\(\frac{1}{4}\)
and a hypotenuse of length
\(\frac{1}{3}\)
, draw a right triangle with the legs labeled
\(\frac{1}{4}\)
and
\(\frac{1}{3}\)
. Provide an incorrect explanation such as: “I know that
\(a = \frac{1}{4}\)
and
\(b = \frac{1}{3}\)
, so when I use the Pythagorean Theorem, I get the equation
\((\frac{1}{4})^2 + (\frac{1}{3})^2 = c^2\)
.” Ask students to identify the error, critique the reasoning, and revise the original statement. As students discuss in partners, listen for students who clarify the meaning of the hypotenuse and identify
\(c\)
as the length of the hypotenuse in the Pythagorean Theorem. This routine will engage students in meta-awareness as they critique and correct a common error when labeling the sides of a right triangle.
Design Principles(s): Cultivate conversation; Maximize meta-awareness


aligns: no