Performance Stations in Math
Algebra
Grade 9
by
Liliane Gauthier
Teacher / Educational Consultant
Saskatoon Board of Education

 
1.Algebra
Grade 9
A-7ab, A-13, A-16, A-18

   Materials:
  toothpicks
  pieces of string 4 cm long
  paper
  ruler
  graph paper
 
Let the toothpicks be telephone poles and the string be a telephone wire.
1.Place a pole, a string, a pole, a string, a pole (until you have 5 poles) to represent part of a telephone line between Cypress Hills and Maple Creek.
2.a)If there are 3 posts in a row, how many line segments are there?
 b)If there are 4 posts in a row, how many line segments are there?
 c)If there are 5 posts in a row, how many line segments are there?
 d)Write the relationship between the posts and the line segments.
3.a)Write an equation to represent this relationship using y = number of posts and x = number of line segments.
 b)Use the equation to make a table of values. Graph the solution.
 c)In which quadrant will the solutions lie? Why?
 d)Should the points on the graph be joined with a line? Explain.
4.Suppose we had said that x = number of posts and y = number of line segments.
 a)Would the equation change? If so, write the equation.
 b)Make a table of values and graph the coordinate pairs.
5.Compare the graphs and write about how the coordinates in the two graphs are the same and/or different.
 

 
4.Algebra
Grade 9
A-7b, A-18

   Materials:
  paper
  calculator
 
1.a)Start with any number
 b)Double it
 c)Multiply by 5.
 d)Take half your number
 e)Divide by 5
 f)Add 10
 g)Subtract the number you start with
 h)The number you have is 10
2.Try again with another number and see if it works again.
3.Using as the number, draw the picture for each
stage and see why this works.
a)
b)
c) etc.
4.Now use an algebraic expression to represent each stage. Replace by "n".
5.Draw the pictures and write the directions for the following algebraic expressions in this number puzzle.

x
x + 10
4x + 40
2x + 20
2x
x
6.Make your own number puzzle. (Hint draw pictures to help you, them write the algebraic expressions.
7.Neatly copy only the instructions for your puzzle on a file card and file it in a box (provided by the teacher).
 

 
5.Algebra
Grade 9
A-22

   Materials:
  Base ten blocks
  alge-tiles (x's and y's)
  paper & pencil
 
1.Trace each alge-tile and show the value of each. Use the longer one for "x" and the shorter for "y".
2.Use the tiles to explain the difference between x2 and 2x.
3.Explain what an "xy" represents.
4.Trace each base ten block and give the value.
5.How are Base ten blocks similar to the algetiles and how are they different?
6.a)Use the base ten blocks to represent
 b)Draw to record your answer.
 c)What number does this represent?
7.a)Leave the Base ten blocks in front of you and directly under them use the algetiles to show
 b)Explain how the two models are similar and how they are different.
8.Can we give a value to the entire expression if we do not know the value of "x"? Explain.
9.Suppose the value of "x" is 10.
 a)How does this compare to the Base ten blocks?
 b)Can we substitute Base ten blocks with the algetiles?
 c)What are the limitations of the Base Ten blocks?
 d)What could we use to represent ? Can we represent ? Explain.
10.a)How could you represent using the algetiles?
 b)Suppose that x = 10, could you use the Base ten blocks to represent this? Explain your procedure?
11.Use algetiles to represent these numbers. Draw to record your answer.
 a)
 b)
 c)
 d)
12.Suppose x = 10, draw these expressions using Base ten blocks and evaluate the expression using the blocks. Will you need 2 colors?


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