Appetizers and Lessons for Mathematics and Reason  ( Français)  
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 Logic mastery is key to easing or avoiding learning difficulties in work & studies. 

Online Volumes (Book Orders)
1,  Elements of Reason. 1996
1A. Pattern Based Reason  1995
1B. Math Curriculum Notes 1996
2. Three Skills for Algebra  1995
3.
WhySlopes & More Math 1995

Site  Folders for Instructors & Adults
A. Public Policy Essays
B.  Mathematics  Education Essays  2006-7
C -Logic & Applied Math Program  
    for education,  June 22, 2008 
D. Quebec English Math Ed -  Standards to
 avoid  in course design & teacher education 
E. Help your child or teen
How TOs/ Ref.-08- 2008
1. Arithmetic Reference
2. Algebra 
3. More Algebra 
4. Geometry  
5. More Geometry
6. Calculus
7. Logics in Maths
416 Suggestions   Back ] Up ] Next ]

Mathematics 416
unauthorized ideas

The course consists of the following areas of study for students who have successfully completed secondary III Mathematics. Problems solving strategies are emphasized at each stage of the learning process.l

  • Algebra:  dependent and independent variables,  systems of linear equations; 
  • Geometry: Simple proofs involving similar and congruent two- and three-dimensional figures; properties of three dimensional figures; trigonometric ratios.
  • Statistics: Sampling Methods: methods (measures?) of central tendency, position and dispersion; quintile, quartile, percentile rank; box and whisker plots.
The above comes from The Lester B. Pearson School Board, Curriculum Selection Booklet, 2001-2. The latter had no part in the composition of  page contents. 

Lessons plans and lessons in the new site area Secondary IV - Functions to Trig & Statistics  are intended to support for maths 436 or 536.  But the leading lesson plans for developing algebra and fraction skills and sense through solving linear equations in one and more unknowns could  be useful in mathematics 416.  I will be thinking about support for mathematics 416 once the aforementioned areas is complete.  There is an overlap between 416, 426 and 436. There are also differences. 

Many parts of the site areas

  Solving Linear Equations with Stick Diagrams, Logic & AlgebraFractions,  Ratios, Rates, Proportions  & Units = Euclidean Geometry, Analytic Geometry,   Number Theory.   

will help students prepare for and take mathematics 416, 426 and 436.    Student in  with a weak fraction sense and skills are inviting failure or substandard performance. Curious students may see a context for slopes alone or with polynomials in the  first and second Calculus previews at this site. 

The common  introduction to statistics in   the French textbook Mathematiques Collection, Mathophile 416, Louise LaFortune et al,  ISBN  2-7601-4648-0. Chapitre 7, Statistiques, gives a clearer exposition, and the end-of-book summary or synthesis, page 355, gives an excellent review of most concepts in mathematics 416.  (The mathophile collection may contain textbooks for 426, 436 and other secondary school courses. However, I found this work for 416 by accident. 

The law of sines in Geometry or trigonometry is presented in secondary IV mathematics and examples in the course may involve sines of obtuse angles. Each course puts  sin(q) = sin(180o - q) for obtuse angles q, that is when 180oq > 90o is an obtuse angle. Saying how to define an number defines it.  

The teacher's guides are not always to my liking.  Each guide appears to be longer than the associated text, albeit they do include some reproducible pages useful for hand-outs. That be said, I found the exposition and context for statistics in the Teacher Guide for mathematics 436 to be clearly expressed.  The guide focuses on the development of critical thinking skills in the statistical collection or interpretation of data (surveys, opinion polls and censuses).  But emphasizing critical thinking skills to students who do not have a repeatable and reproducible command of fractions (what they are and how to do arithmetic with efficiently without a calculator)  appears to be mis-spent time. The missing skills should be developed first.  The latter should be emphasized first. 

Necessary Reminder

Students in the first year of high school may come with a weak to non-existence command of the times table (addition table too) and with a weak to non-existence fraction sense and abilities.  The most important service of first year mathematics in high school is to consolidate fraction sense and skills. That is a prerequisite to algebra, geometry, trig and calculus. High school mathematics literally becomes a waste of time if fraction sense and skills are not consolidated and maintained in all years.

A Book to Buy

The French textbook Mathematiques Collection, Mathophile 416, Tomes 1 and 2, Louise LaFortune et al,  ISBN  2-7601-4648-0. Chapitre 7, Statistiques, gives a clearer exposition, and the end-of-book summary or synthesis, page 355, gives an excellent review of most concepts in mathematics 416. I have a copy of the work - unread. However, the Mathematiques Collection, Mathophile 436, Tomes 1 and 2, Louise LaFortune et al, is far superior to the current approved textbooks written by Guy Breton et al. for mathematics 436. Therefore, I recommend students able to read French take the following gamble: Acquire Mathematiques Collection, Mathophile 416, Tomes 1 and 2, Louise LaFortune et al,  ISBN  2-7601-4648-0 for self-help or instruction in mathematics 416.

The law of sines in Geometry or trigonometry is presented in secondary IV mathematics and examples in the course may involve sines of obtuse angles. Each course puts  sin(q) = sin(180o - q) for obtuse angles q, that is when 180oq > 90o is an obtuse angle. Saying how to define an number defines it.  

 

Quebec English Mathematics Education

A farce is a farce is a farce.

Area Intro
Copy Right Matters
Curriculum Cuts
Intermediate Objectives
MEQ Objectives

116 Textbooks
116 Objectives
116 Check List
116 Suggestions
216 Objectives
216 Check List
216 Book Review
216 Nonsense or BullShit
216 Suggestions
314 Objectives
314 Check List
314 Suggestions
416 Objectives
416 Check List
416 Suggestions
436 Objectives
436 Checklist
436 Suggestions
436 Book Reviews
436 Nonsense in
514 Objectives
514 Suggestions
514 Book Reviews
536 Objectives
536 Suggestions
536 Book Reviews

Area pages  represent an effort to follow and understand the objectives of the 1997-2005, the prior reform, and the text books required and used 1997-2005. In retrospect, the objectives and texts in question are too incoherent, too full of nonsense, for rational comprehension and for service as a base for the current reform.    A farce is a farce, is a farce

 

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