Applications of Mathematics 10 -
Number (Number Concepts)

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will analyse the numerical data in a table for trends, patterns and interrelationships.

It is expected that students will:

• use words and algebraic expressions to describe the data and the interrelationships in a table with rows that are not related recursively (not calculated from previous data)
• use words and algebraic expressions to describe the data and the interrelationships in a table with rows that are related recursively (calculated from previous data)

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Using tables enhances students’ ability to see data in a compact and easily readable format. Students can extract specific information from tables, and use them to do general comparisons and find relationships.

• Distribute single newspapers to groups of three or four students and have them browse through the paper to find the sections that contain the most tables. Ask the groups to give two reasons why those particular sections use tables extensively.
• Have each student find three specific pieces of information in a table from a newspaper, magazine, or the Internet and share with a partner. Have pairs share their findings with the rest of the class.
• Place a multi-column, non-recursive table (e.g., hockey standings, stock market data) on an overhead. In a class discussion, encourage students to compare and contrast the data in the table. As a class, produce a word list of connections between the rows and columns of data.
• Provide students with a recursive table (e.g., mortgage, credit card account, savings account). Point out that the closing balance for any month is the opening balance of the next month. Ask students to analyse the repetitive nature of the calculations. Have them calculate the balance after three payments, given an opening balance, a monthly rate of interest, and the payment amount.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Tables are commonly used to represent real life data. Assess students’ ability to use tables in a practical way.

Observe

• While students are drawing meaning from tabular representations of data, note their ability to:
  • use words to describe data
  • identify specific facts from tables
  • determine trends where they exist
  • develop recursive tables in the form of spreadsheets

Collect

• Give students multi-column tables such as sports standings, and note the extent to which students are able to glean information. Have students write a newspaper article based on the information and note the extent to which they are able to interpret data.

Question

• Ask students to suppose that they are responsible for adding 10 new items to the inventory of a clothing store. Have them create a spreadsheet that shows price, GST, PST, and cost. Ask them to explain how the value for each cell in their spreadsheet is calculated.

RECOMMENDED LEARNING RESOURCES

Print Materials

• Applied Mathematics 10, Western Canadian Edition ch.2 (Sections 2.1 - 2.5)

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Maintained by: Mathematics Coordinator
Revised: November 30, 2000

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