Algebra Balance vs Math Galaxy 8th Grade Math

Algebra Balance provides teachers and parents with an educational tool for demonstrating and practicing methods for solving for x given an algebraic equation with one variable. Using the Algebra Balance teachers will want to encourage students to build expressions using blocks and balloons. Blocks represent positive values and balloons represent negative values. Once two equal expressions are shown, the student is challenged to analyze the equation and then begin a procedure for simplification in order to find the value of x that will solve the equation. Active learning begins by moving blocks or balloons onto the balance scale. By choosing the appropriate terms the student defines two expressions. Interactively the balance shows the relationship between the two expressions. The goal is for the student to solve for x by manipulating the balance. Terms are added and subtracted from both sides and the results are immediately displayed on the screen. Visualization helps make algebra less abstract. By representing equivalent expressions on the left and right side of the balance students develop an intuitive understanding of algebra.

In eighth grade math the emphasis is on: (1) solving linear equations and systems of linear equations, (2) functions, and (3) geometric transforms, congruence, similarity and Pythagoras. Math Galaxy’s Eighth Grade Math covers all of the Common Core math standards for eighth grade as listed below. The concepts are presented in bite-size pieces with an unlimited supply of practice problems, with numbers chosen randomly. Illustrations are used throughout to reinforce the concepts. You can be guided through problems step-by-step or just give final answers. Certificates with scores can be emailed from final-answer mode to be printed. Topics covered are listed below along with their Common Core standard. More details on common core standards can be found at: http://www.corestandards.org/Math/ Includes Schoolwork support for teachers with Apple School Manager and iOS 11.3 or later. THE NUMBER SYSTEM (8.NS) Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational numbers. Fractions as Repeating Decimals (8.NS.1) Converting Repeating Decimals to Fractions (8.NS.1) Identifying Rational Numbers (8.NS.1) Approximating Irrational Numbers (8.NS.2) EXPRESSIONS AND EQUATIONS (8.EE) Work with radicals and integer exponents. Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines and linear equations. Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations. Exponents (8.EE.1) Operations with Exponents (8.EE.1) Roots (8.EE.2) Scientific Intuition (8.EE.3, 4) Scientific & Metric Notation (8.EE.3, 4) Scientific & Metric Operations (8.EE.3, 4) Order of Magnitude (8.EE.3, 4) Graphing Proportional Relationships (8.EE.5, 6) Graphing Intercepts (8.EE.7) Graphing Linear Equations (8.EE.7) One, Zero, or Infinite Solutions (8.EE.7) Equations with Unknown on Both Sides (8.EE.7) Equations with Parentheses (8.EE.7) Equations with Fractions or Decimals (8.EE.7) Systems of Equations (8.EE.8) Algebra Word Problems (8.EE.8) FUNCTIONS (8.F) Define, evaluate, and compare functions. Use functions to model relationships between quantities. Linear Equations (8.F.1, 3) Comparing Rates of Change (8.F.2) Slopes (8.F.4) Graphing from Slope-Intercept (8.F.4) Graphing from Point-Slope (8.F.4) Nonlinear Functions (8.F.5) GEOMETRY (8.G) Understand congruence and similarity. Translations (8.G.1) Reflections (8.G.1) Rotations (8.G.1) Dilations (8.G.1) Congruent Figures (8.G.2) Similar Figures (8.G.3, 4) Angles in Triangles Proof (8.G.5) Proof of Pythagorean Theorem (8.G.6) Pythagorean Problems (8.G.7, 8) Volume (8.G.9) STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY (8.SP) Investigate patters of association in bivariate data. Scatter Plots (8.SP,1, 2) Linear Models (8.SP.3) Two-Way Frequency Tables (8.SP.4) GAMES Labyrinth