Post on 12-Apr-2020
Mathematics Success – Grade 8T92
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
[OBJECTIVE]The student will create rational approximations of irrational numbers in order to compare and order them on a number line.
[PREREQUISITE SKILLS] rational numbers, plotting rational numbers on a number line
[MATERIALS] Student pages S41−S54Algebra tiles (red and yellow units – 25 yellow and 5 red per student pair)Number LineCalculatorSticky NotesOrdering Number Cards Pages (1 – 3) (T123 - T125)
[ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS]1. Explain how to find the rational approximation for irrational numbers in the form
of square roots.2. Why is it helpful to know how to find rational approximations for irrational
numbers? Justify your thinking.3. How can you compare irrational values that are written in different forms? Explain
your thinking.
[WORDS FOR WORD WALL]square root, rational approximation, radical, irrational numbers, approximate, terminating decimal, repeating decimal, perfect squares
[GROUPING]Cooperative Pairs (CP), Whole Group (WG), Individual (I)*For Cooperative Pairs (CP) activities, assign the roles of Partner A or Partner B to students. This allows each student to be responsible for designated tasks within the lesson.
[LEVELS OF TEACHER SUPPORT]Modeling (M), Guided Practice (GP), Independent Practice (IP)
[MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIONS]SOLVE, Verbal Description, Pictorial Representation, Concrete Representation, Graphic Organizer
[WARM-UP] (IP, WG) S41 (Answers on T109.)• Have students turn to S41 in their books to begin the Warm-Up. Students will
determine the square roots of perfect squares, identify decimal equivalents of fractions and mixed numbers and categorize them as terminating or repeating. Monitor students to see if any of them need help during the Warm-Up. After students have completed the warm-up, review the solutions as a group. {Graphic Organizer, Verbal Description}
Mathematics Success – Grade 8 T93
MODELING
Square Roots of Irrational Numbers – Concrete and Pictorial
Step 1: Have student pairs complete Question 1 – 4 on S42 to review the process of how to determine the square root of perfect squares. Review the answers as a whole group.
Step 2: Have students turn to page S43. • Have student pairs try to make a square using 12 yellow algebra
tiles. • Partner A, were we able to make a perfect square? (No) • Partner B, what is the closest shape to a square that we can create?
(3 by 4 rectangle) Record. • Model for students how to fill in the area below the rectangle with red
tiles to make a perfect square. • Partner A, what are the dimensions of the new square? (4 by 4)
Record.Step 3: Model how to draw a square around the largest square that is completely
yellow. • Partner B, how many tiles are in the square? (9) Record. • Partner A, what is the square root of your perfect square? (3)
Record.
SOLVE Problem (WG, GP) S42 (Answers on T110.)
Have students turn to S42 in their books. The first problem is a SOLVE problem. You are only going to complete the S step with students at this point. Tell students that during the lesson they will learn how to use rational approximations of irrational numbers to compare and order the values and plot them on a number line. They will use this knowledge to complete this SOLVE problem at the end of the lesson. {SOLVE, Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer}
Square Roots of Irrational Numbers – Concrete and Pictorial (M, IP, CP, GP, WG) S42, S43, S44 (Answers on T110 , T111, T112.)
GP, M, CP, WG: Pass out the red and yellow algebra unit tiles. Make sure students know their designation as Partner A or Partner B. Use the following activity to model the concept of square roots of irrational numbers. {Concrete Representation, Pictorial Representation, Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer}
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
[HOMEWORK] Take time to go over the homework from the previous night.
[LESSON] [2-3 days (1 day = 80 minutes) - (M, GP, WG, CP, IP)]
Mathematics Success – Grade 8T94
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
• Partner B, explain how you determined the square root. (The measure of one side of the square is 3. 3 times 3 is equal to 9.) Record.
• Partner A, how many tiles are there that are not part of your perfect square? (7) Record.
• Partner B, how many of these are yellow? (3) Record. Step 4: We can approximate the square root of 12 using a mixed number. • Partner A, what is the whole number of the square root of the largest
perfect square? (3) Record. • The fraction is the number of yellow tiles over the total number of
tiles outside of the perfect square. So, the approximate value of √12 = 33
7 Record. • Partner B, what is this mixed number in decimal form? Use the
calculator to divide 3 by 7 to find the decimal portion of the number. (3.428571429) Record.
• Partner A, using a calculator, find √12. (3.464101615) Record. • Partner B, how does your decimal from the tiles compare to the
calculator result? (They are very close and differ in the hundredths column. Each is a bit less than 3.5.) Record.
• Partner A, explain why the two values are different. (When we divide 3 by 7 it is an approximate value and the calculator gives a more exact value when we enter √12.) Record.
Step 5: Have students turn to page S44. Direct students’ attention to Question 1. • Partner A, how many yellow chips do you have to use to try to create
a square? (6) • Partner B, are you able to make a square using 6 tiles? (No) • Draw the six tiles in the box for Question 1. Box in the largest perfect
square that you can make. • Partner A, how many tiles are in the largest perfect square? (4). • Partner B, what is the square root of this perfect square? (2) Explain
how you know this. (The square root is the measure of one side of the square.)
• Partner A, explain how we use the value of the square root of the perfect square. (The square root of the perfect square will be the whole number in our mixed number approximation.)
• Partner B, add red tiles to complete the next largest perfect square. • Partner A, how many total tiles are outside of the perfect square? (5) • Partner B, how many of the tiles outside are yellow? (2) • Partner A, what is the fraction of yellow tiles outside of the box over
total tiles outside of the box. 25
• Partner B, what is the mixed number that approximates the square root of 6? 22
5 Record.
Mathematics Success – Grade 8 T95
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
Step 6: Direct students to Question 3. • Partner B, how many yellow tiles do you have to use to try to create
a square? (13) • Partner A, are you able to make a square using 13 counters? (No) • Model for students how to draw the thirteen counters in the box for
Question 3. • Partner B, what is the largest perfect square you can make? (3 by 3). • Model how to box in the largest perfect square. • Partner A, how many tiles are in the largest perfect square? (9). • Partner B, what is the square root of this perfect square? (3) • Partner A, explain how we use the value of the square root of the
perfect square. (The square root of the perfect square will be the whole number in our mixed number approximation.)
• Partner B, add red tiles to complete the next largest perfect square. • Partner B, how many total tiles are outside of the perfect square? (7) • Partner A, how many of the tiles outside are yellow? (4) • Partner B, what is the fraction of yellow tiles outside of the box over
total tiles outside of the box. 47
Record. • Partner A, what is the mixed number that approximates the square
root of 13? 347
Record.
IP, CP, WG: Have students complete Questions 2, 4, 5 and 6 on S44. Students will follow the same process explained above in the modeling. Allow students time to go through the process and model how to find the greatest perfect square and then create a fraction. Be sure that students are using the concrete tiles to create the squares and that they are drawing the pictorial representation to model the concrete. {Concrete Representation, Verbal Description, Pictorial Representation, Graphic Organizer}
Rational Approximations with Number Lines(M, GP, CP, WG, IP) S45, S46, S47 (Answers on T113, T114, T115.)
M, GP, CP, WG: Have students turn to S45 in their books. In this activity students will complete the chart to help them find the rational approximation of irrational values. This extends the activity that students have completed with the concrete and pictorial representations of the square roots. Make sure students know their designation as Partner A or Partner B. {Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer, Graph}
Mathematics Success – Grade 8T96
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
MODELING
Rational Approximations with Number Lines
Step 1: Direct students’ attention to the top of S45. • You can estimate the square root of a number that is not a perfect
square without the algebra tiles. • For example, if you were asked to find the square root of 94 you would
not be able to find a whole number that when multiplied by itself equals 94. You could, however, find the two closest perfect squares that are less than 94 and greater than 94.
• Partner A, what is a perfect square that is close to, but less than 94? (√81 = 9) Record.
• Partner B, what is a perfect square that is close to, but greater than 94? (√100 = 10) Record.
• Partner A, what can we conclude about √94? (It is between 9 and 10.) Record.
• Partner B, is 94 closer to 100 or 81? (100) Record. • Partner A, explain what this means. (√94 is closer to 10.) Record.
Step 2: Sometimes we need a more exact answer than simply the range. In this case we can apply our understanding of the tiles.
Number Perfect square and its square
root close to, but less than the number
Perfect square and its square
root close to, but greater
than the number
Difference between perfect squares
Difference between number
and lower perfect square
Rational approximation in the form of a mixed number
√94 √81 = 9 √100 = 10 100 – 81=19 94 – 81=13 91319
• By completing this chart, we will be able to find an approximation without using the algebra tiles.
• Partner B, the second column asks for the perfect square and its square root close to, but less than the number. What is this number? (√81=9) Record.
• Partner A, the third column asks for the perfect square and its square root close to, but greater than 94. What is this number? (√100 = 10) Record.
• Partner B, when we were using the tiles to find an approximation, explain how we created the denominator of the fraction. (We found the total number of tiles that were necessary to build the next largest square.) Record.
Mathematics Success – Grade 8 T97
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
• Partner A, identify what operation we can use to find the number of tiles necessary to build the next largest perfect square. (Subtraction: perfect square above number – perfect square below) Record.
• Partner B, in the fourth column, find the difference between the perfect squares above and below the number. (100 – 81 = 19) Record.
Step 3: Have students turn to S46. • Partner A, when using the tiles to find an approximation, explain how
we created the numerator of the fraction? (We found the number of yellow tiles that were outside of the perfect square that contributed to building the next square.) Record.
• Partner B, identify the operation we can use to find how far away the number is from the lower perfect square. Explain. (Subtraction: Subtract the lower perfect square from the number.) Record.
• Partner A, what is the difference? (94 – 81 = 13) Record. • Partner B, explain how we wrote the fraction part of the mixed number
which represented the approximation of our square root? (We wrote the numerator as the difference between the number and lower perfect square and the denominator as the difference between perfect squares.) Record.
• Partner A, what is the fraction we create? 94 – 81 = 13100 – 81 = 19
= 1319
Record.
• Partner B, what is the whole number that should accompany the fraction? (9) Record.
Step 4: • By creating a mixed number, we are creating a rational number that is approximately the same value as the irrational number that we started with. We created a (rational approximation). We can also plot the rational approximation on a number line.
• Partner A, explain how we can create a decimal from our rational approximation. (Divide the numerator by the denominator and add the whole number to the decimal.) Record.
• Partner B, what is the decimal form of this rational approximation? (9.6842105263) Record.
• With your partner, use the number line below to plot a point to show the location of the rational approximation of the number. Label it with the number, the rational approximation and the decimal.
• Partner A, where is the √94 located on the number line? (between 9.6 and 9.7)
Mathematics Success – Grade 8T98
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
Step 5: Direct students’ attention to the top of S47. • Explain to students that they will be using the same process from the
table on S45 to complete this chart on S47. Guide students through the questions to complete the first example. Then, model how to plot the point with its decimal approximation on the number line.
• Partner B, what is the square root that we are using to find the rational approximation? √22
• Partner A, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to but less than √22? (√16 = 4) Record.
• Partner B, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to but greater than √22? (√25 = 5) Record.
• Partner A, explain how to find the difference between the perfect squares. (25 – 16 = 9) Record.
• Partner B, explain how to find the difference between the number and the lower perfect square. (22 – 16 = 6) Record.
• Partner A, explain how to find the rational approximation of √22 using the information from the chart. (We can create a fraction that represents the difference between the number and the lower perfect square, which is the numerator, over the difference between the perfect squares, which is the denominator.) Write your fraction in the final column. 6
9
• Partner B, what do we need to write with the fraction when we write the rational approximation in the last column? (The whole number 4) Record.
• Partner A, explain how you know it is 4? (The largest perfect square that is less than the irrational number is 16 and its square root is 4.)
• Partner B, What is the rational approximation for the form of the mixed number? 46
9 Record.
• Partner A, explain how we know where to plot the point on the number line. (Divide the numerator by the denominator in the fraction, then add the whole number.) Plot the point on the number line.
*Teacher Note: Students may use the calculator here and round to two decimal places.
Mathematics Success – Grade 8 T99
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
Categorizing Irrational Numbers and Decimal Expansions(M, GP, CP, WG) S48, S49 (Answers on T116, T117.)
M, WG, GP, CP: Students created a graphic organizer for rational numbers in Lesson 4. In this activity, we will be adding the category of irrational numbers and working with decimal approximations of rational and irrational numbers. Make sure students know their designation as Partner A or Partner B.{Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer}
MODELING
Categorizing Irrational Numbers and Decimal Expansions
Step 1: Have students look at the graphic organizer on S48. • Partner A, there is one category in the graphic organizer on the bottom
of the page that has not been identified. What are the two values in that section? (√2 and π)
• Partner B, what do you notice about those two values? Explain your thinking. (Neither value can be written as a ratio in the form a
b with
both the numerator and denominator as integers.) Record.
• Have partners discuss Question 3.
• Partner A, if a number is not rational, what term could we use to describe the opposite of rational? (Irrational) Record.
• Add the label of Irrational Numbers to the graphic organizer on S48.
• Partner B, why is this section separate from counting numbers, whole numbers and integers? Explain your thinking. (Counting numbers, whole numbers and integers are all part of the group known as rational numbers because they can be written as ratios. Irrational numbers are values that cannot be written as ratios.)
• Have students suggest other irrational values that can be added to the wall chart.
IP, CP, WG: Have students complete the rest of the page by filling in the table and plotting the points. The table will guide them through the questioning, but remind students that the fourth column reflects finding the total number of tiles outside of the perfect square and then fifth column reflects the number of yellow tiles outside of the perfect square. Take time to review solutions after students have worked on completing this page. {Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer, Graph}
Mathematics Success – Grade 8T100
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
Step 2: Direct students’ attention to the top of S49. • Partner A, what is the first number in the graphic organizer? (π) • Partner B, using a calculator, type the pi key and hit “ENTER” to find
the decimal form of this number. (3.14159265…) Have students record this number in the table.
• Partner A, do you think pi is a rational or irrational number? (Irrational) Record.
• Partner B, explain Partner A’s choice and tell whether the value is approximate or exact. (Pi does not fit into any of the categories for rational numbers that we created with our graphic organizer. The value is approximate because the decimal does not terminate.) Record.
• Partner B, identify the next number. 46
• Partner A, explain how we find the decimal form of this fraction. (Divide the numerator by the denominator.)
*Teacher Note: The division of the fractions that are in the graphic organizer can be modeled in a variety of ways based upon your students’ needs. Some students may only need to see the first fraction divided out to see that it repeats and then they can work in student pairs to determine the decimal for the other two fractions in the chart. If there are students who need more support, you can model all three division problems that are in the chart.
Step 3: • Partner B, what is the quotient decimal when you divide 4 by 6? (0.66666…) Record.
• Partner B, is this number rational or irrational? (rational) Record. • Partner A, explain Partner B’s choice and tell whether the value is
approximate or exact. (The number 46 is in the a
b form. The fraction is
approximate because the decimal repeats and must be rounded.) • Partner A, what is the third number in the table? (√2) • Partner B, using your calculator, enter the square root of 2 to find the
decimal form. (1.41421356) Record. • Partner A, is this number rational or irrational? (Irrational) • Partner B, explain Partner A’s choice and whether the number is
approximate or exact. (This number does not fit into any of the categories for rational numbers that we created with our graphic organizer. The number is approximate because the decimal does not terminate and must be rounded) Record.
Mathematics Success – Grade 8 T101
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
• Have partners complete the last two rows of the graphic organizers on their own. They can use a calculator to find the decimals or complete the long division to determine the decimal. Be sure to review the solutions of the organizer before moving on to drawing conclusions and exploring patterns.
Step 4: Direct students’ attention to Question 1 below the graphic organizer. • Partner A, what do you notice about the decimals of the rational
numbers? (They either stop, or they continue on with a repeating pattern.) Record.
• Partner B, what do you notice about the decimals of the irrational numbers? (They continue on with no repeating pattern.) Record.
• Partner A, what type of decimal is the equivalent of 38? (terminating decimal) Record.
• Partner B, explain this. (There is a point where the quotient comes out evenly with no remainder.) Record.
• Partner A, what type of decimal is the equivalent of 46? (repeating decimal) Record.
• Partner B, explain your thinking. (When you divide 4 and 6, it repeats the same number over and over in the quotient. We write the repeating portion of the decimal with a bar over it. Therefore, 46 should be written as 0.66 because the 66 will repeat continuously.) Record.
• Partner A, take a look at 382 in the table on S49. What do you notice
about its decimal? (After a while, it begins to repeat.) Record.
• Partner B, how would we write the decimal using the bar notation? (0.036585)
• Remember that we know that all ratios in the form of ab are rational numbers. We also concluded that terminating and repeating decimals represent rational numbers. Therefore, if a number is rational and its decimal does not terminate, then it must repeat.
*Teacher Note: Be sure to discuss that sometimes using a calculator to determine decimals can be confusing. If students divide a fraction to find a decimal and notice it does not terminate and also does not repeat, it may just be the view of the calculator. While calculators are very helpful, they may not extend the decimal far enough for us to find the repeating pattern or identify where the decimal terminates. Therefore, it is important to recognize the a over b form to know immediately that a number is rational.
Mathematics Success – Grade 8T102
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
Ordering Irrational Numbers Using the Number Line(M, GP, CP, WG, IP) S50 (Answers on T118.)
M, GP, CP, WG: Have students turn to S50 in their books. In this activity students will apply what they have learned about determining rational values of irrational numbers to order irrational values on a number line. Make sure students know their designation as Partner A or Partner B. {Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer, Graph}
MODELING
Ordering Irrational Numbers Using the Number Line
Step 1: Direct students to the top of S50. • Partner A, explain how this activity is different than the activity on S47.
(In this activity we will be plotting all of the numbers on one number line.)
• Partner B, what is the irrational number in Question 1? (√12). • Partner A, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to
but less than √12? (√9 = 3) Record. • Partner B, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to
but greater than √12? (√16 = 4) Record. • Partner A, explain how to find the rational approximation of √12
using the information from the chart. (We can create a fraction that represents the difference between the number and the lower perfect square - which is the numerator - over the difference between the perfect squares - which is the denominator.) Write your fraction. 3
7 • Partner B, What is the rational approximation in the form of a mixed
number? 337
Record. • Partner A, explain how we know where to plot the point on the number
line. (Divide the numerator by the denominator in the fraction, then add the whole number.)
• Partner B, what is the decimal form? (approximately 3.43) • Partner A, where should the point be plotted? (A bit before the halfway
mark between 3 and 4.) • Have students plot the point and label the point as √12. Step 2: Direct students’ attention to Question 2. • Partner A, what is the irrational number in Question 2? (√35). • Partner B, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to
but less than √35? (√25 = 5) Record. • Partner A, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to
but greater than √35? (√36 = 6) Record.
Mathematics Success – Grade 8 T103
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
• Partner B, explain how to find the rational approximation of √35 using the information from the chart. (We can create a fraction that represents the difference between the number and the lower perfect square - which is the numerator - over the difference between the perfect squares - which is the denominator.) Write your fraction. 10
11 • Partner A, What is the rational approximation in the form of a mixed
number? 51011
Record. • Partner B, explain how we know where to plot the point on the number
line. (Divide the numerator by the denominator in the fraction, then add the whole number.)
• Partner A, what is the decimal form? (5.91) • Partner B, where should the point be plotted? (The point should be
very close to 6 but directly before it.) • Model how to plot the point and label it as √35.
Step 3: Have student pairs complete Questions 3 and 4 and then review the answers as a whole group.
Step 4: • Partner A, now that we’ve plotted our four points, what do you notice about the points? (They are in order from least to greatest.)
• Partner B, why was it helpful to convert the square roots to rational values before plotting them on the number line? Explain your thinking. (Converting the square roots to a rational value gave us a more accurate value to plot on the number line.)
• Partner A, why was it valuable to see them all on a number line instead of simply ordering them from least to greatest? Justify your thinking (It’s very simple to order the square roots from least to greatest because we are looking at the whole numbers. Looking at the values on the number line helps us to see how far apart the decimals really are.)
IP, CP, WG: Have students complete the rest of S50 by writing rational approximations and plotting points for Questions 5 – 8. Be sure to take a moment to review the students’ solutions as a whole group. {Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer, Graph}
Mathematics Success – Grade 8T104
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
Comparing Irrational Numbers (M, GP, CP, WG, IP)S51 (Answers on T119.)
M, GP, CP, WG: Have students turn to S51 in their books. In this activity students will complete the chart to help them understand how to compare irrational numbers abstractly. Make sure students know their designation as Partner A or Partner B. {Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer}
MODELING
Comparing Irrational Numbers
Step 1: Direct students’ attention to Question 1. • Partner A, identify what type of number is on the left of Question 1.
(Irrational) • Partner B, identify what type of number is on the right of Question 1.
(Rational) • Have partners discuss and then explain what we can do to compare these
two numbers? (Find a rational approximation for the number on the left and compare it to the number on the right.)
• Partner A, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to but less than √62? (√49 = 7) Record.
• Partner B, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to but greater than √62? (√64 = 8) Record.
• Partner A, explain how to find the rational approximation of √62. (We can create a fraction that represents the difference between the number and the lower perfect square – which is the numerator – over the difference between the perfect squares – which is the denominator.) Write your fraction. 13
15 • Partner B, What is the rational approximation in the form of a mixed
number? 71315
Record. • Partner A, explain how we can write the approximation as a decimal.
(Divide the numerator by the denominator in the fraction, then add the whole number.)
• Partner B, what place value do we need to look at to compare the two values? (the ones place)
• Partner A, if we compare the place value of the ones, which one is greater? (8.12) Record the less than sign inside of the circle.
Mathematics Success – Grade 8 T105
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
Step 2: Direct students’ attention to Question 2 on S51. • Partner B, what type of number is the number on the left of Question
2? (Irrational) • Partner A, what type of number is the number on the right of Question
2? (Rational) • Explain what we can do to compare these two numbers. (Find a
rational approximation for the number on the left and compare it to the number on the right.)
• Partner B, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to but less than √29? (√25 = 5) Record.
• Partner A, what is the square root and perfect square that is closest to but greater than √29? (√36 = 6) Record.
• Partner B, explain how to find the rational approximation of √29 using the information from the chart. (We can create a fraction that represents the difference between the number and the lower perfect square - which is the numerator - over the difference between the perfect squares - which is the denominator.) Write your fraction. 4
11
• Partner A, What is the rational approximation in the form of a mixed number? 5 4
11 Record.
• Partner B, explain how we can write the approximation as a decimal. (Divide the numerator by the denominator in the fraction, then add the whole number.)
• Partner A, what is the decimal form? (5.36) • Partner B, what is the rational number on the right written as a
decimal? (5.33) • Partner A, if we line up the decimals of 5.36 and 5.33, which one is
greater? (5.36) Record the greater than sign inside of the circle.
IP, CP, WG: Have students complete Questions 3 – 6. After student pairs have completed the activity, review the answers as a whole group. Give students the opportunity to explain and justify their answers to review the process of approximating irrational numbers with rational values.{Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer}
Mathematics Success – Grade 8T106
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers
Ordering Numbers Group Activity (M, GP, CP, WG)T123, T124, T125 for Cards
M, GP, IP, CP, WG: Students will complete this activity to practice all of the skills that they have learned in the lesson. This is a group activity that requires teacher modeling and guiding.
MODELING
Ordering Numbers Group Activity
*Teacher Note: Cutting out the cards ahead of time will make the activity run smoother. Should you have more than 36 students, you may create more cards by simply continuing up the number line with more irrational numbers. You also have the option to have students work in cooperative pairs. Be sure to mix cards so that they are not already in order for students. You will need to create a large classroom number line or use a number line that is available. Students will each be placing their sticky notes above a specific number on the line, so be sure they have enough room to complete the activity. The number line only needs to be labeled from 1 to 7 according to the cards provided. If you add cards that have larger numbers, you may need to adjust your number line.
Step 1: At this time, distribute one card to each student and two sticky notes to each student.
• The first portion of the activity requires students to identify the rational approximation of the irrational square root they are given. Once students have seen what square root they received, ask them to place a sticky note over that square root, as to hide it from other students seeing.
• On this sticky note, students will find the rational approximation of their square root. If necessary, students can look back at S47 as a reference.
• If students need to, they may use the pictorial representation of the counters to help them.
Step 2: At this time, direct students to the second sticky note. • Now, students will need to convert their mixed number into a decimal.
As a class review division of the numerator and denominator to find the decimal.
• On the second sticky note, have students write the original mixed number and the decimal value. Have students stick this to the back of their card so that there is now one sticky note on each side.
Mathematics Success – Grade 8 T107
Step 3: Students will now begin the ordering activity. • At this time, students will begin to form a human number line. Have
students with decimals that are between 1 and 3.5 move to one side of the room and the students with decimals from 3.5 to 7 move to the other side of the room.
• Have students begin ordering themselves by looking at the decimals that they have calculated on the second sticky note.
• Once students are sure that they have their decimals in order from least to greatest, have students discuss with their neighbors the fraction that resulted from the rational approximation. Students standing next to each other should verify each other’s work.
• Finally, start at 1 and have students reveal their original square root. If ordered correctly, the numbers should go in order from least to greatest. Students will be able to check this with their neighbors as they go.
Step 4: Students will now complete the activity with the number line. • Now that students have ordered their numbers and have worked
together to verify the correct approximation for the irrational square roots, we want to see them place their numbers on the number line. On the second sticky note, ask students to now write their original irrational square root. Using their second sticky note, call groups of students to come to the number line and post the note that shows the original number, the mixed number approximation and the decimal.
• After students have posted, it’s great to ask questions about why certain numbers are closer to whole numbers while others are not. The goal of this activity is that students have shown their understanding of approximation, they work with other students to verify solutions and they are able to plot their values on a number line after translating to decimal form.
SOLVE Problem (WG, CP, IP) S52 (Answers on T120.)
Remind students that the SOLVE problem is the same one from the beginning of the lesson. Complete the SOLVE problem with your students. Ask them for possible connections from the SOLVE problem to the lesson. (Students have worked with finding the rational approximation for irrational values and compared and ordered them.) {SOLVE, Verbal Description, Graphic Organizer, Graph}
LESSON 5: Identify, Compare and Order Irrational Numbers