Daily Homework Assignments:

Wednesday October 17, 2007- No Homework

Thursday October 18, 2007- No Homework

Friday October 19, 2007- No Homework

Have a great weekend.

Parent – Teacher conferences Tuesday October 23, 2007

The next unit in our mathematics class this year is Looking for Pythagoras. This unit focuses on one of the oldest and most important relationships in all of mathematics, the Pythagorean Theorem. This is the relationship that says that in a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the two legs is equal to the square of the length of the longest side, called the hypotenuse. Symbolically, this relationship is a² + b² = c², where a and b are the lengths of the legs and c is the length of the hypotenuse.

Students use this relationship to compute distances between points on maps and coordinate grids. They apply it to finding the lengths of line segments and other distances. For example, they use it to find out how far a helicopter travels from one point to another and how far a catcher must throw a baseball to get a runner out at second base.

Here are some strategies for helping your child during this unit:

· Ask for an explanation of the ideas presented in the text about finding distances. Help your child to find some examples of right triangles at home or in your community and to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of one side of a right triangle when the other two are known or can be measured.

· Discuss with you child how the Pythagorean Theorem is applied by people in some careers, such as carpenters, architects, and pilots.

· Encourage your child’s effort in completing all homework assignments. Look over the homework, making sure that all questions are answered and that explanations are clear.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about this unit or your child’ progress, please feel free to call. We want to be sure that this year’s mathematics experiences are enjoyable and promote a firm understanding of mathematics.