Wednesday, August 29, 2007

An Algebra 2 Sign with 'Composite' Meanings...


Ask your students for a couple of reasons why this might be hanging up in a math classroom!

5 comments:

Jackie Ballarini said...

I love it!!!! Can I have your permission to reproduce it for my classrooms?

Beans said...

Haha. :D Although, GOF would be better suited for me. (So that I don't forget the order... right to left pfft!)

Dave Marain said...

jackie--
Of course you may use it - it's not like I invented the sign!

beans--
I like your alphabetical mnemonic but it would kind of lift that fog wouldn't it? On a more serious note, I remind students to always think of it as f(g(4)). Using normal order of operations, g should be applied first. Students often see it as working from the 'inside out.'

Anonymous said...

There are areas along I-91 just a bit north of New Haven that are low-lying, and have those signs. When I was a kid the local radio station used to pretend it was a place name, Foggaria, sort of like Logorhea or Gaseteria. They had little news stories about the Mayor of Fogarea, the schools in Fogarea, parades in Fogarea etc, etc...

Makes it hard to concentrate on math.

Anonymous said...

Composition of functions is ok, but when you have permutations it is easier to make mistakes. (Well it is when you have to write a perm as a disjoint cycle!!)

I met spoke to someone once who defined it to be the other way round, so FOG would be just right for them. ;) (Although that was most confusing).