More Algebra

Now I am studying Polynomials.

Here is an example:

6x² - 7x + 1

Here is another example:

10x⁵ + 4x⁴ - 13x³ + .5² - 102

Each part of a Polynomial is called a Monomial. My dad calls them "terms".

The number in front of each term is called a coefficient.

The little numbers above the x's are called exponents.

When x-terms have the same exponent they can be easily combined by adding their coefficients.

For example:

3x⁴ - 17x⁴ = -14x⁴

(-1/3)x⁵ + (1/2)x⁵ = (1/6)x⁵

Two terms or two monomials, make a "binomial". (Bi - means two).

You can also multiply, divide, and factor Polynomials

Car Racing

Last week was my first Pinewood derby.

The Pinewood derby is where you make a wooden car then race it on a ramp.

I won 1st place in my den but I won 3rd against all the Tiger Scouts.

This is my video of my first Pinewood derby ↑.

Linear Equations

In algebra now I'm solving some equations with 2 variables.

For example:

x + y = 10

Here are some of the solutions to this equation:

(1,9)
(-3,13)
(9,1)
(1.5,8.5)
(13,-3)
(1000,-990)
(0,10)
(-33.2,43.2)
.
.
.

As you can see there are infinite solutions (x,y) to this equation. In fact, there are infinite solutions to any equation with an x and y.

The best way to describe these solutions is with a graph.

This graph is always a straight line that extends in both directions to infinity.

The easiest way to draw these lines is by computing the x and y intercepts.

All you have to do is set x equal to 0 and solve for y. Then set y equal to 0 and solve for x.

Then you have two points that you can connect to draw the infinite line!

For example, the intercepts of x + y = 10 are (0,10) and (10,0).

The other common way to graph a line is with slope-intercept form: y = mx + b where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept.

Universal Theme Park

I went to Universal Studios 2 weeks ago in Orlando with my Dad and my sister.

There are 2 parks - Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.

I was there for 8 hours!

I had a lot fun.

These were my favorite rides:

• E.T. ride

• Woody Woodpecker ride

• The Simpsons ride

• Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast

• Flight of the Hippogriff

• Pteranodon Flyers

This picture was taken in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

I went to Mini Golf last week in Flordia.

I went with my dad, my sister, my grandpa, and my dad's godfather.

Watch the video above and see me get a hole in one after my sister got one.

It was fun.

At the end we fed the Alligators. But they didn't eat.