Eighth graders, and students taking New Trier Math are required to purchase the TI-Nspire CAS Handheld with Touchpad. You may also purchase the TI-Nspire CX CAS Handheld with Touchpad.

• From what I understand, these are not available at normal stores.  If you find one, please let me know!
• The best price I've seen for the TI-Nspire CAS with Touchpad is at www.schoolmart.com (122.49 + s/h).
• Schoolmart also offers the TI-Nspire CX CAS for $138.45 + s/h.
• It will also be available at the NT bookstore, but I'm unsure of their price.
• Please make sure that your calculator is black, says CAS, and has the touchpad.
• Gray, dark-blue, and gray-blue calculators are not good.
• A calculator with a Clickpad is also not ideal.

Should I buy a TI-Nspire CAS or a TI-Nspire CX CAS?

• The TI-Nspire CAS Handheld with Touchpad does not come with a rechargebable battery.  It requires 4AAA batteries, which usually get replaced at least twice a year.  You may purchase an internal rechargeable battery for about $12.50.  It also has a black and white screen.
• The CX version costs $16 more. It comes with a rechargeable battery and has a color LCD screen.
• Both calculators have the exact same software and functionality.
• Pick the calculator which is best for you.

If anyone finds a better price, or a better website, please let me know.  I'd love to share it with everyone.

Please do not open your calculator before the first day of school. Every year, some unfortunate student purchases the wrong calculator by accident, throws away the packaging, and is unable to return it to the retailer.  Then they have to spend their money all over again and purchase the correct calculator.  This is a frustrating experience for everyone.

Instead, show Mr. Minsley your calculator before opening the package.  This is a fail-safe method of making sure that you won't be stuck with the wrong calculator.

If you choose to ignore my warning and open the calculator up before the first day of school, then please do not throw away the packaging from your calculator. If you look very carefully, you will find "50 TI Technology Points." The school can trade in these points for free products from Texas Instruments.  They are very valuable.  Please bring them in to Mr. Minsley.

Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any further questions,

--Josh Minsley
District Math Coordinator
8th Grade Math Teacher

In 6th and 7th grade, students taking math at Marie Murphy are required to use the TI-34 Multiview calculator.  You should be able to find this online or in stores for under $20.00

Today the Data Analysis and Probability group studied Permutations and Combinations.

Permutations are picking groups where the order matters, and each position is unique.  One example we used today was:  President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary are unique positions.

Combinations are picking groups were order does not matter.  For example, if a basketball team has 12 players, but can only play 5 at a time, it doesn't matter if you are picked first or last, you still get to play.

We write permutations with nPr, where n is the total number of objects, and r is the amount you are picking.

We write combinations with nCr.

In your notes today we also got some equations for computing nPr and nCr.  Please refer to your notes when working on your assignment.

Your worksheet will be due on January 31 at the end of the day.

Please skip the following problems:
13.2:  19 - 24, 27 parts b-d, and 28.
13.3:  10 - 15 and 21 part b.

To kick off the 2nd trimester, the Number Sense group is working on 4 quizzes from Study Island.

Your username and password are the standard MM credentials.

Based on the work you turned in last trimester, you all know how to do the math.  That is great!  What we all need to focus on is reading the problems carefully, and identifying the key words and phrases.  Every problem you got wrong, you did the correct math, but solved a different question!

You must pass all 4 quizzes to earn your grade for this week.

If you ask me, I will reset your score.  This is useful when you get a bunch of questions wrong and are trying to raise your percent.

Today the Geometry lesson of the week was introduced in Viking Time.  The completed packet will be due to Mr. Minsley by the end of the school day on October 20.

If you have any questions on the packet, feel free to post questions right here.

A pdf of the packet will be available soon (just in case you lose yours).

The first week of subgroups is over Data Analysis and Probability.

If you get stuck on any of the problems, feel free to post questions here.

Click here to download or print a copy of the packet.

Completed packets are due to Mr. Minsley no later than Tuesday, 10/11.

Due to a change in our V/T schedule for the week, the MAP groups will begin homework assignments next week.

Additionally, whichever group has an assignment will also be required to attend Viking Time that Tuesday.

Check back on Monday 9/19 for the first assignments.

Update:  08/25

It was brought to my attention that Amazon.com has the TI-Nspire CAS with Clickpad on sale for $65.00.

The Clickpad model was the first version of the Nspire.  The major difference is that the alphabet keys are green, and spread throughout the calculator keyboard.  In the newer version, the alphabet keys are all together on the bottom of the keyboard.  (You can see what I mean by clicking on the link to Amazon.com.)

The downside of this calculator is that your fingers sometimes slip and hit a letter instead of a number.  Otherwise, the software and hardware inside is identical to the other 2 calculators.

It was also brought to my attention, that if you purchase the TI-Nspire CAS with Touchpad at the New Trier bookstore, the cost after tax is somewhere around $188.00.  If anyone has more exact information, please let me know.

The rest of the original information about purchasing calculators can be found below.

----------------------------

I know that school just got out, but I've heard that some people have begun shopping for their 8th grade calculator.  Here are a few tips and pointers:

You are looking for the TI-Nspire CAS Handheld with Touchpad.

• From what I understand, it is not available at normal stores.  If you find one, please let me know!
• The best price I've seen is at www.schoolmart.com (122.49 + s/h).
• It will also be available at the NT bookstore, but I'm unsure of their price.
• Please make sure that your calculator is black, says CAS, and has the touchpad.
• Gray, dark-blue, and gray-blue calculators are not good.
• A calculator with a Clickpad is also not ideal.
• The new calculators have an optional rechargeable battery.  In my opinion, this is a good investment

There is also a new TI Nspire CX CAS available this fall.

• It has a color screen.
• Comes with a rechargeable battery pre-installed.
• And uses the identical operating system as the TI-NSpire CAS with Touchpad.
• It costs $138.45 at www.schoolmart.com but if you were planning on purchasing a rechargeable battery, the cost difference is minimal.
• This is an acceptable substitute for the TI-Nspire CAS with Touchpad.

If anyone finds a better price, or a better website, please let me know.  I'd love to share it with the rest of you.

Finally:  Please save the packaging from your calculator. If you look very carefully, you will find "50 TI Technology Points." The school can trade in these points for free products from Texas Instruments.  They are very valuable.  Please bring them in to Mr. Minsley.

Have a good summer,

--Josh Minsley
8th Grade Math Teacher

Tonight for homework please complete your personal math survey.   The survey will be due at the start of class tomorrow.  Here is a link for the survey if you did not bring home a paper copy:  Math Survey

You have two options for turning in your survey:

1.  E-mail:  If you choose to e-mail me the assignment (and conserve paper) please put your first name, last initial, and period in the subject heading.  (For example:  1st:  Josh M)

2.  Paper:  You may also turn in a printed copy at the start of class tomorrow.  Typed answers are preferred.  Neat handwriting is acceptable.

This work will help me to learn about you as an individual.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/gavoca37.org/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dHhVeVZGZEdsU2RPb3IycWl5TzFnemc6MA#gid=0

https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/gavoca37.org/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDJHRnFScF80ODJ2dE94QVhmSXJDMHc6MA#gid=0

https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/gavoca37.org/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGlsNjlZRW9LUUlKZEhqNDRxVTdaYXc6MA#gid=0

https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/gavoca37.org/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGR0YXdMcldOaEZabGZHbmhYQ1NVWGc6MA#gid=0