Black History Math
Factoring Review
Practice factoring to solve quadratic
equations and reduce rational
expressions while learning about
important US history!
Name:
Black History Sheet– A Review of Factoring Quadratics
Date:
Directions: Answer the math question in the left column, showing all work. Then match the answer to
the important historical fact on the right.
Math Problem:
1. Solve:
Historical Fact:
1. In 1893, this man was the first person to
successfully perform heart surgery. Because he was
black, he was not allowed to work or receive
treatment in most hospitals. Upset by this, “he
opened Provident Hospital in Chicago,” which
“accepted doctors and patients of all colors.”
x2 – 64 = 0
A.
x = {± 8}
B. x = 8
Daniel Hale Williams
Henry “Box” Brown
C. x = {± 32} Crispus Attucks
(source: #1)
2. Simplify:
2
𝑥 +𝑥
5𝑥 + 5
2. During the Civil War, this slave took a “heavily
armed Confederate ship and delivered its 17 black
passengers (nine men, five women and three children)
from slavery to freedom.” The Union army gladly
accepted the ship and paid him a reward large enough
to purchase his family’s freedom and eventually his
former slave owner’s house. He spoke with President
Lincoln and the Secretary of War, helping to convince
them to enlist black soldiers in the Union army – a step
that was crucial in abolishing slavery and helping the
Union win the Civil War. He became the first black
captain of an American ship and later served five terms
as a Congressman in the House of Representatives
A. x + 1
B.
B.
𝑥
5
Dred Scott
Robert Smalls
x
Matthew Henson
(source: #1 and #2)
3. Solve:
2
x + x = 12
3. This “conductor” of the Underground Railroad is
famous for risking her life to deliver over 300 slaves
into freedom. She also played an important role in
helping the Union win the Civil War by acting as a
nurse, cook, and spy. The information she delivered to
the Union army led to many military victories. She was
buried with full military honors in Auburn, New York for
her work.
A. x = {-3, 4}
Bessie Coleman
B. x = {-4, 3} Harriet Tubman
C. x = {-2, 6}
Sojourner Truth
(source: #1 and #3)
4.
Reduce:
𝑥2 − 4
2𝑥 + 4
4. In 1921 this woman received an international pilot’s
license in France, allowing her to fly anywhere in the
world. At that time, no women of any color were
allowed to attend flight school in the United States.
A.
B.
C.
𝑥 −1
2
𝑥− 2
2
𝑥
2
(source: #1)
Marian Anderson
Bessie Coleman
Althea Gibson
5. Solve:
2
15x + 30x = 0
5. It was this year that nine African-American students
“attended classes in Little Rock’s Central High School
under the protection of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne
Division.” Little Rock’s Governor tried to use the
National Guard to keep the “Little Rock Nine” out. In
order to avoid integration, the governor closed every
school in the city for the entire next school year.
A. x = 2
1952
B. x = 1
1961
C. x = {-2, 0}
1957
(source: #1)
6. Solve:
2x2 = x + 15
6. On August 30, 1983, this person became the first
black astronaut to launch into space.
A.
5
2
x = { - , 3}
B. x = { -3,
Guion “Guy” Bluford
5
}
2
Wilma Rudolph
3
2
Ernest Green
C. x = { -5, }
(source: #1)
Challenge:
All of the people in the multiple choice options are very important people in history. Research these
important people who were not the answers. Then create at least 2 of your own math problems similar to
the ones above using those people, and others, as multiple choice options.
Made by The Stat Lady with the help of the following sources:
1.
Smith Jr, Charles R. 28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World. New York: Roaring
Book Press, 2015. Print.
2.
Gates Jr, Henry Louis. “Which Slave Sailed Himself to Freedom?” Pbs.org. Accessed Feb 25, 2018.
3.
Pbs.org. “Africans in America: Harriet Tubman.” Accessed Feb 25, 2018.
Answer Key
Black History Sheet– A Review of Factoring Quadratics
Math Problem:
7. Solve:
Historical Fact:
2. In 1893, this man was the first person to
successfully perform heart surgery. Because he was
black, he was not allowed to work or receive
treatment in most hospitals. Upset by this, “he
opened Provident Hospital in Chicago,” which
“accepted doctors and patients of all colors.”
x2 – 64 = 0
D. x = {± 8}
Daniel Hale Williams ANSWER
E. x = 8
Henry “Box” Brown
F. x = {± 32} Crispus Attucks
(source: #1)
8. Simplify:
2
𝑥 +𝑥
5𝑥 + 5
2. During the Civil War, this slave took a “heavily
armed Confederate ship and delivered its 17 black
passengers (nine men, five women and three children)
from slavery to freedom.” The Union army gladly
accepted the ship and paid him a reward large enough
to purchase his family’s freedom and eventually his
former slave owner’s house. He spoke with President
Lincoln and the Secretary of War, helping to convince
them to enlist black soldiers in the Union army – a step
that was crucial in abolishing slavery and helping the
Union win the Civil War. He became the first black
captain of an American ship and later served five terms
as a Congressman in the House of Representatives
D. x + 1
B.
E.
𝒙
𝟓
x
Dred Scott
Robert Smalls ANSWER
Matthew Henson
(source: #1 and #2)
9. Solve:
2
x + x = 12
3. This “conductor” of the Underground Railroad is
famous for risking her life to deliver over 300 slaves
into freedom. She also played an important role in
helping the Union win the Civil War by acting as a
nurse, cook, and spy. The information she delivered to
the Union army led to many military victories. She was
buried with full military honors in Auburn, New York for
her work.
D. x = {-3, 4}
Bessie Coleman
B. x = {-4, 3} Harriet Tubman ANSWER
F. x = {-2, 6}
Sojourner Truth
(source: #1 and #3)
10.Reduce:
𝑥2 − 4
2𝑥 + 4
4. In 1921 this woman received an international pilot’s
license in France, allowing her to fly anywhere in the
world. At that time, no women of any color were
allowed to attend flight school in the United States.
A.
E.
F.
𝑥 −1
2
𝒙− 𝟐
𝟐
𝑥
2
Marian Anderson
Bessie Coleman ANSWER
Althea Gibson
(source: #1)
11. Solve:
2
15x + 30x = 0
5. It was this year that nine African-American students
“attended classes in Little Rock’s Central High School
under the protection of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne
Division.” Little Rock’s Governor tried to use the
National Guard to keep the “Little Rock Nine” out. In
order to avoid integration, the governor closed every
school in the city for the entire next school year.
D. x = 2
1952
E. x = 1
1961
F. x = {-2, 0}
(source: #1)
1957 ANSWER
12. Solve:
2x2 = x + 15
6. On August 30, 1983, this person became the first
black astronaut to launch into space.
𝟓
D. x = { - 𝟐 , 𝟑}
E. x = { -3,
5
}
2
3
F. x = { -5, 2}
(source: #1)
Guion “Guy” Bluford ANSWER
Wilma Rudolph
Ernest Green