Mad Minute – Simplilfying Radicals
Math 093/095
Instructor: Bill Monroe
Primary Concept:
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Purpose:
Students will demonstrate their ability to use the product and quotient rules to simplify radicals.
Supplies:
paper, pencil, activity sheet, room, normal setting, students working individually
Prompts and time considered:
Prompt
Prompt #1
Explain to your students that you would like to assess their understanding of the concepts used
when simplifying a radical. Ask them to see how many radical expressions they can simplify in
one minute.
2-3 minutes
Students work individually on the 10 problems shown on the activity sheet. After instruction,
students have 1 minute to simplify the radicals. (See activity sheet)
Prompt # 2
Ask students about the problems. Did some seem easy and others for difficult? After some short
discussion ask them “Would you like another minute to see if you can finish more?”. Invariably
they will want another minute.
2-3 minutes
Students work individually on the remaining problems for a second minute.
Prompt #3
Have students select the three most difficult problems. For each of the ten problems on the sheet
determine how many students rated the problem in their “three hardest” problems. From this
activity find a consensus of the three most difficult problems. Have students break into pairs to
discuss one of the three hardest problems. The goal is to get them to share their reasoning and
strategies.
5-10 minutes Students discuss one of the three most difficult problems.
10 minutes
The instructor shows the solutions to all of the problems. Ask students to help you do these.
Attempt to illicit student involvement here.
Total time:
Approximately 20 - 30 minutes
Note:
You can extend this activity to having students create their own problems for the class to work
on.
Mad Minute Activity – Simplifying Radicals
Names:
Working alone, write the answers to as many problems as you can. You only have one Minute!
Don not use a calculator.
1)
49
4) 3 27
7)
x3
9)
27a 3
3
2)
5)
3
8)
10)
25a 2
3)
x6
x6
6)
4 4 12
25
16
3 4 16
a b
a b
Mad Minute Activity for Simplifying Radicals
Turn this page over and begin doing problems when
your teacher says to start.