Board Approved – April 24, 2003

Benchmark III – Grades 8-10

 

EALR #1: The student understands and applies the concepts and procedures of mathematics.

 

Components

8-10 Benchmark

Number Sense

  • Understand and use properties and symbolic representations of rational numbers, powers, and roots.

 

  • Compare and order rational numbers, powers, and roots.

 

  • Understand concepts of and use processes involving prime and composite numbers, factors and multiples, and divisibility.

 

  • Understand and apply the concepts of ratio and both direct and inverse proportion.

 

  • Understand operations on rational numbers, powers, and roots.

 

  • Compute with rational numbers, powers, and roots.

 

  • Use mental arithmetic, pencil and paper, calculator, or computer as appropriate to the task involving real numbers.

 

  • Identify situations involving rational numbers, powers, and roots in which estimation is sufficient and computation is not required.

 

  • Use estimation to predict computation results and to determine the reasonableness of answers involving real numbers, for example, estimating the interest on a loan.

Measurement

  • Understand how changes in dimension affect perimeter, area, and volume.

 

  • Measure objects and events directly or use indirect methods such as finding the volume of a cone given its height and diameter.

 

  • Calculate rate and other derived and indirect measurements.

 

  • Understand that the precision and accuracy of measurement are affected by the measurement tools and calculating procedures.

 

  • Know when to estimate and use estimation to obtain reasonable approximations, for example, estimating how much paint is needed to paint the walls of a classroom.

 

  • Understand the benefits of standard units of measurement and the advantages of the metric system.

 

  • Compare, contrast, and use both the U.S. system and metric system.

 

  • Select and use tools that will provide an appropriate degree of precision and accuracy for the situation, for example, using kilometers vs. light years.

Geometric Sense

  • Use geometric properties and relationships to compare, contrast, describe, and classify 2- and 3- dimensional geometric figures.

 

  • Construct geometric models and scale drawings using tools as appropriate, for example, building a model of a bridge.

 

  • Understand and use properties of symmetry, congruence, and similarity.

 

  • Perform complex geometric constructions using a variety of tools and technologies, such as paper folding, computer software, straightedge, compass.

 

  • Understand and use coordinate grids.

 

  • Understand and apply multiple geometric transformations using combinations of translations, reflections, and/or rotations.

Probability and Statistics

  • Understand the properties of dependent and independent events.
  • Understand and use appropriate counting procedures to determine probabilities.

 

  • Use both experimental and theoretical methods to determine probabilities.

 

  • Collect data using appropriate methods and technology.

 

  • Organize and display data in appropriate forms, such as tables, graphs, scatter plots, and box and whisker plots.

 

  • Calculate and use the different measures of central tendency, variability, and range as appropriate to describe data.

 

  • Use statistics to support different points of view, for example, in a debate or a position paper.

 

  • Predict outcomes and design and conduct experiments to verify or disprove predictions.

 

  • Understand and make inferences based on the analysis of experimental results, statistical data, and graphical representations.

Algebraic Sense

  • Recognize, extend, and create complex patterns and sequences.

 

  • Generalize and express rules describing patterns and sequences.

 

  • Translate among tabular, symbolic, and graphical representations of relations using =, ?, >, <, ³ , =

 

  • Use variables to write expressions, equations, and inequalities.

 

  • Simplify and evaluate expressions and formulas.

 

  • Solve equations and inequalities.

 

EALR #2: The student uses mathematics to define and solve problems.

 

Components

8-10 Benchmark

Investigate situations

  • Investigate complex situations that involve more than one step or variable in order to reach a solution.

 

  • Develop, use, and explain a variety of strategies and approaches (e.g. work backwards, draw diagrams, make charts, graphs, and tables, use formulas and technology).

 

  • Recognize when a problem can't be solved and state the needed information in order to solve it.

 

  • Recognize when an approach is unproductive and try a new approach.

Formulate questions and define the problem

  • Define problems and determine which questions need to be answered in complex situations.
  • Identify the unknowns in complex, open-ended problem situations.

Construct solutions

  • Determine which materials, information, strategies, and variables could be used to solve complex, open-ended problems.

 

  • Select and use tools that are appropriate to solve a complex problem.

 

  • Organize relevant information in a manner consistent with solving problems.

 

EALR #3: The student uses mathematical reasoning.

 

Components

8-10 Benchmark

Analyze information

  • Compare, contrast, and interpret information from a variety of sources.

 

  • Evaluate the validity of statements by providing support or creating a counter-example.

Predict results

  • Make conjectures, predictions, and inferences based on analysis of new problem situations.

Draw conclusions and verify results

  • Defend the validity of a conclusion by citing multiple sources.
  • Analyze results of others and determine if they are correct.

 

  • Reflect on and evaluate procedures and results in a problem situation.

 

EALR #4: The student communicates knowledge and understanding in both everyday and mathematical language.

 

Components

8-10 Benchmark

Gather information

  • Develop a plan for collecting and organizing relevant information.

 

  • Integrate information from a variety of sources (e.g. internet, surveys, newspapers, etc.).

Organize and interpret information

  • Use tables, graphs, and charts as appropriate to convey meaning in a given complex situation.
  • Reflect on processes and results in writing or through discussion.

Represent and share information

  • Apply mathematical language and notation to represent and communicate findings to others.
  • Explain or represent complex mathematical data for different audiences or purposes (e.g. tell a story relating a velocity graph or displacement graph to real world situations).

 

EALR #5: The student understands how mathematical ideas connect within mathematics, to other subject areas, and to real-life situations.

 

Components

8-10 Benchmark

Relate concepts and procedures within mathematics

  • Relate and use conceptual and procedural understandings among multiple mathematical content areas (e.g. shift geometric probability problems from a diagram to coordinate grid and then use algebra to solve the problems).
  • Demonstrate the relationships between ideas in mathematics using equivalent mathematical models and representations (e.g. direct variation, slope, tangent).

Relate mathematical concepts and procedures to other disciplines

  • Apply mathematical approaches to solve quantitative, spatial, or data-based problems in other content areas.
  • Analyze and discuss the contributions of men, women, and members of other cultures to mathematics.

Related mathematical concepts and procedures to real life situations

  • Identify situations in which mathematics can be used to solve problems with local, national, or international implications such as calculating resources necessary for interstate highway maintenance.
  • Investigate the mathematical knowledge and training requirements for occupational/career areas of interest.