X-box Factoring

mdmdavis	Posted 2/11/2009 9:22 AM (#2388) Subject: X-box Factoring
Math Posts: 108 Location: Henry Clay	Been a long time since I've gotten "excited" over factoring.....But I am now! I have always used FOIL for multiplying and mostly guess and check for factoring. I saw the box method on here for Ch 4. So I showed my Alg 1 kids both FOIL and the box method. I let them choose which they preferred. Well, when test time came, the kids who used the box did SO much better than the kids who did FOIL....hmmm must be something to this! I went back and taught/made everyone do the box method. Then I research how to do factoring with the box. Hence the x-box method. So far the kids are doing well!!! Here is a link to a powerpoint to explain the process. jaegeralgebra.wikispaces.com/file/view/Jaeger.ppt Oh, before I started this, I spent a whole day doing x puzzles with them. They are on the ilovemath site under Algebr, polynomials and factoring. They are called sum and product pre-factoring puzzles. Edited by mdmdavis 2/11/2009 9:30 AM Attachments ---------------- xbox factoring day 1.docx (59KB - 771 downloads) xbox factoring day 2.docx (30KB - 768 downloads)
bdurham	Posted 2/11/2009 10:31 AM (#2389 - in reply to #2388) Subject: RE: X-box Factoring
Math Posts: 24 Location: LTMS	For non-monic quadratics (a>1), I have students find the factor pair for a*c that has a sum (or difference, if c<0) of b, then split the "bx" term into these two parts, then use grouping. This seems to be much easier (and shorter) than trial-and-error.
mdmdavis	Posted 2/12/2009 8:46 AM (#2390 - in reply to #2388) Subject: RE: X-box Factoring
Math Posts: 108 Location: Henry Clay	xbox is a version of splitting the middle term....It's just very visual! We even started on day one with having a leading coeffiecient.
slubbe	Posted 2/17/2009 2:15 PM (#2394 - in reply to #2388) Subject: RE: X-box Factoring
Math Posts: 76 Location: PL Dunbar	I have been using the box method as we refer to it, for the last 5 years or so, the kids love it, it really helps them visualize the concept of factoring and it works for everything. Love it!
jbakewell	Posted 3/10/2009 4:47 PM (#2407 - in reply to #2388) Subject: RE: X-box Factoring
Math Posts: 30 Location: Lafayette	I really like this concept...I have heard of the "x-box" method before (by some version of that name) but have never seen it used. The powerpoint was really helpful in illustrating the method. Thank you for sharing! I may incorporate this in my factoring lesson if not I'll definitely use it next year!
kgillum	Posted 2/25/2010 9:06 AM (#2735 - in reply to #2388) Subject: RE: X-box Factoring
Counts on fingers & toes Posts: 15	Oh wow! I've never heard of this x-box method, and here I am a year later looking at the topic. I could've used this method this year, but hadn't checked out all the posts prior to now. Too bad, but it looks like a GREAT method for next year! By the way, I love MILC-just wish I had been using the forum sooner!
pgarr	Posted 10/28/2010 1:00 PM (#2868 - in reply to #2388) Subject: RE: X-box Factoring
Math Posts: 9 Location: SCAPA	I have seen students use the x-box factoring but have never 'taught' it. I do plan on beginning my unit this year demonstrating this method and analayze whether students are more successful. I have a feeling they will locate factors more quickly. Thanks for the link.
mgraves	Posted 1/19/2011 2:29 PM (#2878 - in reply to #2388) Subject: RE: X-box Factoring
Math Posts: 42 Location: Bryan Station	Melissa, I love the power point! I certainly will share it with my staff
mgraves	Posted 1/19/2011 2:30 PM (#2879 - in reply to #2388) Subject: RE: X-box Factoring
Math Posts: 42 Location: Bryan Station	OOPS Paula I see you sent this not melissa it is great!!!