Announcements

Welcome to Mrs. Barrett's Math Class!

EXAM SCHEDULE 4th 9 WEEKS 2013
Friday May 17 
Monday May 20  
Tuesday May 21 
Wednesday May 22  
 




Combining Like Terms Lessons

A term is a constant or a variable in an expression. In the equation 
12+3x+2x2=5x-1, the terms on the left are 12, 3x and 2x2, while the terms on 
the right are 5x, and -1.
Combining Like Terms is a process used to simplify an expression or an 
equation using addition and subtraction of the coefficients of terms. 
Consider the expression below

5 + 7
By adding 5 and 7, you can easily find that the expression is equivalent to

12
What Does Combining Like Terms Do?

Algebraic expressions can be simplified like the example above by Combining 
Like Terms. Consider the algebraic expression below:

12x + 7 + 5x
As you will soon learn, 12x and 5x are like terms. Therefore the 
coefficients, 12 and 5, can be added. This is a simple example of Combining 
Like Terms.

17x + 7
What are Like Terms?

The key to using and understanding the method of Combining Like Terms is to 
understand like terms and be able to identify when a pair of terms is a pair 
of like terms. Some examples of like terms are presented below.

The following are like terms because each term consists of a single variable, 
x, and a numeric coefficient.
2x, 45x, x, 0x, -26x, -x
Each of the following are like terms because they are all constants.
15, -2, 27, 9043, 0.6
Each of the following are like terms because they are all y2 with a 
coefficient.
3y2, y2, -y2, 26y2
For comparison, below are a few examples of unlike terms.

The following two terms both have a single variable with an exponent of 1, 
but the terms are not alike since different variables are used.
17x, 17z
Each y variable in the terms below has a different exponent, therefore these 
are unlike terms.
15y, 19y2, 31y5
Although both terms below have an x variable, only one term has the y 
variable, thus these are not like terms either.
19x, 14xy



PARENT AND STUDENT INFORMATION LETTER 2012-2013


WELCOME TO BOYET JUNIOR HIGH
Mrs. Barrett’s Math Class
SUPPLIES
Sharpened pencils
Notebook or binder
Red pens or markers
MATERIALS
A free Practice workbook and a NoteTaking guide have been issued. A 
replacement of either is $5.00. There is  limited supply of workbooks, so it 
is important that the student keep up with them.
ASSIGNMENTS
  The assignments will be on Teacher Web. In case of computer failure at 
home, the students will be required to write their assignments for the week 
in their notebook on the first day of the week. Occasionally the assignments 
will change during the week. The students will be responsible for making 
these adjustments.
Homework is for practice on skills that will be tested later. It will not be 
graded for accuracy, but for effort and completion. These assignments are 
worth 10 points for completed assignments. A zero will be given for 
incomplete work or no work.
Class work grades are worth 25 points. 
Quizzes are worth 50 points.
Tests are worth 100 points.
Occasionally, extra credit will be given. These points will be added before 
the daily average.
80% of the report card grade will be the average of tests, quizzes, 
classwork, etc. 20% of the report card grade is the 9 weeks exam.
It is the student’s responsibility to see me for any missed work. I will 
follow the St. Tammany Parish school board guidelines for makeup work missed 
due to a child’s absence.
RULES
1)	I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY WORK IN PEN!!! PENCIL ONLY!!!

2)	I do not give or loan supplies. The student is responsible for all 
of their supplies. They should not depend on their classmates to supply them 
with what they need.

3)	 Pencils should be sharpened before the tardy bell rings.

4)	Homework should be on their desk before the tardy bell rings.

5)	No one will be allowed to leave the room for water, restroom or to 
retrieve belongings left in another class or in the locker.

6)	Students should not pack up their book bags for the next class until 
I instruct them to do so.

7)	I will dismiss them from class, not the bell or anyone on the 
intercom.

8)	Talking or any other form of communication with another student 
during a test will be considered cheating. This will result in a zero for 
that grade.

9)	Students are asked to bring a novel to read after testing.


BEHAVIOR
State law does not allow a student to interfere with teaching or learning. 
Therefore, misbehavior will not be tolerated. If correction is necessary, I 
will use parental contact, alternative learning, lunch detentions and office 
referrals as a means of correcting misbehavior.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you need to contact me, I have found e-mail is the quickest way I can 
respond. But please feel free to call the office and leave a message for me 
and I will contact you as soon as possible.
e-mai:  nyla.barrett@stpsb.org
phone: 985-643-3775 
I look forward to a successful year with your child!

Sincerely,
Nyla Barrett