Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
APPLICATIONS OF ALGEBRA
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APPLICATIONS OF ALGEBRA
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Subject: Additional Mathematics
Class: SHS 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 13
Grade code: 1.1.2.LI.1
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 1.1.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 1.1.2.LI.1
Theme: MODELLING WITH ALGEBRA
Subtheme: APPLICATIONS OF ALGEBRA
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Welcome, learners! In our daily lives, we often face problems with more than one unknown quantity. For instance, a trader at Makola Market needs to know the individual price of oranges and mangoes she bought together in a mixed box. An event planner needs to figure out the cost per adult and per child for a party. Algebra gives us a powerful tool to solve these real-world puzzles. This lesson is about learning how to translate everyday "story problems" into the language of mathematics, specifically into a pair of linear equations, and then solving them to find the answers we need.
This topic combines two skills you have learned before: translating words into algebra and solving simultaneous equations. Today, we will master the process of using them together to solve practical problems.
What is "Modelling"? In mathematics, modelling is the process of representing a real-world situation using mathematical terms, like variables, equations, and functions. Today, our models will be systems of two linear equations.
The Four-Step Process for Solving Word Problems
We will use a reliable four-step process: Define Variables: Identify what you need to find and represent these unknown values with variables (e.g., `let x = ...`, `let y = ...`). Formulate Equations: Read the problem carefully and translate the sentences into two distinct mathematical equations using your variables. Solve the System: Use an appropriate algebraic method (elimination or substitution) to find the numerical values of your variables. State the Answer: Write your final answer as a clear sentence that answers the original question, including units (like GHS, cm, years, etc.).