Postal polynomials
In this lesson, students use polynomials to solve problems, and discuss how polynomials are relevant in some careers.
A lesson plan for grade 9 Mathematics
Provided by CareerStart
Essential question: How might a postal worker use polynomials to determine whether boxes of different sizes meet the post office’s shipping requirements?
Learning outcomes
Students will practice finding the length and girth of boxes.
Teacher planning
Materials needed
- Polynomials worksheet (Answer key included)
- Overhead copy of polynomials worksheet
- Overhead projector
- Calculator for each student
Time required for lesson
One class period
Pre-activities
Students should be familiar with adding and subtracting polynomials.
Activities
- Ask students how many of them have ever tried to ship a package through the post office or UPS. What kinds of size restrictions are placed on the packages? (5 minutes)
- Review adding and subtracting polynomials with students. (5 minutes)
- Put students in groups of no more than three, and hand out the polynomials worksheet. Explain that students will assume that they are postal workers trying to make sure that the girth of various boxes will meet postal shipping regulations. (2 minutes)
- Have students work through the worksheets in their groups. (30 minutes)
- Once students have finished with the calculations of the boxes, tell them that a girth of only 120 inches is allowed. Have them go back and find the highest value of x that would allow that package to be shipped. (10 minutes)
- Discuss with students how other careers might need to use polynomials. One other example might be farmers. For more details, see “Career Information” below. If students need help brainstorming careers, you may choose to access the following websites:
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ K-12 career home page
- CareerOneStop.org
Career information
Some of the information below comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Postal workers
- Postal clerks work in the post office sorting mail and assisting customers by weighing packages for postage, making sure the packages are the correct size and properly labeled, selling stamps, certifying and insuring letters and packages, and filing claims for damaged packages. A mail carrier delivers mail each day on a route. Polynomials can be used to determine if a package meets the size requirements.
- Education: High-school diploma and successful completion of postal service exam
- Pay: $25,000 - $55,000
- Important considerations: Can take up to a year after passing the exam to get a job
- Farmers
- Farmers are self-employed and usually grow crops or raise livestock. Most farms are small with four or fewer workers. Farms that grow crops require many hours of work during the planting and harvesting seasons. Workers must be in the field plowing, planting, fertilizing, and harvesting up to seven days a week. On farms raising livestock, the animals must be tended daily. Polynomials can be used for determining the size of the fields based on distance between each row of plants.
- Education: None to a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in agriculture
- Pay: $14,000 to $49,000
- Growth: Declining; 8% decrease over the next 10 years
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Mathematics (2004)
Grade 9–12 — Algebra 1
- Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will perform operations with numbers and expressions to solve problems.
- Objective 1.02: Use formulas and algebraic expressions, including iterative and recursive forms, to model and solve problems.
