Songs to Make Math More Fun
Arkansas Curriculum Conference 2015
Date: Thursday, 11/3/16
Time: 1:50p.m. – 2:50p.m. (1 hour of professional development)
Facilitator:
Ronnie Flowers
--Regional Director for Arkansas State Teachers Association
 Non-profit, non-partisan, professional association of school employees not affiliated with labor
unions, $2 million legal liability policy, grant & scholarship opportunities, and much more.
 www.astapro.org –Only $16.50 per month ($198 per year)
Address: ASTA, 6301 C Street, Suite 1, Little Rock, AR 72205
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number for ASTA Office: 1-877-742-ASTA
Ronnie’s Cell Phone: 1-479-236-6609 (Call or text)
--Northwest Arkansas Mathcounts Coordinator (www.mathcounts.org)
--Texas Instruments TFAS Certified (Technology For All Students)
Ti-Cares phone number for any problems: 1-800-TICARES
Texas Instruments website with current downloads, updates, and activities: http://education.ti.com.
Description of workshop:
Many songs will be presented to help teach math concepts. Most of the songs teach Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and
Geometry concepts. Come expecting to sing. Handouts of all the songs will be given and many will be
demonstrated.
You Tube Channel—Type in “Ronnie Flowers Math Songs”—Please subscribe to my channel to get notice of
new songs added.
Contents
(number represents number on CD)
Page Number
1)Multiplying Integers, 2)Rates and Ratios, 3)PEMDAS, 4)Parentheses
5)Circle Rap, 6)Cancelling, 7)Solve an Equation
8)We Will Graph You, 9)Y=MX+B, 10)Graphing Lines is Like Child’s Play
11)Lonely Graph, 12)Quadratic Formula, 13)Distance Formula, 14)Midpoint Formula (Tender)
15)Midpoint Formula (Hound Dog), 16)Factoring, 17)Binomial Squared
18)Twelve Days of Factoring, 19)Exponent Rules
20)Equation of the Line From Two Points, 21)Start of a Linear Equation, 22)Slope
23)Solve Systems of Equation, 24)Problem Solving, 25)Trig Ratios, Soh Cah Toa
26)Pythagorean Theorem, 27)CPCTC, 28)Parallel Lines Cut by Transversal
29)COIC PAAM, 30)Geometry, 31)Horizontal Asymptote
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Basic Math Songs
1. Multiplying integers—Chant (Adapted from workshop)
Verse 1
A negative times a negative is a, positive.
A negative times a positive is a, negative.
A negative times a negative is a, positive.
These are the rules for signs.
Verse 2
If the signs are the same, you get a positive,
But if they’re different, you get a negative.
If the signs are the same, you get a positive,
Now, these are the rules for signs.
2. Rates and Ratios—”Heartbreak Hotel”
(Adapted from workshop)
Verse 1
Rates are measured different,
And Ratios measure same,
And if you have a ratio you just simplify.
Chorus
Well, welcome to math class, welcome to math class,
You can do it if you try.
Verse 2
Now, if you have a rate, And you don’t know what to do,
You take the top and you take the bottom and you just divide.
Repeat Chorus
3. PEMDAS—”Hotel California”
Let’s Learn about P-E-M--D-A-S, It’s a math rule (a math rule)
It’s an easy rule.
PEMDAS is the order of operations
Get rid of parentheses first (parentheses first)
We do exponents next.
We then go to multiply and divide,
We go from left to right (left to right)
We do the same for add and subtract.
We just learned about P-E-M-D-A-S
I hope you remember it (remember it)
We use it all the time,
Now we know about P-E-M-D-A-S,
It’s a math rule (a math rule)
It’s an easy rule.
4. Parentheses —“0 Christmas Tree”
(Adapted from workshop)
Chorus
Parentheses, parentheses, oh how I love parentheses
Verse 1
They help to keep your numbers straight, they organize and
separate.
Verse 2
They always come in sets of two, distribute out-side numbers
thru.
Verse 3
They look like ballet dancers’ arms; they hug to keep your
numbers warm,
5. Circle Rap —Adapted from workshop
W, X, Y, and Z, around the circle is pi times d
When the area is declared, fill in the circle with pi r squared.
W, X, don’t go far, around the circle is two pi r.
When the area is declared, fill in the circle with pi r squared.
6. Simplifying Song—Army type chant, got idea from workshop
When can you divide out, tell me when can you divide out?
Divide out when I multiply, but add or subtract I dare not try.
Tell me how, how, how can you divide out?
Tell me how can you divide out?
Factor the numerator and denominator,
If the top and bottom match then become the slasher.
Tell me when, when, when can you divide out?
Tell me when can you divide out?
When Factors are the same, cross out to get one
Write down what’s left and then you’re done.
That’s when, that’s when, that’s when I can divide out,
Yes, that’s when I can divide out.
Algebra Songs
7. Let’s Solve an Equation—Let’s get together (old version)
Verse 1
Math is a language you know, and it gets more complicated.
It can take you time to learn, but you don’t have to hate it.
Know that I am on your side, and I want you to succeed at it
Chorus
C’mon people now, just pay attention.
So, let’s work together, and solve on equation right now
Verse 2
Equations are easy to solve, when you follow all the steps.
Get rid of all parentheses first, and then simplify the rest.
Don’t forget to check your work, remember I know best.
Verse 3
Next, you add or subtract variables to one side and constants to
the other.
Now, divide the coefficient of X by one side and then the other.
If you don’t understand by now, Then I’m just’ over your shoulder.
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8. We Will Graph You—”We Will Rock You”
Students, you’re tryin’ to draw the line
For the m and the b we’re assigned:
Y=mx + b, Put your pencil on the b,
One more point will guarantee that....
We will, we will graph you! Graph you!
We will, we will graph you! Graph you!
So now you know the y-intercept;
Now use slope for the rest of it:
Up with rise, Across for run,
Connect with a line and then your done, and...
We have, we have graphed you, graphed you
We have, we have graphed you
9. Y=MX + B—”YMCA”—from workshop
Verse 1
Math class, there’s no need to feel down,
I said, math class, get yourself off the ground,
Come on, math class, if there’s a line to be found,
It’s so easy when you sing out.,.
Math class, come on and get in the swing,
I said, math class, it’s more fun when you sing.
Come on math class, naming lines is your thing,
It’s so easy when you sing out
Chorus
Y=MX + B, Y=MX + B
It’s so easy to do and it earns high grades too,
You can make your homework the be-est,
Y=MX + B, Y=MX + B
It’s so simple you see, come on and listen to me.
You can do math just like ‘the re-est.
Verse 2
Math class, you know the M stands for slope,
I said, math class, now you don’t have to mope,
Come on math class, you have reason to hope,
It’s so easy when you sing out.
Math class, B’s the y-intercept,
Admit now, It’s not hard to accept.
Come on math class, you’ll do your math with more pep,
It’s so easy when you sing out...
10. Graphing Lines—”Old MacDonald Had a Farm”—Vicky Young
Verse 1
There ore four parts to every line. You must remember these:
Equation, slope, intercept, and graph, and keep them separate
please.
Chorus
With one point here and one point there, Here a point, there a
point, everywhere a point, point
Graphing lines is like child’s play, so let’s graph some today.
Verse 2
Regular lines have x and y; the slope gives rise and run
Just solve for y and plot b first; use slope and then you’re done
Verse 3
A vertical line like x = 3, has slope that’s UNDEFINED
Plot 3 on the x-axis, and draw the line. It’s an UP and DOWN
line.
Verse 4
y = 5 is a horizontal line; the slope is ZERO you see.
Plot 5 on the y-axis and draw the line; SIDE to SIDE it will be
11. Lonely Graph—”Heartbreak Hotel”—Lyrics by Vicky Young
Verse 1
When I graph a function, the “y” I always find.
And if that “y” is missing, it’s gonna blow my mind ‘Well
Chorus
It’s not a function, uh uh, it’s not a function,
It’s so lonely, it’s UNDEFINED.
Verse 2
This lonely situation - how did it come to be?
It has not one y-intercept - that letter known as “b”. ‘Cause
Verse 3
How do we recognize it? Please come and set me free
The line, it will be vertical if only “x” we see. ‘Cause
Verse 4
And when two points are given, and the x-values are both the
same,
Again we have a vertical line as you have already seen ‘Cause
12. Quadratic Formula—”New York, New York”
(Adapted from workshop)
X equals negative b”, plus or minus, Square root of, “b” squared
minus, Four “a” “c, all over two “a”
13. Distance Formula— “Jailhouse Rock”
Square root of x sub 2 minus x sub 1,
You know it’s all squared just to make the sum,
y sub 2 minus y sub 1 all squared,
Yes, this is the distance formula,
Let’s sing, the distance formula,
Well, you need to know it yeah,
Let’s sing the distance formula.
14. Midpoint Formula—”Love Me Tender”
The ordered pair is x sub two, plus x sub 1 all over 2,
Comma, y sub 2, plus y sub 1 again all over 2,
This is the Midpoint formula
And if you remember it, you will then be true.
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15. Midpoint Fonnu1a—“Hound dog”
The ordered pair is x sub two, plus x sub 1 all over 2.
Comma, y sub 2, plus y sub 1 all over 2,
You ain’t ever gonna forget it,
The Midpoint formula.
16. Factoring Song— Fight Song”
We want to factor a quadratic and get binomials
Write the factors of the first and last terms
Write them down, yeah, yeah, above the terms, yeah, yeah
Find the combination on the side
Criss-cross the side, right them down in the parentheses
Now, check your work by using FOIL
And it’s F-A-C-T-O-R-I-N-G for factoring
And it’s factored, factored, factored.
17. Binomial Squared—”God is Good (All the time)”
Verse:
If you have two terms,
And it’s a quantity squared,
It’s called a “binomial squared,” It’s what you’re asked to do,
Chorus
You square the first term,
Multiply together and dou-ble
You square the last term
This squares a bi-no-mi-al
18. Twelve Days of Factoring—Lyrics by Vicky Young
On the first day we factored, My teacher said to me:
“The answer is a product you’ll see.”
On The second day we factored, My teacher said to me:
“Find the GCF and the answer is a product you’ll see.”
On the third day we factored, my teacher said to me:
“Look for perfect squares, Find the GCF and the answer is a
product you’ll see.”
On The fourth day we factored, my teacher said to me:
“Four terms you must group, Look for perfect squares,
Find the GCF and The answer is a product you’ll see.”
On the fifth day we factored, My teacher said to me:
“Are your factors prime?
“Four terms you must group, Look for perfect squares,
Find the GCF and The answer is a product you’ll see.”
On the sixth day we factored, My teacher said to me:
“Three terms use reverse FOIL, Are your factors prime?
“Four terms you must group, Look for perfect squares,
Find the GCF and The answer is a product you’ll see.”
On the seventh day we factored, My teacher said to me:
“Key numbers help you factor. Three terms use reverse FOIL.
Are your factors prime?
“Four terms you must group, Look for perfect squares,
Find the GCF and The answer is a product you’ll see.”
“Four terms you must group, Look for perfect squares,
Find the GCF and The answer is a product you’ll see.”
On the ninth day we factored, My teacher said to me:
“Quadratics have two answers, To check, use FOIL/distribute,
Key numbers help you factor, Three terms use reverse FOIL, Are
your factors prime?
“Four terms you must group, Look for perfect squares,
Find the GCF and The answer is a product you’ll see.”
On the tenth day we factored, My teacher said to me:
“Solve factors set to zero, Quadratics have two answers, To
check, use FOIL/distribute, Key numbers help you factor, Three
terms use reverse FOIL, Are your factors prime?
Four terms you must group, Look for perfect squares,
Find the GCF and The answer is a product you’ll see.”
On The eleventh day we factored, My teacher said to me:
‘It’s time to take your test now, Solve factors set to zero,
Quadratics have two answers, To check, use FOIL/distribute,
Key numbers help you factor, Three terms use reverse FOIL, Are
your factors prime?
“Four terms you must group, Look for perfect squares,
Find the CCF and The answer is a product you’ll see.”
On the twelfth day we factored, My teacher said to me:
“Your grade is 100 you’ll see!”
19. Exponent Rules—Original tune by Ronnie Flowers
Verse 1
I open up my textbook when I first get out of bed,
Start studying those rules, just like my teacher said!
Recognizing bases, exponents too.
Exponents must be positive, negatives won’t do.
I’ve got to work these problems, I’ve got find a way.
Don’t you want to know them today?
Chorus
Exponent Rules are not that bad,
Just remember this song and don’t get mad,
Remember that exponents have a set of rules
Use them when canceling and you won’t be a fool
Verse 2
I start to see a pattern to how these things are done.
I raise to zero power and the answer’s always one.
The base just can’t be zero - I must remember that.
Just three more rules to learn now, and then I can relax.
I’ll put it all together, I’ll know it pretty soon.
Then I can go watch my cartoons
Verse 3
To multiply same bases, exponents find the sum.
Dividing is subtraction, makes me almost want to hum
To subtract the smaller power, correctly place the base.
The power rule says multiply, parentheses erase.
I know I’ve got these rules now, I know I’ve got them right.
I just need to remember them with all of my might
On the eighth day we factored, My teacher sold to me:
“To check, use FOIL/distribute, Key numbers help you factor,
Three terms use reverse FOIL, Are your factors prime?
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20. Equation of the Line From Two Points
”You Get a line and I Get a Pole”
Verse 1
We’re asked to find the equation of the line
Through the given two points write it in slope intercept form
Y = mx + b is the form we use,
And we’re gonna use it twice everytime
We find this type of equation of the line.
Verse 2
We wanna get a line when we’re given two points, now
Find y-y over x-x for slope,
Plug in m you just found, and the x and y
From either of the points but only one,
Now, solve for b, and next use, m and b.
Verse 3
We now have the slope and the y-intercept, m and b
We use y = mx + b, now,
(So we) (Just) (Lastly) plug in the m and plug in the b,
Into y = mx + b,
This gives you the equation of the line
21. Start of a Linear Equation—“Start of Something New”
And place this value into the first equation, and we’ll have the point of
intersection.
For linear combinations (aka elimination), you arrange in like columns.
Multiply one or both of the equations to obtain opposite but same
coefficients.
Add the equations together, and this eliminates one of the variables.
You do the last two steps of substitution and this gives us the solution.
Were not done, no not yet, there’s still two things to learn.
If all the variables cancel out with a true statement, then it’s infinitely
many solutions.
But if the same thing happens and the statement is false, then just
write…
No solution.
We solved systems of equations. Yes, we followed all the rules.
We used graphing, substitution, and linear combinations.
Using graphing we graphed both equations and the solution was the point
of intersection.
This song was all the instructions for solving systems of equations.
This song was all the instructions for solving systems of equations
Geometry Songs
24. Problem Solving—”Scooby Doo Theme Song”
(two previous students created, and I directed them in singing)
Let’s solve a problem in math class, We really need to get it down now
These are the steps to do it right, You don’t want to ever forget them.
Linear equations make a straight line
With x and y as variables. M and B right beside.
The intercepts vary. It is infinite.
It just depends on the problem that you are solving
Sometimes you’ll, want to go too fast, And not write everything down
The problem solving steps will help you out
By not forgetting important words now
We know that y = mx + b, m equals slope and we’re right here today.
We will show you how the equation works
It starts with y and it ends in b. X and Y are variables, and when
you’ve got it figured out, You’ve got the problem solved
Who’d have ever thought that slope was rise over run
y two minus y one, over x two minus x one
I know that y = mx + b, m equals slope And we’re right here today.
We will show you how the equation works
It starts with y and it ends in b. X and Y are variables, and when
you’ve got it figured out, You’ve got the problem solved
The b is the y-intercept and crosses the y-axis
I didn’t know it before, but now it’s easy to see
We will show you how the equation works
It starts with y and it ends in b. X and Y are variables, and when
you’ve got it figured out, You’ve got the problem solved
22. Slope—”Good Ole Captain Brown”
Slope is rise over run, it’s change in the y’s over the x’s
It’s y minus y over x minus x. So, slope is rise over run.
23. Solve Systems of Equation—Original by Ronnie Flowers
To solve Systems of Equations, you follow these simple rules:
You can use graphing, substitution, or linear combinations.
Using graphing, you graph both equations,
And the solution is the point of intersection
That is the general information for solving systems of equations.
Now, we’re gonna get specific about the substitution method.
You solve one of the equations for one of its variables.
Substitute this expression into the other equation and solve for the
variable that’s present.
You need to first draw the picture and label everything that you know
And those that you don’t. (with variables)
Then write an equation with the information and variables
Be careful
Come on all you thinkers, use those skills
That you’ve been taught since first grade now
Don’t forget to “answer the question asked.”
ATQA for short now.
25. Trig Ratios, Soh Cah Toa—”Burning Ring of Fire”
Verse 1:
Sine, cosine, and tangent too,
These are the trig ratios that you use.
S-O-H, C-A-H, T-O-A
Soh Cah Toa, that’s the way
Chorus:
You need to remember the trigonometric ratios
Sine’s numerator is opposite and cosine’s is adjacent
Their denominator’s are both hypotenuse, hypotenuse.
Tangent’s ratio is somewhat different
It’s ratio is opposite over adjacent
These work for only right triangles, right triangles
Verse 2:
Soh Cah Toa, remember it
So trigonometry won’t give you fits
These work for any right triangles
And even for the unit circle
These work for only right triangles, right triangles
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26. Pythagorean Theorem Blues—”Blue Suede Shoes”
One for Algebra, two for Geometry, three to get ready for Trigonometry
Chorus
So, let’s learn, more about Pythagorean Theorem.
You can do anything but don’t forget the Pythagorean Theorem.
Verse 1
If you’re not careful, you can feel down, about not knowing what’s comin’
around.
There’s no need for you to feel blue, because Pythagorean Theorem is
here to help you.
Verse 2
This works for all right triangles, c squared equals a squared plus b squared.
You take the sum, of the legs squared, and this equals hypotenuse squared.
Verse 3
Now, you can use this formula many, many ways, if c squared’s greater it’s
an obtuse triangle.
If c squared’s less, you get an acute triangle.
End:
So, this is, all about The Pythagorean Theorem.
You can do anything but don’t forget The Pythagorean Theorem.
27. CPCTC—”Do You Believe in Magic” (written by a student)
CPCTC, It means corresponding parts
Of congruent triangles are congruent.
Yes, it will help you, like equations and theorems,
To get you through all the nice proof problems.
Don’t use it the wrong way. Use it only after
Congruent triangles have been proven.
If you use it the right way,
It will get you through the knowledge gateway. CPCTC
28. Parallel Lines Cut by a Transversal— “Little Bit of Faith”
Verse 1
I wanna help my Geometry students learn
One way I can do it is to sing a song
I know math class can get a little boring
So, I just let loose and begin to sing
Now, This is the song, just for you all
About parallel lines cut by a transversal.
Chorus
When parallel lines are cut by a transversal
Corresponding angles are always set equal
Remember this song, and it will show you the way
To use parallel lines cut by a transversal today
Verse 2
Corresponding angles all look the same
They’re above and below and in the same place
Alternate interior and exterior angles
They’re on opposite sides of the transversal
Now, this is the song, just for you all
About parallel lines cut by a transversal.
Chorus 2
When parallel lines are cut by a transversal
Alternate angles are always set equal
Remember this song, and it will show you the way
To use parallel lines cut by a transversal today
Verse 3
Same-side interior and exterior angles
They are on the same side and their relationships are different
You need to remember that they are supplementary
These are the only ones which add up to 180.
Now, here is the rest of this song for you all,
About parallel lines cut by a transversal
Bridge
When you forget about what to do
Then remember this song, and what it tells you
I hope you liked this song for you all
About parallel lines cut by a transversal
About parallel lines cut by a transversal
29. COIC PAAM (Points of concurrency)— “Itsy Bitsy Spider”
Circumcenter, Orthocenter, Incenter, Centroid
These ore the points of concurrency of the following
Perpendicular bisector, Altitude, Angle bisector, Median
You can remember these by knowing COIC PAAM.
30. Geometry—”Few of My Favorite Things”— Vicky Young
Visualization in different dimensions,
Units of measure - too many to mention.
Models to play with and games help me see.
These are the parts of geometry.
We use transformations, we see symmetry.
We reason with space and the shapes that we see.
With tools and techniques, we con measure the earth
And learn to appreciate geometry’s worth.
We’ll solve problems,
And we’ll reason,
We’ll communicate.
We’ll make connections, ideas represent.
And geometry, appreciate!
Algebra 2 Song
31. Horizontal Asymptote—”Do your ears hang Low”—Pat Brown”
Do your grades hang low? Do they hit close to zero?
Do you struggle to remember all the stuff that we taught ya?
Then pay attention right now to this song that should help ya,
Don’t let your grades hang low.
Don’t let your grades hang low, Horizontal Asymptote
Top heavy there is none Bottom heavy it is zero
If the powers are the same, then the answer is the ratio,
Pay attention to this song.
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