Idempotent

Teachers frequently get questions from students who are very astute or just curious. A math question that seems simple may have a difficult answer or the answer may connect in unexpected ways to other ideas. This text aims to address commonly asked questions about the algebra curriculum that require expert knowledge to answer. Questions addressed: I don't understand the "machine" analogy for functions.Why does a function have to pass the vertical line test?How is a sequence different from a

Teachers frequently get questions from students who are very astute or just curious. A math question that seems simple may have a difficult answer or the answer may connect in unexpected ways to other ideas. This text aims to address commonly asked questions about the middle school math curriculum that require expert knowledge to answer. Questions addressed:Why is 1 not a prime integer?How many prime integers are there?Why is 0 times 7 equal to 0?Why is -1 times 2 equal to -2?Is 2 + 2 always e