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Public Release Item Scoring Information Return

Goal 1 Functions and Algebra

Expectation 1.2 The student will model and interpret real-world situations using the language of mathematics and appropriate technology.

Indicator 1.2.2 The student will solve linear inequalities and describe the solutions using numbers, symbols, and/or graphs.

Assessment Limits:

  • Inequalities will have no more than two variables with rational coefficients.
  • Acceptable forms of the problem or solution are the following:
    Ax + By < C, Ax + By < C, Ax + By > C, Ax + By > C, Ax + By + C < 0, Ax + By + C < 0, Ax + By + C > 0, Ax + By + C > 0, y < mx + b, y < mx + b, y > mx + b, y > mx + b, y < b, y < b, y > b, y > b, x < b, x < b, x > b, x > b, a < x < b, a < x < b, a < x < b, a < x < b, a < x + c < b, a < x + c < b, a < x + c < b, a < x + c < b.
  • The majority of these items should be in real-world context.
  • Systems of linear inequalities will not be included.
  • Compound inequalities will be included.
  • Disjoint inequalities will not be included.
  • Absolute value inequalities will not be included.

Extended Constructed Response (ECR) Item - Released in 2005

Sue has $75 to spend on shirts and shorts. The shirts are on sale for $10 each, including tax, and the shorts are on sale for $15 each, including tax.

Complete the following in the Answer Book:

  • Write an inequality that represents the situation above, where x represents the number of shirts and y represents the number of shorts.
  • What is the maximum number of shorts Sue can buy if she buys 2 shirts? Use mathematics to explain how you determined your answer. Use words, symbols, or both in your explanation. (If you need to draw a graph for your solution, use the grid provided in the Answer Book.)
  • List all the number combinations of shirts and shorts Sue can buy to spend exactly $75. Use mathematics to justify your answer.

The following 8 Anchor Papers represent a range of score points and are used in conjunction with the rubrics to assess student responses.

Anchor Paper #1

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #1: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response indicates little application of a reasonable strategy. The representation (75 = x(10) + y(15)), in the form of an equation rather than an inequality, is essentially correct. The student provides no response to the second or third parts of the question. The response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.


Anchor Paper #2

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #2: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response indicates little application of a reasonable strategy. The representation, in the form of an equation, is incorrect. The student provides the correct maximum number of shorts (3). The explanation supports the solution (because 2 shirts cost 20. Subtract 75-20=55, and 3 shirts cost 45. Subtract 55-45=5, so you can only buy 3). The student gives no response to the third part of the question. The response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.


Anchor Paper #3

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #3: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response indicates an incomplete application of a reasonable strategy. No representation is given. The student does provide the correct maximum number of shorts (3), and the explanation supports the solution. (I subtracted 75-20 to get 55, then I divided by 15, then got 3.) Although the student correctly lists all the number combinations of shirts and shorts that total exactly $75, a justification is not given. The response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.


Anchor Paper #4

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #4: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to some correct solutions. The representation (10x+15y=75), in the form of an equation rather than an inequality, is essentially correct. While the student provides the correct maximum number of shorts (3), an explanation is not given. A list of only two of the three combinations of shirts and shorts that total exactly $75 (3 shirts 3 shorts; 6 shirts 1 short) is supplied, and no justification is provided. The response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.


Anchor Paper #5

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #5: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to some correct solutions. The representation (75=x•10+y•15), in the form of an equation rather than an inequality, is essentially correct. The student gives the correct maximum number of shorts (3 pair of shorts). However, the calculations (Because if she bought 2 shirts that’s 20 dollars, and 3 pairs of shorts would be 45 dollars. And the total cost would be 65 plus tax), provide justification, rather than explanation. The student lists only one of the three combinations of shirts and shorts that total exactly $75 (3 shirts and 3 shorts). This solution is justified (3•10=30, 15•3=45, and 30+45=75). The response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.


Anchor Paper #6

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #6: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to some correct solutions. The student gives the correct inequality (10z+15x≤75). Although the student replaces x with z in the inequality and does not define z, it is evident from the response to the second bullet that z represents shirts. The correct maximum number of shorts (3) is given, and the explanation supports the solution. (If she buys 2 shirts, that is $20. 75-20=$55. One pair of shorts cost $15. So 55÷15=3.67). The student lists only one of the three combinations of shirts and shorts that total exactly $75 (3,3). This solution is justified (3 shorts cost $45; 3 shirts cost $30. 45+30=75). The response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.


Anchor Paper #7

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #7: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution within the context of the problem. The student gives the correct inequality (10(x)+15(y) ≤75). The correct maximum number of shorts (3 pairs of shorts) is provided. The fully developed “guess and check” explanation is presented symbolically; the student replaces x in the inequality with 2 and then tries decreasing values for y until the solution is found. A correct list of all the number combinations of shirts and shorts that total exactly $75 is provided and fully justifies the solutions by inserting each of the values for x and y into the equation and simplifying, showing that the found values make the equation true. Note: the justification for 6,1 is done twice. The response demonstrates a complete understanding and analysis of the problem.


Anchor Paper #8

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #8: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution within the context of the problem. The student gives the correct inequality (75≥10x+15y). The correct maximum number of shorts (3) is provided, and a fully developed explanation is presented symbolically. The student replaces x in the inequality with 2, then solves for y, and truncates to a whole number for the solution. A correct list of all the number combinations of shirts and shorts that total exactly $75 {(3,3) (6,1) (0,5)} is provided. The student fully justifies the solutions by inserting each of the values for x and y into the equation and simplifying, showing that the found values make the equation true. The response demonstrates a complete understanding and analysis of the problem.


Extended Constructed Response (ECR) Rubric

Print: Scoring Rubric (pdf)
Score 4

The response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution in the context of the problem. The representations are correct. The explanation and/or justification is logically sound, clearly presented, fully developed, supports the solution, and does not contain significant mathematical errors. The response demonstrates a complete understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score 3

The response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that may or may not lead to a correct solution. The representations are essentially correct. The explanation and/or justification is generally well developed, feasible, and supports the solution. The response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score 2

The response indicates an incomplete application of a reasonable strategy that may or may not lead to a correct solution. The representations are fundamentally correct. The explanation and/or justification supports the solution and is plausible, although it may not be well developed or complete. The response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score 1

The response indicates little or no application of a reasonable strategy. It may or may not have the correct answer. The representations are incomplete or missing. The explanation and/or justification reveals serious flaws in reasoning. The explanation and/or justification may be incomplete or missing. The response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score 0

The response is completely incorrect or irrelevant. There may be no response, or the response may state, “I don't know.”

Explanation refers to the student using the language of mathematics to communicate how the student arrived at the solution.

Justification refers to the student using mathematical principles to support the reasoning used to solve the problem or to demonstrate that the solution is correct. This could include the appropriate definitions, postulates and theorems.

Essentially correct representations may contain a few minor errors such as missing labels, reversed axes, or scales that are not uniform.

Fundamentally correct representations may contain several minor errors such as missing labels, reversed axes, or scales that are not uniform.

Last Revised 8/16/00

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Resources for 1.2.2:
Skill Statements | PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS | Lesson Plans |