INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You will need 40 g of ammonium nitrate. You can buy this online, or you can buy a cold pack and cut it open. Gather newspaper, water, and a metal bucket or pan of any size. You will also need rubber gloves. If using a cold pack, make sure to get one that contains pure ammonium nitrate rather than a substitute material such as urea. If using purchased ammonium nitrate powder, pour it into the pan. If you are getting your ammonium nitrate from a cold pack, cut open carefully at one end, discard the packet of water, and remove the packet of ammonium nitrate. Pour the granules into your bucket or large pan.  If the water pack breaks, you will use up the chemical properties of your ammonium nitrate and will need to use a different pack for the experiment. Gloves should protect your skin from ammonium nitrate's toxicity. If you do get any on your skin, halt your experiment and wash your skin thoroughly with water. Watch them dissolve. Don't add extra water unless they aren't dissolving, as you want the mixture to be as concentrated as possible. Take a sheet and dip it into the solution for half a minute so it absorbs the liquid. Remove it gently and lay it out to dry.  Soak individual sheets until all the solution is absorbed. Drying may take several hours. Once your newspaper is dry, roll it up as tightly as possible. Secure it with tape or string. This is your smoke bomb. You can make several small smoke bombs with individual sheets of paper, or one large smoke bomb that will last longer. Pick a parking lot, gravel lot, or large driveway. Bring a bucket of plain water with you to douse any potential fires. Light one edge of your smoke bomb, and step back several feet immediately.  The flame should burn slowly and should not be visible through the smoke. Douse it in water when you are finished.

SUMMARY: Buy supplies. Don gloves and put your ammonium nitrate in the pan. Add just enough water to cover the granules. Soak single sheets of newspaper. Roll up the paper. Take your bomb outside.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Use the information you learn from the problem, including keywords, to write an algebraic description of the story. For example, you know that the second book is $80, and you know what $80 equals in terms of the price of the first book (x{\displaystyle x}). So set 80 equal to $10 less (−10{\displaystyle -10} ) than 3 times the price of the first book (3x{\displaystyle 3x}). Putting everything together, you have 80=3x−10{\displaystyle 80=3x-10}. If you have only one unknown in your word problem, isolate the variable in your equation and find which number it is equal to. Use the normal rules of  algebra to isolate the variable. Remember that you need to keep the equation balanced. This means that whatever you do to one side of the equation, you must also do to the other side. Use inverse operations to isolate a variable. For example, to isolate the variable in the equation 80=3x−10{\displaystyle 80=3x-10}, you need to add 10 to both sides, then divide by 3:80=3x−10{\displaystyle 80=3x-10}80+10=3x−10+10{\displaystyle 80+10=3x-10+10}90=3x{\displaystyle 90=3x}903=3x3{\displaystyle {\frac {90}{3}}={\frac {3x}{3}}}30=x{\displaystyle 30=x} If you have more than one unknown in your word problem, you need to make sure you  combine like terms to simplify your equation. When combining like terms, remember that only terms with the same exponent and variable can be combined. For example, 4x{\displaystyle 4x} and 2x{\displaystyle 2x} can be combined, 3x2{\displaystyle 3x^{2}} and 5x2{\displaystyle 5x^{2}} can be combined, and 8xy{\displaystyle 8xy} and 4xy{\displaystyle 4xy} can be combined. Look back to your list of variables and unknown information. This will remind you what you were trying to solve. Write a statement indicating what your answer means. For example, since x=the price of the first book{\displaystyle x={\text{the price of the first book}}}, and 30=x{\displaystyle 30=x}, you know that the price of the first book Jane bought was $30.

SUMMARY: Write an equation. Solve an equation for one variable. Solve an equation with multiple variables. Interpret your answer.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Do you lean on your parents for a lot of different favors, or are you mostly independent? You parents may be more likely to give you what you want if you have a track record of being pretty self-sufficient. If you've already asked for money several times, you constantly borrow their car(s), and you don't help out much around the house, they may not be in the mood to give you the cash.  If you feel your track record is a little shaky, make an effort to improve it before you ask. If you live at home, you could cook them dinner, wash their car, and do other chores around the house. If you don't live at home, find other ways to brighten their days from afar. Be responsive when they call and let them into your life. You don't want to call them out of the blue for the first time in months just to ask for money. If your reason is well thought out and concrete, your parents will be more responsive. Think about exactly what you need the money for, and why. Get ready to make a case for yourself that will have your parents feeling happy to loan you the money.  For example, let's say you want the money for a new computer. Your parents will be more likely to give you money to buy it if you tell them it will help you excel at your new job or do better in school, rather than just saying you want a computer. If you need the money for a basic necessity, like paying rent or buying food, be honest about why you're in this situation. Your situation will probably tug on your parents' heartstrings and they'll be likely to help you. You might get further if you come up with a way to pay for at least part of what you need. Save up as much as you can toward the total sum you need, so you can ask your parents to help you pay for the rest. They'll see that you're working hard to pay what you can and might be more likely to help you out. Research the price of what you need and come up with an accurate number you can share with your parents. Be sure you're able to account for the total amount of money you're asking for, so your parents won't feel you're taking advantage of them. If you're straightforward and honest, they may even throw in a little extra. If you're asking for a loan, not a gift, your parents will be more likely to loan you the money if you have an established plan for paying them back. Calculate the amount of time it will take you to save up the money so you can give them a projected due date. Whether it's a month from now or a year from now, your parents will want to know.  You could offer to set up a payment plan and pay your parents back in installments. That way you won't have to pay everything at once, and it might feel easier to get the money back to them on time. If you don't plan to pay them back, don't tell them you're going to. It's better to be honest about your intentions. If you ever find yourself in need of money again, you'll want your parents to remember that you paid them back last time.

SUMMARY:
Consider your track record. Have a good reason. Show that you're doing your part. Come up with a reasonable sum. Plan how you'll pay it back.