First Year Algebra

Topic 6 - Statistics

(Starting Monday, April 29)

Topic 6 focuses on extending students knowledge of averages, dot plots, box plots, and histograms. Students identify that standard deviation is used to compare a specific value to other values. Students understand how to find join, marginal, and relative frequencies. Students will also learn methods to interpret data displays and create inferences based on the data.

Data Displays

• Dot plots, box plots, and histograms
• Measures of Center and Variability
• Histograms

Analyze Data

• Standard deviation
• Frequencies

Topic 5 - Quadratic Functions

(starting Friday, April 5, 2019)

This unit focuses on extending students' previous understanding of functions to include quadratic functions: graphing them, using them to model real world situations, and comparing them to linear and exponential functions.

Graphing Quadratic Functions

• Key features of a Quadratic Function
• Different forms of Quadratic Functions

Quadratic Functions as Models

• Modeling with Quadratic Functions
• Comparing Linear, Exponential, and Quadratic Functions

Topic 4 - Polynomials and Factoring

(starting Wednesday, February 20, 2019)

This unit focuses on extending polynomials. Students will identify the parts and factors of polynomials. They will understand how to factor trinomials using the greatest common factor, binomial factors, and special patterns. They will learn how to add, subtract, and multiply polynomials.

Operations of Polynomials

• Add and Subtract Polynomials
• Multiply Polynomials
• Product of Binomials

Factoring Polynomials

• Greatest Common Factor
• Quadratic Trinomials (a=1)

Mini-Unit on building on exponents, properties of exponents, square roots, and cube roots.

(Starting February 4, 2019)

Building on work done in the fall students will further explore exponents and their properties. Students will also do work with square and cube roots.

Topic 3 - Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities

(Starting January 14)

For our final topic of the calendar year we are going to explore systems of linear equations and inequalities and see how they can be used to model situations and solve problems. Students will learn methods to solve systems and will be able to identify when each solution method is most useful.

Systems of Linear Equations

• Graphing
• Substitution
• Elimination

Systems of Linear Inequalities

• Linear Inequalities
• Systems of Linear Inequalities

Mini-Unit - Scatter Plots

Scatter Plots are a way of comparing two pieces of data that may or may not be connected. In this mini-unit starting on Monday, January 7, students will learn how to read and analyze Scatter Plots. They will learn how to use a graphing program to find the line of fit for a scatter plot and use the correlation coefficient to identify how strongly the data is connected.

After a brief break for an SSAT Mini-Unit we're back on Topic 2 - Linear Equations (see below)

Mini-Unit - SSAT Exponents and Properties of Geometry

(Starting Wednesday, November 14)

Over the next two weeks we're going to take some classes to look at a topic that is covered later in the school year in more depth, but is likely to appear on the SSAT test in December. This week we'll be looking at properties of exponents and different rules for simplifying exponential expressions. Next week, because of Thanksgiving, we have only one class so we'll look at various properties of geometry and geometric equations with which the students should be familiar for the SSAT

Once this ends, we'll be resuming our exploration of Linear Equations (below) on Monday, November 26.

Topic 2 - Linear Equations

(Starting Friday, October 24)

This unit focuses on extending students' understanding of linear equations. Students analyze descriptions of lines and write their equations in different forms.

Different Forms of Linear Equations

• Slope-Intercept Form
• Point-Slope Form
• Standard Form

Special Slopes

• Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
• Add and subtract rational numbers
• Multiply and divide rational numbers

Topic 1 - Solving Equations and Inequalities

(Starting Monday, September 17)

This unit focuses on extending students' understanding of writing and solving equations and inequalities to include equations and inequalities that require multiple steps to solve, as well as those that have variables on both sides of the equation or inequality

Solving Equations

• Equations in one variable
• Literal equations and formulas
• Equations involving absolute value

Solving Inequalities

• Inequalities in one variable
• Compound Inequalities
• Graphing Solutions
• Inequalities involving absolute value