Students will understand that:

• a linear equation can be used to describe a pattern and then solve problems.
• a linear relation is a rule that associates numbers in one set, with numbers in another set.
• in a linear relation, a constant change in one quantity, produces a constant change in the related quantity; this means that the graph of a linear relation is a straight line.
• a linear relation can be expressed in words, as a graph, as a table of values , and as an equation. Each representation is a different way of expressing the same rule, and provides a different view of the relation.

Essential Questions:

• What is a linear equation? What is a linear relation?
• What is a variable, constant, and expression? What is a graph?
• What is the x-axis? What is the y-axis? What is slope?
• What is interpolation and extrapolation?

General Outcomes:

• Students will use patterns to describe the world and solve problems.
  • Students will generalize patterns arising from a problem-solving context using linear equations and by verifying by substitution.
  • Students will graph linear relations in order to interpolate or extrapolate in order to solve problems.