Set 5

This is yet another pivotal unit in Math 9 as we will expand on the concept of solving equations that students learned in Math 8. Solving equations is about find value or values that makes a Mathematics statement TRUE. It is also the common intersection between two Mathematical functions. When does the left hand side of an equation "balance or equal to" the right hand side. Students will learn that solving equations follows the basic order of operations "backwards". [SAMDEB]. We will start by reviewing how to solve simple ax+b = c equations to more advanced equations involving variables on both sides, application of the distributive rule as well as fractional coefficients. It is our goal and hope that students will realize by the end of the unit that all these are mere variations and extension to the basic equation in the form of ax+b=c.

Our main goals in this unit are:

• Be able to solve equations involving multiple steps. Please note "steps" in my math course refers to the number of different operations needed to isolate the desired variable and not the literal steps needed to solve the equation.

• To understand that we solve any equations by performing a series of inverse operations to isolate the desired variable. ie (Inverse of f(x)) = x

• To understand and appreciate why we learned how to add and subtract fractions by finding a lowest common denominator between two or more fractions. That we can "clear the denominator" of an equation with fractional coefficients by applying prior knowledge they learned in a pervious unit.