Class Description

This course deals with the properties of real numbers and the basic operations with positive and negative numbers including adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, simplifying powers, and extracting roots. Other topics include functions and graphs. Throughout the course emphasis is placed on logical thinking and techniques and patterns of problem solving. Daily assignments provide the necessary practice to develop these skills.

Class Expectations

Materials Needed:

* Pencil
* Paper/Notebook
* Textbook

Daily Work:

* Students will receive an assignment almost everyday but test day. Most days the students will receive about 10 minutes in class to work on their assignments. This provides them the opportunity to ask questions. Each assignment will be worth 5 points.

Testing Information:

* Tests will be given after each chapter, and some quizzes will be administrated throughout the year.

Miscellaneous:

* If the student is struggling, please ask for help as soon as possible. I will be available after school for any questions, and we can easily make arrangements for a peer tutor or resource help.

Final Grade:

* Daily Homework = 20%
* Tests = 60%
* Quizzes = 20%

Class Outline

Tools of Algebra

Using variables
Exponents and order of operations
Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing real numbers
The distributive property
Properties of real numbers
Graphing data on the coordinate plane

Solving Equations

Solving one-step to multi-step equations
Equations with variables on both sides
Equations, problem solving, and formulas
Using measures of central tendency

Solving Inequalities

Inequalities and their graphs
Solving inequalities
Compound inequalities
Absolute value equations and inequalities

Solving and Applying Proportions

Ratio and proportion
Proportions and similar figures/ percent equations
Percent of change
Applying ratios to probability and compound events

Graphs and Functions

Relations and functions
Function rules, tables, and graphs
Direct variation
Describing a number pattern

Linear Equations and their graphs

Rate of change and slope
Slope-intercept and standard form
Point-slope form and writing linear equations
Parallel and perpendicular lines
Scatter plots and equations of lines

Systems of Equations and Inequalities

Solving systems by graphing, substitution, and elimination
Applications of linear systems
Linear inequalities
Systems of Linear Inequalities

Exponents and Exponential Functions

Negative exponents and Scientific notation
Multiplication properties of exponents
Division properties of exponents
Geometric sequences
Exponential functions
Exponentail growth and decay

Polynomials and Factoring

Adding and subtracting polynomials
Multiplying and factoring
Multiplying binomials and special cases
Factoring trinomials and special cases

Quadratic equations and functions

Quadratic graphs and functions
Finding and estimating square roots
Solving quadratic equations
Factoring to solve quadratic equations
Completing the square
Using the quadratic formula

Radical Expressions and Equations

Simplifying radicals
The pythagorean theorem
The distance and midpoint formulas
Operations with radical expressions
Solving radical equations
Trigonometric ratios

Rational Expressions and Functions

Inverse variation
Graphing rational functions
Simplifying rational expressions
Multiplying and dividing rational expressions
Dividing polynomials
Adding and subtracting rational expressions
Solving rational equations
Counting methods and permutations
Combinations