Algebra 1

Algebra A
The first half of algebra will introduce you to the fundamental skills and fundamental language required to master mathematics in high school and beyond. The idea of representing relations in multiple forms and translating between forms will be emphasized along with finding solutions a variety of ways. The manipulation of functions will be restricted to linear ones for the first half. Unit 1 Algebra Skills This unit will emphasis that in order to complete a task like cook chicken, you have many option as to how to cook it (barbecued, baked, fried, stir fried, etc.) some ways are better in certain situations. You need to choose. Then you will need some skills, defrost, cut, marinade, work grill, work wok, etc. The problems in this unit emphasis the skills needed to model and apply models of relations also, the unit will give you practice at them. These skills will be applied to a task, such as finding a solution, representing a relation different ways, creating a model, making predictions, and supporting or drawing conclusions. In other words should you purchase cell phone plan A or B, should your company produce x widgets and y gadgets, or how much pollution will the factory next door be producing 10 years from now. 1-1 Variables and Expressions 1-2 Order of Operations 1-3 Open Sentences 1-4 Identity and Equality Properties 1-5 The Distributive Property 1-6 Identifying Like Terms and Combining Like Terms 1-7 Commutative and Associative Properties 1-8 Number Systems 1-9 Operations with Real Numbers 1-10 Functions and Graphs Unit 2 Solutions to Linear Equations One of the most used skills in math is finding the solution of an equation. In other words you want to find the thing or things that make the equation true. Sometimes it is a single number other times it is an expression with other variables in it. Sometimes it is even a picture, word, or several numbers. Or maybe you find that nothing will ever work or sometimes anything will work. You have already had experience with the simplest method to find a solution and that is to guess and check. Granted most of the time these arent random guesses, but very thought out and planned guess. In this unit you will learn of a second (more precise) way of finding a solution by transforming the equation to isolate the variable. This is accomplished by doing equivalent operations to both sides of the equation. Note two important ideas here. The first is this is just another method to finding a solution and you will learn many other ways throughout this course. The second is real important; DONT THINK THAT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY AND THIS IS WHAT YOU ALWAYS DO WHEN A PROBLEM SAYS SOLVE. 2-1 Writing Equations 2-2 Rewriting Equations 2-3 Solving Equations by Using Addition and Subtraction 2-4 Solving Equations by Using Multiplication and Division 2-5 Solving Multi-Step Equations 2-6 Solving Equations with the Variable on Each Side 2-7 Solving for a Specific Variable

Unit 3 Relations to Functions This unit is an introduction to the idea of relations and how to see patterns. We will look at several common relations that occur often in the real world. These relations are functions such as linear, exponential, quadratic, cubic, and trigonometric. The emphasis for the rest of this trimester with focus on linear functions, but the same principles will apply across other relations. So pay close attention. Our goal will be to create a model for a relation so we can make predictions and support conclusions. We will introduce how we can represent a relation 5 different ways. The 5 ways are as a graph, a set of ordered pairs, a table, a mapping, and an equation. As with anything some ways are more practical and efficient depending on what we want to do with the model. Remember this unit will just introduce various relations and some skills for manipulating and communicating about them with proper mathematical language. 3-1 Representing Relations 3-2 Representing Functions 3-3 Linear Functions 3-4 Recursive Sequences 3-5 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences Unit 4 Linear Equations (Functions) Linear functions have the special property, which is being a relation where there exists a constant rate of change between the two quantities. For example with some cell phone plans the cost is related to minutes used. This often is a linear relation with a constant rate of change. For every minute you use the phone your bill goes up by 5 cents (a constant rate), you may have had an initial fee or not. This unit will focus on different ways of creating an equation from various pieces of information and investigate special elements of linear equations such as slope and intercepts. 4-1 Rate of Change and Slope 4-2 Slope and Direct Variation 4-3 Slope-Intercept Form 4-4 More Slope-Intercept Form 4-5 Writing Equations in Point-Slope Form 4-6 Statistics Scatter Plots and Lines of Fit 4-7 Geometry Parallel and Perpendicular Lines Unit 5 Solving System of Equations In the 2nd unit we explored a way to find the solution to an equation with only one variable. This unit will be devoted to 3 methods used to find solutions to equations that have 2 or 3 variables. If we have 2 equations with 2 variables (unknowns), the solution will be the value of the 2 variables the make BOTH equations true. Notice a solution is the same as it was in the beginning. It is just a value or values that make a statement true. As with the earlier equations, a specific solution may or may not exist. 5-1 Graphing Systems of Equations 5-2 Substitution 5-3 Elimination Using Addition and Subtraction 5-4 Elimination Using Multiplication 5-5 Applying Systems of Linear Equations 5-6 Solving Systems of 3 Equations

Unit 6 Special Uses of Algebra The concepts presented in this unit are widely applied to many fields. Whether you plan to pursue a career in business, the sciences, or the arts, the use of formulas, ratios, proportions, percents, and averages to find quantities is abundant. Also, the ready availability of technology makes it important to see how they can be used to perform many of the tasks explored during this semester. 6-1 Graphical Views of Solving Linear Equations 6-2 Using Formulas 6-3 Ratios and Proportions 6-4 Percent of Change 6-5 Weighted Averages