8Th Grade Accelerated Algebra

8 th Grade Accelerated Algebra

Textbooks: Algebra 1: An Integrated Approach, McDougal-Littell Impact Mathematics Course 3: Algebra and More, Glencoe

Unit 1: The Rules of Algebra: This unit reviews combining like terms and solving equations. It is also the introduction to formal properties in Algebra. Students start to look at formal proofs.

Unit 2:The Number Line and Signed Numbers: The idea of this unit is for students to be able to classify numbers as Real, Rational, Irrational, Integer, Whole, and Natural. Students will then be able to look at special relationship between these numbers, as well as perform mathematical operations with them.

Unit 3:Writing and Solving Equations: The goal of this unit is for students to be able to solve advance equations, including variables on both sides, multi-step equations, and equations which involve fractions and decimals. Students will also be able to translate word problems into mathematical equations and solve them. Examples of the type of problems that will be looked at are rate problems.

Unit 4:Working with Inequalities: In this unit students will describe, write, solve and graph inequalities. Students will look at compound inequalities and find the intersection and union of sets. They will also look at absolute value inequalities.

Unit 5: Linear Graphing: Students will look at the relationship between tables, graphs and equations. They will look at equations of a line in slope-intercept form, point-slope form, and standard form. Students will be given one form of an equation and be able to convert it to another form. They will also be able to come up with an equation of a line given any two points on the line.

Unit 6:Non-Linear Graphing: This unit focuses on nonlinear relationships and graphing including quadratic equations, inverse variations, cubic equations and absolute value equations. Students will be able to find the graph or the equation when they are given one of the two.

Unit 7: Special Formulas: Students will be able to use formulas such as the quadratic formula, Pythagorean Theorem, distance formula, and midpoint formula. They will also be able to manipulate literal equations and solve for any given variable.

Unit 8: Systems of Equations: In this unit students will solve systems of equations with up to three equations and three different variables. They will find solutions by graphing, substitution, and through elimination.

Unit 9: Exponents and Radicals: Students will work with laws of exponents, radicals, exponential equations, equations with radicals, nth root and exponential variation. Students solve word problems dealing with exponential relationships.

Heidi Weber Emerald Team Math Teacher F.A. Day Middle School 2009 Unit 10: Polynomials: Students will add, subtract and multiply polynomials. The concept of FOIL is introduced. Students learn about special products and identify perfect square trinomials and difference of squares. Students begin to factor polynomials.

Unit 11: Factoring and Solving Quadratic Equations: Students factor quadratic polynomials with a leading coefficient other than 1 and then progress to solving quadratic equations by factoring and using the zero product property. Students will also use the quadratic formula as a tool to solve quadratic equations that can not be factored.

Unit 12: Rational Expressions and Equations: Students work with ratio, proportion, rational expressions and rational equations. The goal is to expose students to simplifying rational expressions and solve rational equations.

Heidi Weber Emerald Team Math Teacher F.A. Day Middle School 2009