Instructor: Clint Smith

Course Description:  This college prep course is intended for advanced 7^th graders through high school students planning on attending a four-year university.  It also meets the high school algebra graduation requirement.  This two-semester class covers a variety of topics including:  variables and exponents, properties of real numbers, linear equations and inequalities, systems of linear equations and inequalities, exponential and quadratic functions, factoring polynomials, and radical equations.

Assessment: 
Grades are based on:
20% in class work
30% homework
50% tests and projects

Text:  Algebra 1

Authors:  Larson, Boswell. Kanold, Stiff

Publisher:  McDougal Little, 2004

Contents

Chapter 1: Connections to Algebra

Variables in Algebra

Exponents and Powers

Order of Operations

Equations and Inequalities

A Problem Solving Plan Using Models

Tables and Graphs

An Introduction to Functions

Chapter 2: Properties of Real Numbers�

The Real Number Line

Addition of Real Numbers

Subtraction of Real Numbers

Adding and Subtracting Matrices

Multiplication of Real Numbers

The Distributive Property

Division of Real Numbers

Probability and Odds

Chapter 3: Solving Linear Equations

Solving Equations Using Addition and Subtraction

Solving Equations Using Multiplication and Division

Solving Multi-Step Equations

Solving Equations with Variables on Both Sides

Linear Equations and Problem Solving

Solving Decimal Equations

Formulas and Functions

Rates, Ratios, and Percents

Chapter 4: Graphing Linear Equations and Functions

Coordinates and Scatter Plots

Graphing Linear Equations

Quick Graphs Using Intercepts

The Slope of a Line

Direct Variation

Quick Graphs Using Slope-Intercept Form

Solving Linear Equations Using Graphs

Functions and Relations

Chapter 5: Writing Linear Equations

Writing Linear Equations in Slope-Intercept Form

Writing Linear Equations Given the Slope and a Point

Writing Linear Equations Given Two Points

Fitting a Line to Data

Point-Slope Form of a Linear Equation

The Standard Form of a Linear Equation

Predicting with Linear Models

Chapter 6: Solving and Graphing Linear Inequalities

Solving One-Step Linear Inequalities

Solving Multi-Step Linear Inequalities

Solving Compound Inequalities

Solving Absolute-Value Equations and Inequalities

Graphing Linear Inequalities in Two Variables

Stem-and-Leaf Plots and Mean, Median, and Mode

Box-and-Whisker Plots

Chapter 7: Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities�

Solving Linear Systems by Graphing

Solving Linear Systems by Substitution

 Solving Linear Systems by Linear Combinations

 Applications of Linear Systems

Special Types of Linear Systems

Solving Systems of Linear Inequalities

Chapter 8: Exponents and Exponential Functions

Multiplication Properties of Exponents

Zero and Negative Exponents

Division Properties of Exponents

Scientific Notation

Exponential Growth Functions

Exponential Decay Functions

Chapter 9: Quadratic Equations and Functions

Solving Quadratic Equations by Finding Square Roots

Simplifying Radicals

Graphing Quadratic Functions

Solving Quadratic Equations by Graphing

Solving Quadratic Equations by the Quadratic Formula

Applications of the Discriminant

Graphing Quadratic Inequalities

Comparing Linear, Exponential, and Quadratic Models

Chapter 10: Polynomials and Factoring�

Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

Multiplying Polynomials

Special Products of Polynomials

Solving Polynomial Equations in Factored Form

Factoring x2+bx+c

Factoring ax2+bx+c

Factoring Special Products

Factoring Using the Distributive Property

Chapter 11: Rational Equations and Functions

Ratio and Proportion

Percents

Direct and Inverse Variation

Simplifying Rational Expressions

Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions

Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

Dividing Polynomials

Rational Equations and Functions

Chapter 12: Radicals and Connections to Geometry�

Functions Involving Square Roots

Operations with Radical Expressions

Solving Radical Equations

Completing the Square

The Pythagorean Theorem and Its Converse

The Distance and Midpoint Formulas

Trigonometric Ratios

Logical Reasoning:  Proof