Course Syllabus for Beginning Algebra
Algebra Standard
Understand patterns, relations, and functions
▪ generalize patterns using explicitly defined and recursively defined
functions;
▪ understand relations and functions and select, convert flexibly among, and
use various representations for them;
▪ analyze functions of one variable by investigating rates of change,
intercepts, zeros, asymptotes, and local and global behavior;
▪ understand and perform transformations such as arithmetically combining,
composing, and inverting commonly used functions, using technology to perform
such operations on more-complicated symbolic expressions;
▪ understand and compare the properties of classes of functions, including
exponential, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and periodic functions;
▪ interpret representations of functions of two variables.
Represent and analyze mathematical situations and
structures using algebraic symbols
▪ understand the meaning of equivalent forms of expressions, equations,
inequalities, and relations;
▪ write equivalent forms of equations, inequalities, and systems of equations
and solve them with fluency—mentally or with paper and pencil in simple cases
and using technology in all cases;
▪ use symbolic algebra to represent and explain mathematical relationships;
▪ use a variety of symbolic representations, including recursive and parametric
equations, for functions and relations;
▪ judge the meaning, utility, and reasonableness of the results of symbol
manipulations, including those carried out by technology.
Use mathematical models to represent and understand
quantitative relationships
▪ identify essential quantitative relationships in a situation and
determine the class or classes of functions that might model the relationships;
▪ use symbolic expressions, including iterative and recursive forms, to
represent relationships arising from various contexts;
▪ draw reasonable conclusions about a situation being modeled.
Analyze change in various contexts
▪ approximate and interpret rates of change from graphical and numerical
data.
Geometry Standard
Analyze characteristics and properties of two- and
three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about
geometric relationships
▪ analyze properties and determine attributes of two- and three-dimensional
objects;
▪ explore relationships (including congruence and similarity) among classes of
two- and three-dimensional geometric objects, make and test conjectures about
them, and solve problems involving them;
▪ establish the validity of geometric conjectures using deduction, prove
theorems, and critique arguments made by others; • use trigonometric
relationships to determine lengths and angle measures.
Specify locations and describe spatial relationships
using coordinate geometry and other representational systems
▪ use Cartesian coordinates and other coordinate systems, such as
navigational, polar, or spherical systems, to analyze geometric situations;
▪ investigate conjectures and solve problems involving two- and
three-dimensional objects represented with Cartesian coordinates.
Apply transformations and use symmetry to analyze
mathematical situations
▪ understand and represent translations, reflections, rotations, and
dilations of objects in the plane by using sketches, coordinates, vectors,
function notation, and matrices;
▪ use various representations to help understand the effects of simple
transformations and their compositions.
Use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric
modeling to solve problems
▪ draw and construct representations of two- and three-dimensional
geometric objects using a variety of tools;
▪ visualize three-dimensional objects and spaces from different perspectives
and analyze their cross sections;
▪ use vertex-edge graphs to model and solve problems;
▪ use geometric models to gain insights into, and answer questions in, other
areas of mathematics;
▪ use geometric ideas to solve problems in, and gain insights into, other
disciplines and other areas of interest such as art and architecture.
Measurement Standard
Understand measurable attributes of objects and the
units, systems, and processes of measurement
▪ make decisions about units and scales that are appropriate for problem
situations involving measurement.
Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to
determine measurements.
▪ analyze precision, accuracy, and approximate error in measurement
situations;
▪ understand and use formulas for the area, surface area, and volume of
geometric figures, including cones, spheres, and cylinders;
▪ apply informal concepts of successive approximation, upper and lower bounds,
and limit in measurement situations;
▪ use unit analysis to check measurement computations.
Data Analysis and Probability Standard
Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and
collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them
▪ understand the differences among various kinds of studies and which types
of inferences can legitimately be drawn from each;
▪ know the characteristics of well-designed studies, including the role of
randomization in surveys and experiments;
▪ understand the meaning of measurement data and categorical data, of
univariate and bivariate data, and of the term variable;
▪ understand histograms, parallel box plots, and scatterplots and use them to
display data;
▪ compute basic statistics and understand the distinction between a statistic
and a parameter.
Select and use appropriate statistical methods to
analyze data
▪ for univariate measurement data, be able to display the distribution,
describe its shape, and select and calculate summary statistics;
▪ for bivariate measurement data, be able to display a scatterplot, describe
its shape, and determine regression coefficients, regression equations, and
correlation coefficients using technological tools;
▪ display and discuss bivariate data where at least one variable is
categorical;
▪ recognize how linear transformations of univariate data affect shape, center,
and spread;
▪ identify trends in bivariate data and find functions that model the data or
transform the data so that they can be modeled.
Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that
are based on data
▪ use simulations to explore the variability of sample statistics from a
known population and to construct sampling distributions;
▪ understand how sample statistics reflect the values of population parameters
and use sampling distributions as the basis for informal inference;
▪ evaluate published reports that are based on data by examining the design of
the study, the appropriateness of the data analysis, and the validity of
conclusions;
▪ understand how basic statistical techniques are used to monitor process
characteristics in the workplace.
Understand and apply basic concepts of probability
▪ understand the concepts of sample space and probability distribution and
construct sample spaces and distributions in simple cases;
▪ use simulations to construct empirical probability distributions;
▪ compute and interpret the expected value of random variables in simple cases;
▪ understand the concepts of conditional probability and independent events;
▪ understand how to compute the probability of a compound event.
Problem Solving Standard
▪ Build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving
▪ Solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts
▪ Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to solve problems
▪ Monitor and reflect on the process of mathematical problem solving
Reasoning and Proof Standard
▪ Recognize reasoning and proof as fundamental aspects of mathematics
▪ Make and investigate mathematical conjectures
▪ Develop and evaluate mathematical arguments and proofs
▪ Select and use various types of reasoning and methods of proof
Communication Standard
▪ Organize and consolidate their mathematical thinking through
communication
▪ Communicate their mathematical thinking coherently and clearly to peers,
teachers, and others
▪ Analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others;
▪ Use the language of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely.
Connections Standard
▪ Recognize and use connections among mathematical ideas
▪ Understand how mathematical ideas interconnect and build on one another to
produce a coherent whole
▪ Recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics
Representation Standard
▪ Create and use representations to organize, record, and communicate
mathematical ideas
▪ Select, apply, and translate among mathematical representations to solve
problems
▪ Use representations to model and interpret physical, social, and mathematical
phenomena