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Algebra Course Lesson Outline
     The reason that we named our program "Algebra: A Complete Course," is that we believe the best way to learn Algebra is to start at the beginning and end at the end! In this program you will find a complete study of the essential material covered in a traditional Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 course.

     However, we need to continue a little further in our description because Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 are terms that refer mostly to the traditional way that Algebra has been taught. Traditional Algebra 1 classes attempt to cover most of Algebra in the first year, but the methods that are used, and the speed with which the material is covered, hinders student understanding of the material. Instead, the student is just exposed to memorizing rules, formulas, tricks, and shortcuts. By the time they get to what is called an Algebra 2 course, (sometimes after they take a Geometry course), they have forgotten almost all of the Algebra that they memorized. So, that Algebra 2 course (which is by definition, a rehash of whatever has been called “Algebra 1”), must repeat practically all of the Algebra 1 course. In fact, it usually repeats a lot of the Pre-Algebra material as well. This is usually referred to as the "spiral method" of learning, and it is not very effective in helping students to excel, especially at this level of mathematics.

     We think that this huge overlap is generally unproductive, and largely unnecessary if the concepts are taught analytically. Therefore we call our program "Algebra: A Complete Course," because we employ a mastery-learning approach, sometimes moving at a slower pace, but without the overlap. 

     Below is a complete outline of every lesson included in the course.

MODULE A:

Teaching Disc #1

Unit I: The Structure of Mathematics

   Part A – Mathematics as a Language

            Mathematical Parts of Speech

            Mathematical Expressions

            Translations of Mathematical Symbols

   Part B – Further Investigation of Number Symbols

            The Development of Our Number System

            Fraction Forms and Decimal Forms

            Changing Fraction Forms to Decimal Forms

            Changing Decimal Forms to Fraction Forms

            Percent

            Primes, Composites, and Factoring

            Least Common Multiple

            Greatest Common Factor


Teaching Disc #2

(Unit I Continued)

   Part C – Further Investigation of Operation Symbols

            Order of Operations

            Properties of Operations

            Properties of Operations with Special Numbers

Operations with Fractions - Multiplication

Operations with Fractions - Addition and Subtraction

Operations with Fractions - Division

Operations with Decimals

Operations with Signed Numbers – Vectors and Absolute Value

Operations with Signed Numbers – Addition

Operations with Signed Numbers – Subtraction

Operations with Signed Numbers – Multiplication and Division


Teaching Disc #3

(Unit I Continued)

   Part D – Further Investigation of Relation Symbols

            Order of Numbers and the Number Line

            Properties of Equality

            Properties of Inequality

   Part E – Mathematical Models

            The Mathematics of Sets

            The Mathematics of Functions

 

MODULE B:

Teaching Disc #4

Unit II: First Degree Relations with One Placeholder

   Part A – Basic Equations and Inequalities

            Solution Statements and Solution Sets

            First Type – Making Zeros

            Second Type – Making Ones

            Combinations

   Part B – Complications on Equations and Inequalities

            Grouping Symbols

            Like Terms on the Same Side

            Placeholders on Both Sides

            Combinations

   Part C – Special Cases of Equations and Inequalities

            No Solution

            Infinite Number of Solutions

   Part D – Systems of Equations and Inequalities

            Compound Sentences with “and”

            Compound Sentences with “or”

            Absolute Value Equal to a Positive Number (or)

            Absolute Value Less Than a Positive Number (and)

            Absolute Value Greater Than a Non-Negative Number (or)


Teaching Disc #5

(Unit II Continued)

   Part E – Problem Solving Using One Placeholder

            General Strategy and Set Up

            “Number” Problems

            “Consecutive Integer” Problems

            “Age” Problems

            “Geometric Figure” Problems

            “Motion” Problems

            “Percent” Problems


Teaching Disc #6

Unit III: First Degree Relations with Two Placeholders

   Part A – Solution Set for One Open Sentence

            Solution Sets for Equations

            Solution Sets for Inequalities

            Graphing Terminology

            Graphing Techniques for y = mx

            Graphing Techniques for y = mx + b

            Graphing Techniques – Intercepts

   Part B – Special Cases of Solution Sets

            y = a, y < a, y > a

            x = a, x < a, x > a

            Absolute Value

 

MODULE C:

Teaching Disc #7

(Unit III Continued)

   Part C – Finding Relations For Given Solution Sets

            Given the Slope and y-Intercept

            Given the Slope and One Solution

            Given Two Solutions

            Special Cases – Given Parallel or Perpendicular Lines

   Part D – Solution Sets for Systems of Two Open Sentences

            Graphic Solution for Equations

            Graphic Solution for Inequalities

            Algebraic Solution for Equations – Elimination by Addition

            Algebraic Solution for Equations – Elimination by Substitution


Teaching Disc #8

(Unit III Continued)

   Part E – Special Cases of Solution Sets for Systems

            No Solution – Inconsistent

            Infinite Number of Solutions – Dependent

   Part F – Problem Solving Using Two Placeholders

            General Strategy and Set Up

            “Number” Problems

            “Age” Problems

            “Geometric Figure” Problems

            “Motion” Problems

            “Percent” Problems

            “Value” or “Mixture” Problems


Teaching Disc #9

Unit IV: First Degree Relations with Three or More Placeholders

   Part A – Solutions Sets

            One Open Sentence

            Two Open Sentences

            Systems of Three or More Open Sentences (Algebraic Solutions)

   Part B – Special Cases

            No Solution – Inconsistent

            Infinite Number of Solutions – Dependent

   Part C – Problem Solving Using Three or More Placeholders

            “Number” Problems

            “Age” Problems

            “Geometric Figure” Problems

            “Value” or “Mixture” Problems

 

MODULE D:

Teaching Disc #10

Unit V: Second Degree Relations and Higher - Polynomials

    Part A – Exponent Notation

            Definitions and Terminology

            Operations with Powers

            Extensions of Operations with Powers

            Special Cases of Powers

            Scientific Notation

   Part B – Polynomials

            Algebraic Expressions

            Definition and Terminology

            Operations – Addition and Subtraction

            Operations – Multiplication

            Operations – Division


Teaching Disc #11

(Unit V Continued)

   Part C – Solving Equations and Inequalities by Factoring

            Principle of Zero-Products

            Special Products – Common Factor

            Special Products – Difference of Squares

            Special Products – Perfect Square Trinomial

            Special Products – General Trinomial

            Special Products – Four-Term Polynomial

            Special Products – Sum or Difference of Cubes

            General Factoring Strategy

            Synthetic Division

            Literal Equations


Teaching Disc #12

(Unit V Continued)

   Part D – Problem Solving with Higher-Order Relations

            “Number” Problems

            “Consecutive Integer” Problems

            “Geometric Figure” Problems

            “Formula” Problems

 

MODULE E:

Teaching Disc #13

(Unit VI): Second Degree Relations and Higher Algebraic Fractions

   Part A – Operations

            Simplifying

            Multiplication

            Division

            Addition and Subtraction

            Complex Forms

   Part B – Solving Open Sentences

            Equations – Arithmetic Case

            Equations – Algebraic Case

            Inequalities – Algebraic Case

            Literal Equations

   Part C – Problem Solving with Algebraic Fractions

            “Fraction” Problems

            “Work” Problems

            “Motion” Problems

            “Direct Variation” Problems

            “Inverse Variation” Problems

            “Mixed Variation” Problems


Teaching Disc #14

Unit VII: Relations of Rational Number Degree

   Part A – Rational Numbers as Exponents

            Fractions as Exponents

            Odd and Even “kth” Roots

   Part B – Operations with Radical Expressions

            Multiplication

            Simplifying with Perfect Powers

            Division and Simplifying

            Addition and Subtraction

            Radical Expressions in Polynomials

            Rationalizing Denominators

   Part C – Solving Radical Equations

            Equations with One Radical Expression

            Equations with Two Radicals or More

   Part D – Problem-Solving with Relations Containing Radicals

            The “Distance” Relation

            “Formula” Problems

   Part E – The Complex Numbers as a Mathematical System

            Imaginary and Complex Numbers

            Addition and Subtraction

            Multiplication

            Division


Teaching Disc #15

Unit VIII: Quadratic Equations

   Part A – Solving Quadratic Equations of the Form ax² + bx + c = 0

            Suppose a = 0, b = 0, or c = 0

            Suppose a, b, c ≠ 0

            The Quadratic Formula

            Checking Solutions

            Quadratic Inequalities

   Part B – Equations That Are Quadratic in Form

            Higher Integer Order

            Lower Rational Order, Greater Than Zero

            Integer Order, Less Than Zero

   Part C – Problem Solving With Quadratic Relations

            “Geometric Figure” Problems

            “Pythagorean Theorem” Problems

            “Work” Problems

            “Motion” Problems

 


MODULE F:

Teaching Disc #16

Unit IX: The Conic Sections

   Part A – Parabolas – The Quadratic Function

            Origins

            The Graph of y = ax²

            The Graph of y = (x - h)²

            The Graph of y = x² + k

            The Graph of y = a(x – h)² + k

            Intercepts

   Part B – Circles

            Standard Form

            Not Standard Form

   Part C – Ellipses

            Standard Form

            Not Standard Form

   Part D - Hyperbolas

            Standard Form

            Not Standard Form

   Part E – Solving Systems of Relations

            One First-Degree and One Second-Degree

            Two Second-Degree

   Part F – Problem Solving with Non-Linear Systems

            “Number” Problems

            “Geometric Figures” Problems


Teaching Disc #17

Unit X: Literal Degree Relations

   Part A – Exponential Functions

            Graphs of Solution Sets for f(x) = a x

            Graphs of Solution Sets for f(y) = a y

   Part B – Logarithmic Functions

            Logarithmic Functions as Inverses of Exponential Functions

            Graphs of Solution Sets for f(x) = log a(x)

   Part C – Operations with Logarithms

            Properties of Logarithms

            Finding Logarithms

            Computation

   Part D – Solving Open Sentences

            Exponential Equations

            Logarithmic Equations

 


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