How does Common Core Algebra I prepare students for future math courses?

Common Core Algebra I builds a strong foundation in algebraic thinking, equation solving, and function analysis, essential for success in advanced math courses like Geometry and Algebra II.

What support is available for students struggling with Algebra I concepts?

Students can access online tutorials, video lessons, practice problems, and one-on-one tutoring to reinforce Algebra I concepts and improve their understanding of challenging topics.

How does Common Core Algebra I differ from traditional Algebra courses?

Common Core Algebra I emphasizes deeper conceptual understanding, real-world applications, and mathematical modeling, in addition to traditional computational skills and procedures.

What are the key topics covered in Common Core Algebra I?

Key topics include linear and quadratic equations, systems of equations, functions, exponents and radicals, polynomials, and data analysis and statistics.

How is student progress assessed in Common Core Algebra I?

Assessment includes regular homework, quizzes, tests, and projects that evaluate both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding, aligned with Common Core standards.

High School Math Courses - Common Core Curriculum

Discover Common Core-aligned Algebra I for high school students. Master equations, functions, and data analysis with our comprehensive curriculum designed to build a strong mathematical foundation.

High School Math Courses - Common Core Curriculum

Common Core IDStandardStudyPug Topic

CC.HSA.CED.A.1Create equations and inequalities in one variable and use them to solve problems. Include equations arising from linear and quadratic functions, and simple rational and exponential functions.
- Introduction to linear equations
- Solving rational equations
- Solving exponential equations using exponent rules
CC.HSA.CED.A.2Create equations in two or more variables to represent relationships between quantities; graph equations on coordinate axes with labels and scales.
- Slope intercept form: y = mx + b
- Graphs of rational functions
- Applications of rational equations
- Simplifying complex fractions
- Partial fraction decomposition
CC.HSA.CED.A.3Represent constraints by equations or inequalities, and by systems of equations and/or inequalities, and interpret solutions as viable or non-viable options in a modeling context.
- Determining number of solutions to linear equations
- Linear programming word problems
- Graphing reciprocals of linear functions
- Graphing reciprocals of quadratic functions
CC.HSA.CED.A.4Rearrange formulas to highlight a quantity of interest, using the same reasoning as in solving equations.
- Point-slope form: y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)
- Graphing quadratic inequalities in two variables
- Graphing systems of quadratic inequalities
CC.HSA.REI.A.1Explain each step in solving a simple equation as following from the equality of numbers asserted at the previous step, starting from the assumption that the original equation has a solution. Construct a viable argument to justify a solution method.
- Combination of both parallel and perpendicular line equations
- Applications of inequalities
- What is linear programming?
CC.HSA.REI.B.3Solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable, including equations with coefficients represented by letters.
- Solving one-step linear inequalities
- Solving multi-step linear inequalities
- Converting radicals to mixed radicals
- Converting radicals to entire radicals
- Adding and subtracting radicals
CC.HSA.REI.C.5Prove that, given a system of two equations in two variables, replacing one equation by the sum of that equation and a multiple of the other produces a system with the same solutions.
- Shortcut: Vertex formula
- Graphing quadratic functions: General form VS. Vertex form
- Finding the quadratic functions for given parabolas
CC.HSA.REI.C.6Solve systems of linear equations exactly and approximately (e.g., with graphs), focusing on pairs of linear equations in two variables.
- Solving systems of linear equations by elimination
- System of linear equations
CC.HSA.REI.D.10Understand that the graph of an equation in two variables is the set of all its solutions plotted in the coordinate plane, often forming a curve (which could be a line).
- Solving systems of linear equations by graphing
- Solving a linear system with matrices using Gaussian elimination
- The determinant of a 2 x 2 matrix
- The determinant of a 3 x 3 matrix (General & Shortcut Method)
CC.HSA.REI.D.11Explain why the x-coordinates of the points where the graphs of the equations y = f(x) and y = g(x) intersect are the solutions of the equation f(x) = g(x); find the solutions approximately, e.g., using technology to graph the functions, make tables of values, or find successive approximations. Include cases where f(x) and/or g(x) are linear, polynomial, rational, absolute value, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
- Graphing linear functions using table of values
- Graphing exponential functions
- Graphing logarithmic functions
- The inverse of 3 x 3 matrices with matrix row operations
- The inverse of 3 x 3 matrix with determinants and adjugate
CC.HSA.REI.D.12Graph the solutions to a linear inequality in two variables as a half-plane (excluding the boundary in the case of a strict inequality), and graph the solution set to a system of linear inequalities in two variables as the intersection of the corresponding half-planes.
- Inequalities of combined functions
- Graphing linear inequalities in two variables
- Graphing systems of linear inequalities
- 2 x 2 invertible matrix
- Solving linear systems using Cramer's Rule
CC.HSA.SSE.A.1Interpret expressions that represent a quantity in terms of its context.
- What is a polynomial?
- Applications of linear equations
CC.HSA.SSE.A.2Use the structure of an expression to identify ways to rewrite it.
- Polynomial components
- Simplifying rational expressions and restrictions
- Applications of polynomials
- Find the difference of squares: (a - b)(a + b) = (a^2 - b^2)
CC.HSA.SSE.B.3Choose and produce an equivalent form of an expression to reveal and explain properties of the quantity represented by the expression.
- Common factors of polynomials
- Adding and subtracting rational expressions
- Evaluating polynomials
- Using algebra tiles to factor polynomials
- Solving polynomial equations
CC.HSA.APR.A.1Understand that polynomials form a system analogous to the integers, namely, they are closed under the operations of addition, subtraction, and multiplication; add, subtract, and multiply polynomials.
- Multiplying binomial by binomial
- Multiplying polynomial by polynomial
- Polynomial functions
- Factoring trinomials
- Factoring difference of cubes
- Factoring sum of cubes
CC.HSA.APR.B.3Identify zeros of polynomials when suitable factorizations are available, and use the zeros to construct a rough graph of the function defined by the polynomial.
- Factoring polynomials: x^2 + bx + c
- Characteristics of polynomial graphs
- Factor theorem
- Rational zero theorem
CC.HSN.RN.A.1Explain how the definition of the meaning of rational exponents follows from extending the properties of integer exponents to those values, allowing for a notation for radicals in terms of rational exponents.
- Convert between radicals and rational exponents
- Exponents: Product rule (a^x)(a^y) = a^(x+y)
- Exponents: Division rule: a^x / a^y = a^(x-y)
- Exponents: Power rule: (a^x)^y = a^(xy)
- Exponents: Negative exponents
- Exponents: Zero exponent: a^0 = 1
- Exponents: Rational exponents
CC.HSN.RN.A.2Rewrite expressions involving radicals and rational exponents using the properties of exponents.
- Solving for exponents
- Operations with radicals
- Conversion between entire radicals and mixed radicals
- Converting radicals to mixed radicals
- Converting radicals to entire radicals
- Adding and subtracting radicals
- Multiplying and dividing radicals
- Rationalize the denominator
- Evaluating and simplifying radicals
CC.HSF.IF.A.1Understand that a function from one set (called the domain) to another set (called the range) assigns to each element of the domain exactly one element of the range. If f is a function and x is an element of its domain, then f(x) denotes the output of f corresponding to the input x. The graph of f is the graph of the equation y = f(x).
- Domain and range of a function
- Function notation (advanced)
- Identifying functions
CC.HSF.IF.A.2Use function notation, evaluate functions for inputs in their domains, and interpret statements that use function notation in terms of a context.
- Function notation
- Difference quotient: applications of functions
CC.HSF.IF.B.4For a function that models a relationship between two quantities, interpret key features of graphs and tables in terms of the quantities, and sketch graphs showing key features given a verbal description of the relationship.
- Word problems of graphing linear functions
- Characteristics of quadratic functions
- Relationship between two variables
- Understand relations between x- and y-intercepts
- Combining transformations of functions
- Reflection across the y-axis: y = f(-x)
- Reflection across the x-axis: y = -f(x)
- Transformations of functions: Horizontal stretches
- Transformations of functions: Vertical stretches
CC.HSF.IF.B.5Relate the domain of a function to its graph and, where applicable, to the quantitative relationship it describes.
- Point of discontinuity
- Even and odd functions
CC.HSF.IF.B.6Calculate and interpret the average rate of change of a function (presented symbolically or as a table) over a specified interval. Estimate the rate of change from a graph.
- Rate of change
- Direct variation
CC.HSF.IF.C.7Graph functions expressed symbolically and show key features of the graph, by hand in simple cases and using technology for more complicated cases.
- Graphing linear functions using a single point and slope
- Graphing quadratic functions: General form VS. Vertex form
- Graphing exponential functions
- Graphing logarithmic functions
- Graphing from slope-intercept form y=mx+b
- Graphing transformations of exponential functions
- Sine graph: y = sin x
- Cosine graph: y = cos x
- Tangent graph: y = tan x
- Cotangent graph: y = cot x
- Secant graph: y = sec x
- Cosecant graph: y = csc x
CC.HSF.IF.C.9Compare properties of two functions each represented in a different way (algebraically, graphically, numerically in tables, or by verbal descriptions).
- Parallel and perpendicular lines in linear functions
- Graphs of rational functions
- Inequalities of combined functions
CC.HSF.BF.A.1Write a function that describes a relationship between two quantities.
- Applications of linear relations
- Finding an exponential function given its graph
- Finding a logarithmic function given its graph
CC.HSF.BF.A.2Write arithmetic and geometric sequences both recursively and with an explicit formula, use them to model situations, and translate between the two forms.
- Arithmetic sequences
- Geometric sequences
- Arithmetic series
- Geometric series
- Infinite geometric series
CC.HSF.BF.B.3Identify the effect on the graph of replacing f(x) by f(x) + k, k f(x), f(kx), and f(x + k) for specific values of k (both positive and negative); find the value of k given the graphs. Experiment with cases and illustrate an explanation of the effects on the graph using technology.
- Transformations of quadratic functions
- Transformations of functions: Horizontal translations
- Transformations of functions: Vertical translations
CC.HSF.LE.A.1Distinguish between situations that can be modeled with linear functions and with exponential functions.
- Introduction to nonlinear equations
- Solving exponential equations using exponent rules
- Exponential decay: Half-life
- Exponential growth and decay by percentage
CC.HSF.LE.A.2Construct linear and exponential functions, including arithmetic and geometric sequences, given a graph, a description of a relationship, or two input-output pairs (include reading these from a table).
- Graphing linear functions using table of values
CC.HSF.LE.A.3Observe using graphs and tables that a quantity increasing exponentially eventually exceeds a quantity increasing linearly, quadratically, or (more generally) as a polynomial function.
- Parallel line equation
- Quadratic function in general form: y = ax^2 + bx + c
CC.HSF.LE.B.5Interpret the parameters in a linear or exponential function in terms of a context.
- Exponential growth and decay by a factor
- Finance: Compound interest
- Continuous growth and decay
- Logarithmic scale: Richter scale (earthquake)
- Logarithmic scale: pH scale
- Logarithmic scale: dB scale
- Finance: Future value and present value
CC.HSA.REI.B.4Solve quadratic equations in one variable.
- Solving quadratic equations by factoring
- Solving quadratic equations by completing the square
- Using quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations
- Multiplying and dividing radicals
- Rationalize the denominator
CC.HSA.REI.C.7Solve a simple system consisting of a linear equation and a quadratic equation in two variables algebraically and graphically.
- System of linear-quadratic equations
- Nature of roots of quadratic equations: The discriminant
- Applications of quadratic equations
- Solving quadratic inequalities
CC.HSF.IF.C.8Write a function defined by an expression in different but equivalent forms to reveal and explain different properties of the function.
- Slope intercept form: y = mx + b
- General form: Ax + By + C = 0
- Point-slope form: y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)
- Converting from general to vertex form by completing the square
- Adding functions
- Subtracting functions
- Multiplying functions
- Dividing functions
- Operations with functions
CC.HSS.ID.A.1Represent data with plots on the real number line (dot plots, histograms, and box plots).
- Reading and drawing histograms
- Box-and-whisker plots and scatter plots
- Frequency tables and dot plots
- Frequency distribution and histograms
CC.HSS.ID.A.2Use statistics appropriate to the shape of the data distribution to compare center (median, mean) and spread (interquartile range, standard deviation) of two or more different data sets.
- Median and mode
- Mean
- Range and outliers
- Center of a data set: mean, median, mode
- Spread of a data set - standard deviation & variance
CC.HSS.ID.A.3Interpret differences in shape, center, and spread in the context of the data sets, accounting for possible effects of extreme data points (outliers).
- Application of averages
- Shapes of distributions
CC.HSS.ID.B.6Represent data on two quantitative variables on a scatter plot, and describe how the variables are related.
- Reading and drawing line graphs
- Bivariate, scatter plots and correlation
CC.HSS.ID.C.7Interpret the slope (rate of change) and the intercept (constant term) of a linear model in the context of the data.
- Slope intercept form: y = mx + b
- Rate of change
- Regression analysis