The Algebra I, Intensified is a core course that provides a rigorous treatment of mathematics content for all MS students who have demonstrated mastery of the Virginia Standards of Learning in mathematics for Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8 and are ready to study additional advanced topics.
Students in Algebra I, Intensified build understanding within these strands:
- Expressions and Operations
- Equations and Inequalities
- Functions
- Statistics
In addition, the content of the standards is intended to support the following process goals for learning mathematics: Problem Solving, Communications, Connections, Representations, and Reasoning.
More specific examples of content components of the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) for Algebra I, Intensified include:
- Represent verbal quantitative situations algebraically and evaluate expressions.
- Perform operations on polynomials including applying the laws of exponents, operations, and factoring.
- Simplify square roots and cube roots.
- Algebraically solve multistep equations in one variable including linear, quadratic, and literal with an emphasis on practical problem solving.
- Solve systems of two linear equations in two variables graphically and algebraically.
- Represent the solution of linear inequalities in two variables graphically, including systems of inequalities.
- Determine slope, write equations, and graph linear equations in two variables.
- Investigate and analyze linear and quadratic function families both algebraically and graphically.
- Given a data set or practical situation, determine whether a direct or inverse variation exists and represent these algebraically and graphically.
- Given practical solutions, collect and analyze data, determine the equation of the curve of best fit, and make predictions for linear and quadratic functions.
Students in Algebra I, Intensified learn the above topics with greater depth and complexity. In addition, student gain experience with a number of additional topics, including:
- Absolute value equations and inequalities
- Radical expressions and equations
- Rational expressions and equations
- Additional work with quadratics both graphically and algebraically
- Examining additional functions
- Exponential growth and decay
- Pythagorean Theorem
- Distance and Midpoint
- Probability including permutations, combinations, compound events, surveys, and samples.
This course carries high school credit, will apply to high school graduation requirements, will impact high school GPA calculations, and will appear on student’s high school transcript. Please see page 56 and APS PIP 1-11.6.30 on HS credits at the MS for more information.