Pre-Algebra for 8th Graders

Pre-Algebra for 8th Graders is a core course that provides a rigorous treatment of content for eighth grade students. The Grade 8 standards refine all pre-algebra foundational understanding that students need to master in order to be successful in Algebra I and beyond. Students will build understanding within these strands:

1. Number and Number Sense
2. Computation and Estimation
3. Measurement
4. Probability and Statistics
5. Patterns, Functions, and Algebra

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 Grade 8 include:

• The real number system including computing and classifying with subsets of the system.
• Practical problems involving consumer applications.
• Determine the measure of unknown angles based on angle relationships.
• Computing volume and surface area of wide range of figures, including analysis and description of the effects of changing one attribute.
• Apply transformations including translations, reflections, and dilations.
• Construct three-dimensional models given top/bottom, side, and front/back views.
• Apply and verify the Pythagorean Theorem.
• Solve practical area and perimeter problems involving composite figures.
• Compare and contrast the probability of independent and dependent event and compute probabilities.
• Represent, make observations and inferences from, and compare and analyze boxplots and scatterplots.
• Evaluate and simplify algebraic expressions.
• Determine whether a relation in a function and determine domain and range and dependent and independent variables.
• Identify and interpret slope and intercept of a function given values, a graph, or an equation and make connections among verbal descriptions, tables, equations, and graphs.
• Solve multistep linear equations and inequalities in one variable on one or both sides, with an emphasis on practical problem application.