Mastering Algebra I: From Foundations to Problem Solving

This course is great for students who have completed prealgebra and need homework or exam assistance with Algebra I.  Typically, I use the lesson resources provided by the student for instruction.  My teaching tools include a whiteboard to practice problems and improve student engagement.  I demonstrate problem solving strategies by explaining each step. I encourage questions throughout the session and finish the sessions with an overview of what was covered. 

Topics that will be covered include Semester 2 content:

CHAPTER 7 – SOLVING SYSTEMS 
 Solve systems of equations by graphing, substitution, and elimination. 
 Graph linear inequalities. 
 Solve systems of linear inequalities by graphing. 

CHAPTER 8 – EXPONENTS  
 Simplify expressions with zero and negative exponents. 
 Evaluate exponential expressions. 
 Write numbers in scientific and standard notation. 
 Use and work with scientific notation. 
 Multiply and divide powers with the same base. 
 Raise a power, a product, and a quotient to a power. 
 Evaluate and graph exponential functions. 

CHAPTER 9 – POLYNOMIALS  
 Describe, add, and subtract polynomials. 
 Multiply a polynomial by a monomial. 
 Factor a monomial from a polynomial. 
 Multiply binomials using FOIL and distributive property. 
 Multiply trinomials and binomials. 
 Find the square of a binomial. 
 Find the difference of squares. 
 Factor trinomials and special cases (perfect square trinomials and difference of squares). 
 Factor polynomials with four terms by grouping. 

CHAPTER 10 – QUADRATICS  
 Graph quadratic functions and inequalities. 
 Find square roots. 
 Solve quadratic equations by graphing, square roots, factoring, completing the square, and the quadratic 
formula. 
 Use the discriminant to find the number of solutions of a quadratic equation. 

CHAPTER 11 – RADICALS (square roots) 
 Simplify radicals involving products and quotients. 
 Simplify sums, differences, products and quotients with radical expressions. 
 Solve equations containing radicals and identify extraneous solutions. 
 Graph square root functions. 

CHAPTER 12 – RATIONALS (fractions) 
 Graph rational functions. 
 Identify types of functions (linear, quadratic, absolute value, exponential, square root, and rational). 
 Simplify, multiply, and divide rational expressions. 
 Divide polynomials using long division. 
 Add and subtract rational expressions with like and unlike denominators. 
 Solve rational equations and proportions.