Algebra I

The language of equations, functions and graphs, learned with understanding and steady daily practice

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What to cover

62 of 71 lessons are MUST COVER. They are tested on the unit tests and exams, or are skills the SAT/ACT relies on. OPTIONAL lessons are enrichment. Do them if time allows. The course is complete when the MUST COVER lessons are done.

Unit 1: Foundations: Real Numbers and Expressions

MUST COVER 1.1 The Real Number System · exam, SAT/ACT
OPTIONAL 1.2 Properties of Real Numbers
MUST COVER 1.3 Order of Operations and Evaluating Expressions · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 1.4 Simplifying Expressions · exam
OPTIONAL 1.5 Translating Words into Algebra

Unit 2: Solving Linear Equations

MUST COVER 2.1 Solving One- and Two-Step Equations · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 2.2 Multi-Step Equations · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 2.3 Equations with Variables on Both Sides · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 2.4 Equations with Fractions and Decimals · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 2.5 Literal Equations and Formulas · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 2.6 Problem Solving with Linear Equations · exam, SAT/ACT

Unit 3: Linear Inequalities and Absolute Value

MUST COVER 3.1 Solving Inequalities · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 3.2 Multi-Step Inequalities · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 3.3 Compound Inequalities · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 3.4 Absolute Value Equations · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 3.5 Absolute Value Inequalities · exam, SAT/ACT

Unit 4: Relations and Functions

OPTIONAL 4.1 The Coordinate Plane and Relations
MUST COVER 4.2 What Is a Function? · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 4.3 Function Notation · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 4.4 Domain and Range · exam
MUST COVER 4.5 Sequences as Functions · exam, SAT/ACT

Unit 5: Linear Functions

MUST COVER 5.1 Rate of Change and Slope · exam, SAT/ACT
OPTIONAL 5.2 Direct Variation
MUST COVER 5.3 Slope-Intercept Form · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 5.4 Point-Slope Form · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 5.5 Standard Form and Intercepts · exam
MUST COVER 5.6 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines · exam
MUST COVER 5.7 Linear Models · exam, SAT/ACT

Unit 6: Systems of Equations and Inequalities

MUST COVER 6.1 Solving Systems by Graphing · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 6.2 Solving Systems by Substitution · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 6.3 Solving Systems by Elimination · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 6.4 Elimination with Multiplication · exam
MUST COVER 6.5 Applications of Systems · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 6.6 Linear Inequalities and Systems of Inequalities · exam, SAT/ACT

Unit 7: Exponents and Exponential Functions

MUST COVER 7.1 Properties of Exponents · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 7.2 Zero and Negative Exponents · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 7.3 Scientific Notation · exam
MUST COVER 7.4 Exponential Functions · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 7.5 Exponential Growth and Decay · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 7.6 Geometric Sequences · exam

Unit 8: Polynomials

MUST COVER 8.1 Polynomials and Their Terms · exam, SAT/ACT
OPTIONAL 8.2 Multiplying by a Monomial
MUST COVER 8.3 Multiplying Binomials and Polynomials · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 8.4 Special Products · exam
MUST COVER 8.5 Dividing Polynomials by Monomials · SAT/ACT

Unit 9: Factoring

MUST COVER 9.1 Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 9.2 Factoring x² + bx + c · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 9.3 Factoring ax² + bx + c · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 9.4 Factoring Special Products · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 9.5 Factoring by Grouping and Factoring Completely · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 9.6 Solving Equations by Factoring · exam, SAT/ACT

Unit 10: Radicals

OPTIONAL 10.1 Simplifying Square Roots
MUST COVER 10.2 Quotients and Rationalizing Denominators · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 10.3 Operations with Radical Expressions · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 10.4 Solving Radical Equations · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 10.5 The Pythagorean Theorem, Distance and Midpoint · exam, SAT/ACT

Unit 11: Quadratic Functions and Equations

OPTIONAL 11.1 Graphing y = ax²
MUST COVER 11.2 Graphing y = ax² + bx + c · exam
MUST COVER 11.3 Solving Quadratic Equations by Graphing and Square Roots · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 11.4 Completing the Square · exam
MUST COVER 11.5 The Quadratic Formula · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 11.6 The Discriminant and Choosing a Method · exam
MUST COVER 11.7 Vertex Form and Quadratic Models · exam, SAT/ACT

Unit 12: Rational Expressions: An Introduction

OPTIONAL 12.1 Inverse Variation
MUST COVER 12.2 Simplifying Rational Expressions · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 12.3 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions · SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 12.4 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions · exam, SAT/ACT
MUST COVER 12.5 Solving Rational Equations · exam, SAT/ACT

Unit 13: Data and Statistics: Scatter Plots and Lines of Fit

OPTIONAL 13.1 Scatter Plots and Correlation
MUST COVER 13.2 Lines of Best Fit · exam
MUST COVER 13.3 Choosing a Model: Linear, Exponential or Quadratic · exam, SAT/ACT

36-week pacing calendar

From the course’s own 32-week pacing guide, with catch-up and review weeks added to fill a 36-week (180-day) year.

Week	Plan	Done	Notes
Wk 1	Day 1: Lesson 1.1 The Real Number System Day 2: Lesson 1.2 Properties of Real Numbers Day 3: Lesson 1.3 Order of Operations and Evaluating Expressions Day 4: Lesson 1.4 Simplifying Expressions (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 1.4 Simplifying Expressions (day 2 of 2)
Wk 2	Day 1: Lesson 1.5 Translating Words into Algebra (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 1.5 Translating Words into Algebra (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Unit 1 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 4: Unit 1 test Day 5: Lesson 2.1 Solving One- and Two-Step Equations
Wk 3	Day 1: Lesson 2.2 Multi-Step Equations (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 2.2 Multi-Step Equations (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 2.3 Equations with Variables on Both Sides (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 2.3 Equations with Variables on Both Sides (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 2.4 Equations with Fractions and Decimals (day 1 of 2)
Wk 4	Day 1: Lesson 2.4 Equations with Fractions and Decimals (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 2.5 Literal Equations and Formulas (day 1 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 2.5 Literal Equations and Formulas (day 2 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 2.6 Problem Solving with Linear Equations (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 2.6 Problem Solving with Linear Equations (day 2 of 2)
Wk 5	Day 1: Unit 2 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 2: Unit 2 test Day 3: Lesson 3.1 Solving Inequalities Day 4: Lesson 3.2 Multi-Step Inequalities (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 3.2 Multi-Step Inequalities (day 2 of 2)
Wk 6	Day 1: Lesson 3.3 Compound Inequalities (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 3.3 Compound Inequalities (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 3.4 Absolute Value Equations (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 3.4 Absolute Value Equations (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 3.5 Absolute Value Inequalities (day 1 of 2)
Wk 7	Day 1: Lesson 3.5 Absolute Value Inequalities (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Unit 3 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 3: Unit 3 test Day 4: Lesson 4.1 The Coordinate Plane and Relations Day 5: Lesson 4.2 What Is a Function? (day 1 of 2)
Wk 8	Day 1: Lesson 4.2 What Is a Function? (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 4.3 Function Notation (day 1 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 4.3 Function Notation (day 2 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 4.4 Domain and Range (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 4.4 Domain and Range (day 2 of 2)
Wk 9	Day 1: Lesson 4.5 Sequences as Functions (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 4.5 Sequences as Functions (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Unit 4 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 4: Unit 4 test Day 5: Lesson 5.1 Rate of Change and Slope (day 1 of 2)
Wk 10	Day 1: Lesson 5.1 Rate of Change and Slope (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 5.2 Direct Variation Day 3: Lesson 5.3 Slope-Intercept Form (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 5.3 Slope-Intercept Form (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 5.4 Point-Slope Form (day 1 of 2)
Wk 11	Day 1: Lesson 5.4 Point-Slope Form (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 5.5 Standard Form and Intercepts (day 1 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 5.5 Standard Form and Intercepts (day 2 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 5.6 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 5.6 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines (day 2 of 2)
Wk 12	Day 1: Lesson 5.7 Linear Models (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 5.7 Linear Models (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Unit 5 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 4: Unit 5 test Day 5: Lesson 6.1 Solving Systems by Graphing (day 1 of 2)
Wk 13	Day 1: Lesson 6.1 Solving Systems by Graphing (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 6.2 Solving Systems by Substitution (day 1 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 6.2 Solving Systems by Substitution (day 2 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 6.3 Solving Systems by Elimination (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 6.3 Solving Systems by Elimination (day 2 of 2)
Wk 14	Day 1: Lesson 6.4 Elimination with Multiplication (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 6.4 Elimination with Multiplication (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 6.5 Applications of Systems (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 6.5 Applications of Systems (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 6.6 Linear Inequalities and Systems of Inequalities (day 1 of 2)
Wk 15	Day 1: Lesson 6.6 Linear Inequalities and Systems of Inequalities (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Unit 6 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 3: Unit 6 test Day 4: Midterm review (Units 1–6) Day 5: Midterm exam (Units 1–6)
Wk 16	Day 1: Lesson 7.1 Properties of Exponents (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 7.1 Properties of Exponents (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 7.2 Zero and Negative Exponents (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 7.2 Zero and Negative Exponents (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 7.3 Scientific Notation
Wk 17	Catch-up and review week (no new lessons)
Wk 18	Day 1: Lesson 7.4 Exponential Functions (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 7.4 Exponential Functions (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 7.5 Exponential Growth and Decay (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 7.5 Exponential Growth and Decay (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 7.6 Geometric Sequences
Wk 19	Day 1: Unit 7 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 2: Unit 7 test Day 3: Lesson 8.1 Polynomials and Their Terms (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 8.1 Polynomials and Their Terms (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 8.2 Multiplying by a Monomial
Wk 20	Day 1: Lesson 8.3 Multiplying Binomials and Polynomials (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 8.3 Multiplying Binomials and Polynomials (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 8.4 Special Products (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 8.4 Special Products (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 8.5 Dividing Polynomials by Monomials (day 1 of 2)
Wk 21	Day 1: Lesson 8.5 Dividing Polynomials by Monomials (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Unit 8 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 3: Unit 8 test Day 4: Lesson 9.1 Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 9.1 Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor (day 2 of 2)
Wk 22	Day 1: Lesson 9.2 Factoring x² + bx + c (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 9.2 Factoring x² + bx + c (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 9.3 Factoring ax² + bx + c (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 9.3 Factoring ax² + bx + c (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 9.4 Factoring Special Products (day 1 of 2)
Wk 23	Day 1: Lesson 9.4 Factoring Special Products (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 9.5 Factoring by Grouping and Factoring Completely (day 1 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 9.5 Factoring by Grouping and Factoring Completely (day 2 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 9.6 Solving Equations by Factoring (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 9.6 Solving Equations by Factoring (day 2 of 2)
Wk 24	Day 1: Unit 9 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 2: Unit 9 test Day 3: Lesson 10.1 Simplifying Square Roots (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 10.1 Simplifying Square Roots (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 10.2 Quotients and Rationalizing Denominators (day 1 of 2)
Wk 25	Day 1: Lesson 10.2 Quotients and Rationalizing Denominators (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 10.3 Operations with Radical Expressions (day 1 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 10.3 Operations with Radical Expressions (day 2 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 10.4 Solving Radical Equations (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 10.4 Solving Radical Equations (day 2 of 2)
Wk 26	Day 1: Lesson 10.5 The Pythagorean Theorem, Distance and Midpoint (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 10.5 The Pythagorean Theorem, Distance and Midpoint (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Unit 10 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 4: Unit 10 test Day 5: Lesson 11.1 Graphing y = ax² (day 1 of 2)
Wk 27	Day 1: Lesson 11.1 Graphing y = ax² (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 11.2 Graphing y = ax² + bx + c (day 1 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 11.2 Graphing y = ax² + bx + c (day 2 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 11.3 Solving Quadratic Equations by Graphing and Square Roots (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 11.3 Solving Quadratic Equations by Graphing and Square Roots (day 2 of 2)
Wk 28	Day 1: Lesson 11.4 Completing the Square (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 11.4 Completing the Square (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 11.5 The Quadratic Formula (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 11.5 The Quadratic Formula (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 11.6 The Discriminant and Choosing a Method (day 1 of 2)
Wk 29	Day 1: Lesson 11.6 The Discriminant and Choosing a Method (day 2 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 11.7 Vertex Form and Quadratic Models (day 1 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 11.7 Vertex Form and Quadratic Models (day 2 of 2) Day 4: Unit 11 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 5: Unit 11 test
Wk 30	Day 1: Lesson 12.1 Inverse Variation Day 2: Lesson 12.2 Simplifying Rational Expressions (day 1 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 12.2 Simplifying Rational Expressions (day 2 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 12.3 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions (day 1 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 12.3 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions (day 2 of 2)
Wk 31	Day 1: Lesson 12.4 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions (day 1 of 2) Day 2: Lesson 12.4 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions (day 2 of 2) Day 3: Lesson 12.5 Solving Rational Equations (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 12.5 Solving Rational Equations (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Unit 12 review (mastery checklist and missed problems)
Wk 32	Day 1: Unit 12 test Day 2: Lesson 13.1 Scatter Plots and Correlation Day 3: Lesson 13.2 Lines of Best Fit (day 1 of 2) Day 4: Lesson 13.2 Lines of Best Fit (day 2 of 2) Day 5: Lesson 13.3 Choosing a Model: Linear, Exponential or Quadratic
Wk 33	Day 1: Unit 13 review (mastery checklist and missed problems) Day 2: Unit 13 test Day 3: Final review (Units 1–6) Day 4: Final review (Units 7–13) Day 5: Final exam (Units 1–13)
Wk 34	Catch-up week: finish any MUST COVER lesson not yet done
Wk 35	Catch-up week: finish any MUST COVER lesson not yet done
Wk 36	Year-end review, portfolio and records

Grading: Daily practice sets 20%, Unit tests 50%, Midterm exam 15%, Final exam 15%. Scale: A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, below 60 redo