Discover Why its Important to Learn Algebra Well

Guidance for students in 8th grade algebra and 9th grade algebra

Whether your child is taking 8th grade algebra or 9th grade algebra, learn the key algebraic skills your child should master and discover why your child needs a strong foundation in this vital topic to be successful in future in high school math courses.

From the student's perspective, solving algebraic problems means doing "math with letters," meaning math that uses variables (represented by letters) as well as numbers.

What it really means, however, is using step-by-step techniques. So to learn algebra students study step-by-step techniques for using mathematics to solve algebraic problems.

A very simple example might be:
If my car gets 24 MPG on the highway and gas costs $4 per gallon, how much will I spend on gas on a roundtip to New York, 200 miles away?

Overview of Course Content
In the first part of the year, the student will review and practice with the rules or properties for working with numbers and variables.

For example, that when you multiply two negative numbers, you get a positive number. (In 8th grade algebra, generally a more academically vigorous course, there may be very little review of these skills. In 9th grade algebra, these rules may still be reviewed in the beginning of the algebra course.)

Often the reason your child will need help later in the year will be due to a lack of mastery in these rules and properties of numbers.

The rest of the curriculum to learn algebra is spent learning to use a combination of techniques, meaning special methods for setting up or working with algebraic expressions and equations and applications.

By applications, we mean the uses of algebraic methods to solve problems. These are the word problems, the true focus of the course, but from the student's perspective, usually the most daunting.

Help Resources for Outside the Classroom

If your child needsmath homework help because the material has become too hard for your student(and you) to complete in a reasonable amount of time, extra help may be necessary. ***Its very important for your child "get the hang" of algebraic thought now, when those concepts are still relatively simple and concrete.***

If your child is dealing with a math learning disability it's important to understand the special steps teachers, parents and the student himself can enact to help him be successful in all his high school math courses.

Here is a handy web-resource for finding the needed formulas when completing homework.

If your child is struggling, investing in extra help, like the courses offered by Kumon (pronounced koo-Mohn), an after-school program or a private math tutor may be well worth the time and money you'll spend.

Wyzant.com is a great resource to find a local math tutor to get one-on-one tutoring for your child!

By the way, many parents are not really certain why their child needs to learn math at all. If you can't confidently answer that question, please read, "Why Your Child Needs a Good High School Math Education.

Conversely, it's also very important, as the consumer of public math education, to be aware of the pitfalls of American Math Education, the problems may be at least partially to blame if your child is struggling to learn algebra.

Key Algebraic topics in a good course will include:

1. Course Introduction. Variables, grouping symbols, equations, translating into algebraic expressions and solving problems, number lines, opposites and absolute value.
2. Working with Real Numbers: properties; four arithmetic operations. (Check out out 7th Grade Math Problems page for an introduction to working with integers.
3. Solving Equations and Problems: solving equations with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or more than one operation; solving equations with the variable on both sides of the equation; math word problems.
4. Polynomials: exponents; addition, subtraction and multiplication of polynomials; problem solving with polynomials.
5. Factoring Polynomials: monomial factoring; factoring quadratic trinomials; solving equations by factoring; problem solving with factoring.
6. Algebraic Fractions: four arithmetic operations; polynomial division.
7. Applying Fractions: ratios and proportions; fractional equations; calculating percentages; further problem solving; negative exponents and scientific notation.
8. Introduction to Functions: equations in two variables; ordered pairs, lines and graphs; slope; slope-intercept form; relations and functions; determining the equation of a line; functions; direct and inverse variation.
9. Systems of Linear Equations: graphing systems of equations; substitution; linear combinations; using two variables to solve problems.
10. Inequalities: solving inequalities and problems involving inequalities; combined inequalities and absolute value; linear inequalities.
11. Rational and Irrational Numbers: properties of rational numbers; decimal form; rational square roots; irrational square roots; square roots of variable expressions; all operations with radicals; solving radical equations.

Learn how mastering the skill of calculating percentages will help your child succeed in all future math and science courses.

Learn more about Algebra 2.

Learn about about the Pitfalls of American Math Education.

Show me YOUR TOP RECOMMENDED PRACTICE BOOKS to help my child with Algebra

Show me your TOP RECOMMENDED PRACTICE SOFTWARE to help my child learn algebra

Show me why my child needs a good high school math education

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