For some students approaching high school, Algebra looms ahead as a fearful, threatening, and sadly misunderstood class. Christian Light's Algebra 1 course takes the fear and misunderstandings out of the equation.

This Algebra 1 course teaches concepts in small increments and then continuously reviews and builds upon those concepts to help students retain and master the material. Students will appreciate the reference numbers after each direction line that indicate the lessons where the concept was previously taught. "Math in History" notes throughout the textbook spark students' interest and broaden their knowledge.

The course is divided into 10 units with a total of 160 lessons.

Contents

• Introduction

Unit 1: Measurements

• Introduction

Section 1

• 1.1 Types of Numbers
• 1.2 Graphing Real Numbers; Absolute Values
• 1.3 Real Number Properties; Fractions
• 1.4 Adding and Subtracting Fractions
• 1.5 Quiz 1 - How Wide is a Piece of Paper?

Section 2

• 1.6 Adding Positive and Negative Numbers
• 1.7 Multiplying and Dividing Fractions; Arithmetic with Decimals
• 1.8 Subtracting Positive and Negative Numbers
• 1.9 Variables, Constants, and Algebraic Expressions
• 1.10 Quiz 2 - What's the Temperature?

Section 3

• 1.11 Applications of Positive and Negative Numbers
• 1.12 Multiplying Positive and Negative Numbers
• 1.13 Dividing Positive and Negative Numbers
• 1.14 Ratios and Percents
• 1.15 Review for Test
• 1.16 Test - A Measure for Pleasure

Unit 2: Chinese Beginnings

• Introduction

Section 1

• 2.1 Exponents; Exponents and Negative Signs
• 2.2 Translating from Word Expressions to Math Expressions
• 2.3 Operations With Exponential Expressions
• 2.4 Order of Operations
• 2.5 Quiz - Marvelous Squares

Section 2

• 2.6 Using Parentheses to Translate from Word Expressions to Math Expressions
• 2.7 Combining Like Terms
• 2.8 Multiplying Terms
• 2.9 Dividing Terms
• 2.10 Quiz 2 - Dürer's Beautiful Square

Section 3

• 2.11 The Distributive Property
• 2.12 Roots and Radicals
• 2.13 Recognizing and Representing Values Algebraically
• 2.14 Equations
• 2.15 Review for Test
• 2.16 Test - The Game of Nim

Unit 3: Greek Discoveries

• Introduction

Section 1

• 3.1 The Distributive Property and Division
• 3.2 Mathematically Related Values
• 3.3 Solving More Complex Equations
• 3.4 Polynomials
• 3.5 Quiz 1 - Prime Numbers

Section 2

• 3.6 Factors and Factoring
• 3.7 Adding Polynomials
• 3.8 Greatest Common Factor
• 3.9 Complex Relationships Between Values
• 3.10 Quiz 2 - Perfect Numbers

Section 3

• 3.11 Solving Equations With Fractions or Decimals
• 3.12 Subtracting Polynomials
• 3.13 Factoring the Greatest Common Factor From a Polynomial
• 3.14 Simplifying Radicals
• 3.15 Review for Test
• 3.16 Test - Tight Around the Middle

Unit 4: Michael Faraday

• Introduction

Section 1

• 4.1 Solving Literal Equations
• 4.2 Setting up Equations
• 4.3 Simplifying Radicals with Variables
• 4.4 Solving Two-Variable Equations
• 4.5 Quiz 1 - How Do You Spell That Number?

Section 2

• 4.6 Multiplying Binomials
• 4.7 Graphing Ordered Pairs
• 4.8 Graphing Inequalities
• 4.9 Graphing Two-Variable (Linear) Equations
• 4.10 Quiz 2 - Napier's Bones

Section 3

• 4.11 Graphing Compound Inequalities: Conjunctions and Disjunctions
• 4.12 Multiplying Larger Polynomials
• 4.13 Slopes of Linear Equation Graphs
• 4.14 Squaring Binomials
• 4.15 Review for Test
• 4.16 Test - Infinity in a Box

Unit 5: Hindu & Arabic Concepts

• Introduction

Section 1

• 5.1 The Slope Formula
• 5.2 Establishing Equalities Using Geometry or Additional Quantities
• 5.3 Multiplying Radicals
• 5.4 Graphing From the Slope-Intercept Form
• 5.5 Quiz 1 - A Poet's Version

Section 2

• 5.6 Mean, Median, and Mode
• 5.7 Solving Inequalities
• 5.8 Including the Value of Items in Equations
• 5.9 Simplifying Radicals with Numbers and Variables
• 5.10 Quiz 2 - From Another Point of View

Section 3

• 5.11 Multiplying Sum and Difference Binomials
• 5.12 Writing the Equation of a Graph
• 5.13 Establishing Equalities for Rates and Mixtures
• 5.14 Factoring a Difference of Squares
• 5.15 Review for Test
• 5.16 Test - A "Proof" That 2 Is Equal to 1

Unit 6: Music

• Introduction

Section 1

• 6.1 Graphing from the x- and y- intercepts
• 6.2 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials
• 6.3 Systems of Linear Equations
• 6.4 Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution
• 6.5 Quiz 1 - What Does it Look Like When Stars Sing?

Section 2

• 6.6 Stem-and-leaf Plots
• 6.7 Factoring Trinomials in the Form x² + bx + c
• 6.8 Direct Variation: y = kx
• 6.9 Rational Expressions: Canceling Factors
• 6.10 Quiz 2 - Turn Off That Noise!

Section 3

• 6.11 Solving Systems of Equations by Addition/Elimination
• 6.12 Reviewing Uses of the Negative Sign
• 6.13 Equalities Between Identical Formulas
• 6.14 Multiplying Rational Expressions
• 6.15 Review for Test
• 6.16 Test - Fibonacci Numbers and Music

Unit 7: Blaise Pascal

• Introduction

Section 1

• 7.1 Solving Systems of Equations by Multiplication/Addition
• 7.2 Factoring by Grouping
• 7.3 Writing a Linear Equation From a Point and a Slope
• 7.4 Dividing Rational Expressions
• 7.5 Quiz 1 - Pascal's Triangle

Section 2

• 7.6 Range and Standard Deviation
• 7.7 Factoring Trinomials in the Form ax² + bx + c
• 7.8 Adding and Subtracting Radicals
• 7.9 Writing a Linear Equation From Two Points
• 7.10 Quiz 2 - Take a Seat

Section 3

• 7.11 Equalities Between Interest Applications
• 7.12 Graphing Linear Inequalities
• 7.13 Inverse Variation: y = k/x
• 7.14 Dividing a Trinomial by a Binomial
• 7.15 Review for Test
• 7.16 Test - Only Pennies a Day!

Unit 8: Robert Boyle

• Introduction

Section 1

• 8.1 Factoring Completely
• 8.2 Writing Equivalent Rational Expressions
• 8.3 Adding and Subtracting Rationals With Common Denominators
• 8.4 Graphing Systems of Linear Inequalities
• 8.5 Quiz 1 - Responding to Pressure

Section 2

• 8.6 Box-and-Whisker Plots and Outliers
• 8.7 Dividing Polynomials with Remainders
• 8.8 Lowest Common Denominator
• 8.9 Quadratic Equations: Solving by Factoring
• 8.10 Quiz 2 - How'd He Do That?

Section 3

• 8.11 Rational Expressions: Excluded Values
• 8.12 Solving Applications by Using Systems of Equations
• 8.13 Functions
• 8.14 Dividing Larger Polynomials
• 8.15 Review for Test
• 8.16 Test - Unavoidable Patterns

Unit 9: Isaac Newton

• Introduction

Section 1

• 9.1 Quadratic Equations: Taking the Square Root of Both Sides
• 9.2 Dividing Radicals
• 9.3 Adding and Subtracting Rationals With Unlike Denominators
• 9.4 Rationalizing Denominators
• 9.5 Quiz 1 - Newton's Law of Gravity

Section 2

• 9.6 Scatter Plots
• 9.7 Equations: Completing the Square
• 9.8 Dividing Polynomials With Missing Terms
• 9.9 Complex Rational Expressions
• 9.10 Quiz 2 - In Perfect Balance

Section 3

• 9.11 Quadratic Equations: Solving by Completing the Square
• 9.12 The Domain of a Function
• 9.13 Solving Rational Expressions
• 9.14 Quadratic Equations: The Quadratic Formula
• 9.15 Review for Test
• 9.16 Test - Under the Arch

Unit 10: Matthew Maury

• Introduction

Section 1

• 10.1 Fractional Exponents
• 10.2 Absolute Value Equations
• 10.3 Canceling in Unit Conversion
• 10.4 Graphing Absolute Value Inequalities
• 10.5 Quiz 1 - Paths in the Seas

Section 2

• 10.6 Best Fit Lines and Extrapolation
• 10.7 The Discriminant of a Quadratic Equation
• 10.8 Multiplying and Dividing With Fractional Exponents
• 10.9 Longer Unit Conversions
• 10.10 Quiz 2 - Just One More Foot, Please

Section 3

• 10.11 Probabliity
• 10.12 Applications Using Inequalities
• 10.13 Function Notation
• 10.14 Graphing a System With an Equation and an Inequality
• 10.15 Review for Test
• 10.16 Test - Cartography: Four-Color Maps

• Glossary
• Index
• Acknowledgements and Credits
• Reference