EngageNY
The Structure of Rational Expressions
Find out when rational expressions are closed. Pupils review adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing with rational numbers to make the connections to operations with rational expressions. Using specific examples, learners notice...
EngageNY
Algebraic Expressions—The Commutative and Associative Properties
Who says math is boring? Turn dry concepts like properties and vocabulary into an interesting instructional activity! Examine the commutative and associative properties of addition and multiplication using geometric reinforcement....
National Security Agency
Equations and Expressions
Learners demonstrate their knowledge pictorially, concretely, and abstractly in this unit meant to last three hours over three days. Using hands-on activities, manipulatives, real-world applications, and problem...
Curated OER
Domains
Your algebra learners work to address the order of operations applied to an expression's input variable and the limitations that may be created because of it. This simple task of a few very well-chosen exercises is elegant in it's way of...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Solving Linear Equations in One Variable
A thorough and professional appearance characterizes a lesson plan on linear equations. Maturing mathematicians are taught to identify and exemplify linear equations with a single variable. They also classify equations according to the...
Curated OER
Mixing Fertilizer
Your young landscapers do concentration calculations in this problem dealing with mixing fertilizer. Learners use and analyze rational expressions within this context.
Curated OER
Increasing or Decreasing? Variation 1
Your algebra learners analyze the value of an algebraic expression to decide if it will increase, decrease, or stay the same when one variable is changed as the others stay constant. Their collaborative efforts culminate with a written...
Curated OER
Increasing or Decreasing? Variation 2
Your algebra learners will manipulate an expression's form in order to make obvious the value of it increasing, decreasing, or staying the same, when one variable is changed as the others stay constant. Your future physicists'...
Math Solutions
Dr. Seuss Comes to Middle School Math Class
If you think Dr. Seuss has no place in a math classroom, then take a look at this resource. Based on the classic children's book Green Eggs and Ham, this sequence of activities engages children learning to model real-world contexts...
Illustrative Mathematics
Busy Day
This activity gets at the heart of algebraic reasoning and setting up equations with one variable to solve real-world problems. The worksheet has only one problem, but it requires that learners first use their own reasoning...
Education Development Center
Integer Combinations—Postage Stamps Problem (HS Version)
It seems the post office has run out of stamps! Learners build all the values of postage available if the post office only sells five- and seven-cent stamps. The task provides an opportunity to create an expression in two variables and...
EngageNY
Writing Equations Using Symbols
Build upon prior equation writing experience to create more complicated equations. Lesson one in a 33-part unit builds upon the class members' sixth and seventh grade experience of writing linear equations. Several examples...
Radford University
Land Development
Groups work with polynomials to devise functions that will model a selling price for property. The teams determine variables to create expressions to represent the cost required to develop land into a housing addition. Classmates then...
BW Walch
Linear & Exponential Functions
Positioned inside the framework of linear and exponential functions, this lesson is more of an investigation into the effects of changing variables and constants inside an expression. The author takes familiar formulas, those for...
EngageNY
Classification of Solutions
Is there one, none, or more? Through discussion or activity, scholars find the properties of an equation that will determine the number of solutions. They then use the properties discovered to figure out the number of solutions...
Mathematics Vision Project
Module 1: Getting Ready Module
This fabulous resource is a must-have for any algebra teacher's arsenal of lessons. Developing the idea of equations and use of variables from basic physical scenarios, learners gain valuable intuition in the structure and meaning of...
Curated OER
The Canoe Trip, Variation 2
The behavior of a rational function near a vertical asymptote is the focus around this trip up a river. Specifically, numerical and graphical understanding is studied. The canoe context pushes the variables as numbers, rather than as...
EngageNY
Federal Income Tax
Introduce your class to the federal tax system through an algebraic lens. This resource asks pupils to examine the variable structure of the tax system based on income. Young accountants use equations, expressions, and inequalities to...
EngageNY
Relationships Between Quantities and Reasoning with Equations and Their Graphs
Graphing all kinds of situations in one and two variables is the focus of this detailed unit of daily lessons, teaching notes, and assessments. Learners start with piece-wise functions and work their way through setting up and solving...
Curated OER
The Customers
Exploring functions not represented by an expression is this task's secret. As your learners organize business customers in a database, they explore the definition of what it is to be a function.
BioEd Online
Butterflies in Space
How does gravity affect the life cycle of a butterfly? Learn first-hand what types of investigations astronauts perform in space by following along with one of NASA's experiments. Create butterfly habitats in the classroom with specific...
Illustrative Mathematics
Guess My Number
Make a game out of solving equations. This particular activity works well for pairs of learners. Follow the instructions to have player one pick a number and player two verbally give an equation. Participants need to make sense of a...
Illustrative Mathematics
Toilet Roll
Potty humor is always a big hit with the school-age crowd, and potty algebra takes this topic to a whole new level. Here the class develops a model that connects the dimensions (radii, paper thickness, and length of paper) of a...
Illustrative Mathematics
Fruit Salad
Playing with values in this fruit salad problem allows learners to find out how many cherries were mixed in. Your middle schoolers can organize their thoughts in a chart before going into the equation. Eigth graders can skip the chart...