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Algebra 1
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Currently enrolled students login here
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Description
This course will cover the topics normally covered in a first year high school algebra course. This course is normally taken by students in grade eight or nine. Students should have completed a course in Pre-algebra or its equivalent before enrolling in Algebra 1.
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Fees
The cost of the course is $68 per month for nine months for students attending the class, $58 per month for distance learners. Registration fees for homeschool classes at various locations (LAC, SNA, Dunwoody, etc.) also apply. Students will need to purchase a copy of the “Student Workbook and Notes”, which should be less than $20. Students may borrow a copy of the textbook from the teacher at no charge, and videos of the class lectures will be provided on line or on computer disc at no additional cost.
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Lecture Notes and Class Time
Class time will primarily be spent on instruction. The lecture notes are a key part of the class. These notes are prepared in advance and given to the students, but with much of the material deleted and replaced by blank space on the page. During the lecture, the students fill in the blank areas, solve the example problems, and add any notes they need to. By the end of the year, the students will have what amounts to their own complete text made from the lectures delivered and the problems worked in class. A sample of these lecture notes is available on the website.
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Textbook
The textbook is no longer required for this class. All of the course content comes from the lectures and the Student Workbook. The course was originally based on Algebra, Structure and Method, Book 1 by Brown, Dolciani, Sorgenfrey, and Cole, published by McDougal Littell, 2000 edition. The topics covered in this course correspond closely to the topics covered in this book, although the explanations in the lectures are expanded over those in the book, at times significantly. If needed, a copy of the textbook can be provided to serve as a reference and as a source of additional practice problems.
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Homework, Tests and Grades
Students will be given specific assignments to do on their own each week. Assignments will consist of additional lectures delivered on the computer, problems to practice, and homework assignments that will be collected and graded. To allow for the maximum amount of instructional time in class, tests will be given at home. One final exam for each semester will be taken in class at the end of the semester. Students will receive a numerical grade for each semester and for the year. The grade is calculated based on tests, graded homework and the final exams.
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Difficulty Level
Not all students require the same pace and difficulty level. Some may need or prefer a class that is more challenging and at a faster pace, while some may desire a class that is not accelerated. This class is offered simultaneously on two difficulty levels, standard and honors. The lectures are the same for both. The honors students will have additional homework problems that are more difficult, and will have more challenging tests. Note that the honors class is not an AP class. It is simply a more challenging version of the same course. The goal is for the classes to closely correspond to “Standard Algebra 1" and “Honors Algebra 1" classes at a good private school. Students will decide whether they would prefer the standard or honors version of the course about a month into the course, after having had a chance to look at some tests and assignments.
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Computer Access
Access to a computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) with either a CD drive or a high speed internet connection is strongly recommended for this course. Videos of the lectures will be available to the students over the web or on CD. These lectures contain both audio and video and cover the same material covered in class. The videos allow students to review the material, to hear the explanations again if needed, and to see example problems being worked out with detailed explanations. They also insure that the students receive all of the instruction, even if they miss a class or if all of the material is not covered given the limited class time.
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The Instructor
Derek Owens taught physics, honors physics, AP Physics, and AP computer science at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA from 1988-2000. He currently teaches Physics in the summer school program at Westminster as well as AP Calculus at Providence Christian Academy. He graduated from Duke University in 1988 with a degree in mechanical engineering and physics, and worked at the TIP program at Duke for two years, teaching physics and heading the Satellite Science Program. He received a National Science Foundation scholarship and studied history and philosophy of science at L’Abri Fellowship in England. He worked as a software developer for five years before returning to teaching. This will be his sixth school year teaching homeschoolers in the Atlanta area. He and his wife Amor and their two children Claire and David attend Grace Fellowship Church, a non-denominational church near their home in Lawrenceville.
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Course Syllabus
These topics comprise the material normally taught in a first year high school algebra course.
- Chapter 1: Introduction
Variables, Order of Operations, Equations, Translating Words into Symbols and Equations, An Approach to Problem Solving
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Chapter 2: Real Numbers
Basic Assumptions, The Number Line, Addition and Subtraction, The Distributive Property, Multiplication, Reciprocals, Division of Real Numbers
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Chapter 3: Solving Equations
Balancing Equations with Addition and Subtraction, Balancing Equations with Multiplication and Division, Solving Equations in Multiple Steps, Equations with Variables on Both Sides, Problem Solving using Charts
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Chapter 4: Polynomials
Exponents, Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials, Multiplying Monomials, Powers of Monomials, Multiplying Polynomials, Formulas, Distance-Rate-Time Problems, Area Problems, Problems with No Solutions
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Chapter 5: Factoring
Factoring Integers, Dividing Monomials, Monomial Factors, Multiplying Binomials, Difference of Two Squares, Squaring Binomials, Factoring Patterns, Factoring by Grouping, Factoring by Multiple Methods, Using Factoring to Solve Problems
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Chapter 6: Fractions
Simplifying Fractions, Multiplying and Dividing Fractions, Least Common Denominators, Adding and Subtracting Fractions, Mixed Expressions, Polynomial Long Division
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Chapter 7: Applying Fractions
Ratios, Proportions, Equations with Fractional Coefficients, Fractional Equations, Percents, Mixture Problems, Negative Exponents, Scientific Notation
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Chapter 8: Functions
Equations in Two Variables, Graphs of Points and Lines, The Slope of a Line, The Slope-Intercept Form of a Linear Equation, Determining the Equation of a Line, Linear and Quadratic Functions, Direct and Inverse Variation
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Chapter 9: Systems of Equations
Graphical Solutions to Systems of Equations, Solving Systems by Substitution, Solving Systems by Linear Combination, Applications of Systems of Equation
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Chapter 10: Inequalities
Order of Real Numbers, One Step Inequalities, Multiple Step Inequalities, Compound Inequalities, Absolute Value Inequalities, Graphing Linear Inequalities, Systems of Inequalities
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Chapter 11: Rational and Irrational Numbers
Properties of Rational Numbers, Decimal Forms of Rational Numbers, Rational Square Roots, Irrational Square Roots, The Pythagorean Theorem, Mathematical Operation of Radicals, Simple Radical Equations
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Chapter 12: Quadratic Functions
Quadratic Equations with Perfect Squares, Completing the Square, The Quadratic Formula, Graphs of Quadratic Equations, The Discriminant, Solving Problems Involving Quadratic Equations, Direct and Inverse Variation Involving Squares, Joint and Combined Variation.
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