United Grade 9 Algebra I
Chapters: 5
1. Relationships between quantities and reasoning with equations
Reasoning with units and quantities · Interpreting the structure of expressions · Creating equations and inequalities · Solving equations as reasoning · Solving equations and inequalities in one variable
- Measurement and Units: How We Measure Anything – To measure something is to compare it with a fixed amount called a unit. Every measurement has a number and a unit. Scientists everywhere use the SI system, with seven base units such as the metre, kilogram and second. Prefixes like kilo (×1000), centi (÷100) and milli (÷1000) make units bigger or smaller. A good measurement starts at zero, is read with the eye straight above the mark, and is only as accurate as the smallest division (least count). Rounded values hide a small range, given by upper and lower bounds.
- Algebraic Expressions: Variables, Terms and Simplifying – An algebraic expression uses letters (variables) and numbers joined by +, −, × and ÷, like 3x + 2. A variable stands for a number that can change. An expression is made of terms (3x and 2). In 3x, 3 is the coefficient; a term with no letter, like 2, is the constant. Like terms have exactly the same letter part (3x and 5x) and can be added; unlike terms (3x and 2, or x and x²) cannot. Substitution means putting a number in place of the letter to find the value. Expanding removes brackets: a(b + c) = ab + ac. Factorising is the reverse: take out the common factor. A formula is an expression that gives one quantity from others, and an identity is true for every value of the letter.
- Linear Equations in One Variable – A linear equation in one variable has one unknown (like x) with power 1, for example 2x + 3 = 11. An equation is like a balance: both sides are equal. To solve it, do the same thing to both sides (add, subtract, multiply or divide by the same non-zero number) until x is alone. Always check by putting the answer back in.
- Quadratic Equations – A quadratic equation has x² as its highest power: ax² + bx + c = 0 with a ≠ 0. It has at most two roots. Find them by factorising (split the middle term, then set each bracket to zero) or by the formula x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a. The discriminant D = b² − 4ac tells the nature of roots: D > 0 two different real roots, D = 0 two equal roots, D < 0 no real roots.
2. Linear and exponential relationships
Rational exponents · Solving systems of equations · Solving equations and inequalities graphically · Concept of a function and notation · Interpreting functions in context · Analyzing functions with different representations · Building functions to model relationships · Building new functions from existing ones · Linear, quadratic and exponential models · Interpreting parameters of models · Arithmetic and geometric sequences
- Laws of Exponents – An exponent tells how many times a base is multiplied by itself. Same base: multiply → add exponents, divide → subtract, power of a power → multiply. a⁰ = 1, a⁻ⁿ = 1/aⁿ and a^(1/n) is the nth root.
- Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables – Two equations like a₁x + b₁y = c₁ and a₂x + b₂y = c₂ each make a straight line. The answer that fits both is the point where the lines meet. Lines that cross give one answer, parallel lines give none, and lines that lie on top of each other give endless answers. We can find the answer by drawing (graph), by substitution or by elimination.
- Linear Inequalities in One Variable – An inequality compares two expressions with <, >, ≤ or ≥. A linear inequality in one variable looks like ax + b < c. Its answer is usually a whole range of numbers, not one number. We solve it like an equation: we may add or subtract the same number on both sides, and multiply or divide by the same positive number. If we multiply or divide by a negative number, the sign must flip. We show the answer on a number line: a hollow dot for < or > (end not included) and a filled dot for ≤ or ≥ (end included), with the shaded part showing all solutions. Double inequalities like −1 ≤ x < 3 give a piece of the line. If x must be a natural number or an integer, only the whole numbers in that range count.
- Functions: Input, Rule, Output – A function is a rule that gives exactly one output for each input. We write it as f(x). The output f(a) is called the image of a; an input that gives a certain output is a preimage. A function can be shown as words, a table, a formula or a graph. Its graph can go up (increasing), go down (decreasing) and have a highest point (maximum) or lowest point (minimum).
- Transformations of Functions – A transformation changes the graph of a parent function y = f(x) without changing its basic shape. Adding outside the function moves it vertically: f(x) + k moves up k. Changes inside the brackets act horizontally and the opposite way: f(x − h) moves right h. Multiplying outside, a·f(x), stretches vertically by a (and flips in the x-axis if a < 0). Multiplying inside, f(bx), squeezes horizontally by factor 1/b (and flips in the y-axis if b < 0). All together: y = a·f(b(x − h)) + k, and the point (0, 0) of the parent moves to (h, k).
- Exponential Functions – An exponential function has the form y = a·bˣ, where a ≠ 0 is the starting value and b > 0, b ≠ 1 is the growth factor. If b > 1 it grows; if 0 < b < 1 it decays. Each step of 1 in x multiplies y by b (a constant ratio), unlike a linear function which adds a constant. The graph of y = bˣ passes through (0, 1), has domain all real numbers, range y > 0, and the x-axis as a horizontal asymptote. The general form y = a·b^(k(x − d)) + c stretches, reflects and shifts it.
- Sequences and Progressions – A sequence is a list of numbers in a fixed order. We can describe it with a recursive rule (how to get the next term from the last one) or an explicit rule (a formula for term n). In an arithmetic progression (AP) we add the same number every time. In a geometric progression (GP) we multiply by the same number every time. Fractals and the Tower of Hanoi are fun patterns that hide these rules.
3. Descriptive statistics
Single-variable data · Two-variable data · Interpreting linear models
- Statistics: Asking Questions, Averages and Stacked Bar Graphs – Statistics starts with a question that has many possible answers. We collect data, organise it, show it in a graph, and find one number that sums it up. The mean is the fair share, the median is the middle value, and the mode is the most common value. A weighted average gives more importance to some values. Stacked and 100% stacked bar graphs show how a whole is split into parts.
- Two-Way Tables – A two-way table counts data for two categorical variables at once: one in the rows, one in the columns. Row and column totals are marginal totals. Dividing a cell by the grand total gives a joint relative frequency; dividing by its row (or column) total gives a conditional relative frequency. If conditional percentages differ a lot between groups, the variables are associated.
- Correlation: Scatter Diagram, Karl Pearson's Coefficient and Spearman's Rank Correlation – Correlation tells how two variables move together. It is positive when both rise together, negative when one rises as the other falls, and zero when there is no straight-line pattern. A scatter diagram shows it as a picture. Karl Pearson's coefficient r measures its direction and strength and always lies between −1 and +1. Spearman's rank correlation R uses ranks and works for qualities like beauty or honesty; tied ranks need a small correction.
4. Expressions and equations (quadratic)
Equivalent forms of expressions · Polynomial arithmetic · Solving quadratic equations · Linear-quadratic systems
- Exploring Algebraic Identities – An identity is an equation that is true for every value of the letters. Pictures prove them: a square of side (a + b) splits into a², ab, ab and b², so (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b². In the same way we get (a − b)², a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b), (x + a)(x + b), (a + b + c)² and (a + b)³. Read backwards, identities help us factorise, calculate fast and simplify rational expressions.
- Introduction to Polynomials – An algebraic expression is made of terms like 3x², −5x and 7. It is a polynomial when every power of the variable is a whole number (0, 1, 2, …). The degree is the biggest power. Degree 1 polynomials, y = ax + b, are called linear. They model things that grow or shrink by the same amount each step. a is the slope (change per step) and b is the y-intercept (starting value).
- Quadratic Equations – A quadratic equation has x² as its highest power: ax² + bx + c = 0 with a ≠ 0. It has at most two roots. Find them by factorising (split the middle term, then set each bracket to zero) or by the formula x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a. The discriminant D = b² − 4ac tells the nature of roots: D > 0 two different real roots, D = 0 two equal roots, D < 0 no real roots.
- Simultaneous Equations – Simultaneous equations are two or more equations that must be true at the same time. Their solution is the set of values that fits every equation. On a graph, each solution is a point where the graphs meet. With one straight line and one curve, put the line into the curve (substitution) to get a quadratic; its discriminant tells you if there are 2, 1 or 0 meeting points. With three linear equations, eliminate one letter at a time.
5. Quadratic functions and modeling
Rational and irrational numbers · Graphs and key features of quadratic functions · Piecewise, step and absolute value functions · Comparing linear, quadratic and exponential growth
- Irrational Numbers: √2, √3, the Square Root Spiral and Real Numbers – An irrational number cannot be written as p/q. Its decimal never ends and never repeats, like √2 = 1.41421356… or π. We can still mark √2 exactly on the number line: it is the diagonal of a square of side 1. We prove √2 and √3 are irrational by assuming they are fractions in lowest terms and reaching a contradiction. The square root spiral builds √2, √3, √4, √5 … one right triangle at a time. Rational and irrational numbers together form the real numbers; every repeating decimal can be turned back into p/q.
- Quadratic Functions and Their Graphs – A quadratic function is y = ax² + bx + c with a ≠ 0. Its graph is a U-shaped curve called a parabola. If a > 0 it opens up and has a lowest point; if a < 0 it opens down and has a highest point. That turning point is the vertex, at x = −b/2a. In vertex form y = a(x − h)² + k the vertex is (h, k).
- Piecewise, Absolute Value and Step Functions – A piecewise function uses different rules on different parts of its domain. To evaluate it, first find which interval x is in, then use only that rule. On the graph, a closed dot ● means the end point is included (≤ or ≥) and an open dot ○ means it is not (< or >). The absolute value function y = |x| is piecewise: −x for x < 0 and x for x ≥ 0, giving a V with vertex (0, 0); y = a|x − h| + k moves the vertex to (h, k). Step functions such as ⌊x⌋, ⌈x⌉ or a parking fee are flat pieces that jump at whole numbers.
- Exponential Functions – An exponential function has the form y = a·bˣ, where a ≠ 0 is the starting value and b > 0, b ≠ 1 is the growth factor. If b > 1 it grows; if 0 < b < 1 it decays. Each step of 1 in x multiplies y by b (a constant ratio), unlike a linear function which adds a constant. The graph of y = bˣ passes through (0, 1), has domain all real numbers, range y > 0, and the x-axis as a horizontal asymptote. The general form y = a·b^(k(x − d)) + c stretches, reflects and shifts it.