Algebra I

Professor Sellers introduces the general topics and themes; describing his approach; a strategy for making the best use of the lessons and supplementary workbook; warming up with simple problems that demonstrate signed numbers and operations.

The order in which one does simple operations of arithmetic can make a big difference; how to solve problems that combine adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing; raising numbers to various powers; simplifying algebraic expressions.

Exploring various procedures for converting between percents, decimals and fractions; Professor Sellers notes that it helps to see these procedures as ways of presenting the same information in different forms.

Using variables as building blocks to create algebraic expressions, which are combinations of mathematical symbols that might include numbers, variables and operation symbols; tricks for translating the language of problems into the language of math.

By following basic rules on how to treat coefficients and exponents, one can simplify complicated algebraic expressions; using the commutative property of multiplication to rearrange the terms of an expression, making combining them relatively easy.

Exploring the coordinate plane, also known as the Cartesian plane, using graph paper and a pencil; how to plot points in the four quadrants of the plane; how to choose a scale for labeling the x and y axes; how to graph a linear equation.