Clusters should not be sorted from Major to Supporting and then taught in that order. To do so would strip the coherence of the mathematical ideas and miss the opportunity to enhance the major work of the grade with the supporting clusters.
Related Standards
Related Access Points
Access Points
Related Resources
Educational Software / Tool
Formative Assessments
Lesson Plans
Original Student Tutorials
Perspectives Video: Expert
Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiasts
Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea
Problem-Solving Tasks
Teaching Idea
Tutorials
Unit/Lesson Sequences
Video/Audio/Animations
Virtual Manipulative
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorials
Learn how to create systems of linear equations to represent contextual situations in this interactive tutorial.
This part 6 in a 7-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series.
- Part 1: Solving Systems of Linear Equations: Using Graphs
- Part 2: Solving Systems of Linear Equations: Substitution
- Part 3: Solving Systems of Linear Equations: Basic Elimination
- Part 4: Solving Systems of Linear Equations: Advanced Elimination
- Part 5: Solving Systems of Linear Equations: Connecting Algebraic Methods to Graphing
- Part 7: Solving Systems of Linear Equations: Word Problems (Coming soon)
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to solve rational linear and quadratic equations using cross multiplication in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to solve and graph compound inequalities and determine if solutions are viable in part 2 of this interactive tutorial series.
Click HERE to open Part 1.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to write equations in two variables in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to solve and graph one variable inequalities, including compound inequalities, in part 1 of this interactive tutorial series.
Click HERE to open Part 2.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Write linear inequalities for different money situations in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Perspectives Video: Expert
<p>It's important to stay inside the lines of your project constraints to finish in time and under budget. This NASA systems engineer explains how constraints can actually promote creativity and help him solve problems!</p>
Type: Perspectives Video: Expert
Problem-Solving Tasks
The given solutions for this task involve the creation and solving of a system of two equations and two unknowns, with the caveat that the context of the problem implies that we are interested only in non-negative integer solutions. Indeed, in the first solution, we must also restrict our attention to the case that one of the variables is further even. This aspect of the task is illustrative of the mathematical practice of modeling with mathematics, and crucial as the system has an integer solution for both situations, that is, whether we include the dollar on the floor in the cash box or not.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
In this task, students will use inverse operations to solve the equations for the unknown variable or for the designated variable if there is more than one.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this task is to give students practice writing a constraint equation for a given context. Instruction accompanying this task should introduce the notion of a constraint equation as an equation governing the possible values of the variables in question (i.e., "constraining" said values). In particular, it is worth differentiating the role of constraint equations from more functional equations, e.g., formulas to convert from degrees Celsius to degree Fahrenheit. The task has students interpret the context and choose variables to represent the quantities, which are governed by the constraint equation and the fact that they are non-negative (allowing us to restrict the graphs to points in the first quadrant only).
The four parts are independent and can be used as separate tasks.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task presents a simple but mathematically interesting game whose solution is a challenging exercise in creating and reasoning with algebraic inequalities. The core of the task involves converting a verbal statement into a mathematical inequality in a context in which the inequality is not obviously presented, and then repeatedly using the inequality to deduce information about the structure of the game.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students are given a word problem that can be solved by using a pair of linear equations. This task does not actually require that the student solve the system but that they recognize the pairs of linear equations in two variables that would be used to solve the system. This is an important step in the process of solving systems.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task examines the ways in which the plane can be covered by regular polygons in a very strict arrangement called a regular tessellation. These tessellations are studied here using algebra, which enters the picture via the formula for the measure of the interior angles of a regular polygon (which should therefore be introduced or reviewed before beginning the task). The goal of the task is to use algebra in order to understand which tessellations of the plane with regular polygons are possible.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This is a challenging task, suitable for extended work, and reaching into a deep understanding of units. Students are given a scenario and asked to determine the number of people required to complete the amount of work in the time described. The task requires students to exhibit , Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. An algebraic solution is possible but complicated; a numerical solution is both simpler and more sophisticated, requiring skilled use of units and quantitative reasoning. Thus the task aligns with either MAFS.912.A-CED.1.1 or MAFS.912.N-Q.1.1, depending on the approach.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students manipulate a given equation to find specified information.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students solve problems tracking the balance of a checking account used only to pay rent. This simple conceptual task focuses on what it means for a number to be a solution to an equation, rather than on the process of solving equations.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students extrapolate the list price of a car given a total amount paid in states with different tax rates. The emphasis in this task is not on complex solution procedures. Rather, the progression of equations, from two that involve different values of the sales tax, to one that involves the sales tax as a parameter, is designed to foster the habit of looking for regularity in solution procedures, so that students don't approach every equation as a new problem but learn to notice familiar types.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
In this resource, students refer to given information which defines 5 variables in the context of real world government expenses. They are then asked to write equations based upon specific known values for some of the variables. The emphasis is on setting up, rather than solving, the equations.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task is designed to make students think about the meaning of the quantities presented in the context and choose which ones are appropriate for the two different constraints presented. In particular, note that the purpose of the task is to have students generate the constraint equations for each part (though the problem statements avoid using this particular terminology), and not to have students solve said equations. If desired, instructors could also use this task to touch on such solutions by finding and interpreting solutions to the system of equations created in parts (a) and (b).
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Tutorials
This video demonstrates solving a word problem by creating a system of linear equations that represents the situation and solving them using elimination.
Type: Tutorial
This video provides a real-world scenario and step-by-step instructions to constructing equations using two variables. Possible follow-up videos include Plotting System of Equations - Yoga Plan, Solving System of Equations with Substitution - Yoga Plan, and Solving System of Equations with Elimination - Yoga Plan.
Type: Tutorial
Evaluating Expressions with Two Variables
Type: Tutorial
Learn how to evaluate an expression with variables using a technique called substitution (or "plugging in").
Type: Tutorial
Our focus here is understanding that a variable is just a letter or symbol (usually a lower case letter) that can represent different values in an expression. We got this. Just watch.
Type: Tutorial
This lecture shows how algebra is used to solve problems involving mixtures of solutions of different concentrations.
Type: Tutorial
Video/Audio/Animations
Mixture problems can involve mixtures of things other than liquids. This video shows how Algebra can be used to solve problems involving mixtures of different types of items.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
When should a system of equations with multiple variables be used to solve an Algebra problem, instead of using a single equation with a single variable?
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
The points of intersection of two graphs represent common solutions to both equations. Finding these intersection points is an important tool in analyzing physical and mathematical systems.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
The point-slope form of the equation for a line can describe any non-vertical line in the Cartesian plane, given the slope and the coordinates of a single point which lies on the line.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
The two point form of the equation for a line can describe any non-vertical line in the Cartesian plane, given the coordinates of two points which lie on the line.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
Literal equations are formulas for calculating the value of one unknown quantity from one or more known quantities. Variables in the formula are replaced by the actual or 'literal' values corresponding to a specific instance of the relationship.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
This video takes a look at rearranging a formula to highlight a quantity of interest.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
This video demonstrates writing a function that represents a real-life scenario.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
Khan Academy video tutorial on graphing linear equations: "Algebra: Graphing Lines 1"
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
This Khan Academy video tutorial introduces averages and algebra problems involving averages.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
Parent Resources
Perspectives Video: Expert
<p>It's important to stay inside the lines of your project constraints to finish in time and under budget. This NASA systems engineer explains how constraints can actually promote creativity and help him solve problems!</p>
Type: Perspectives Video: Expert
Problem-Solving Tasks
The given solutions for this task involve the creation and solving of a system of two equations and two unknowns, with the caveat that the context of the problem implies that we are interested only in non-negative integer solutions. Indeed, in the first solution, we must also restrict our attention to the case that one of the variables is further even. This aspect of the task is illustrative of the mathematical practice of modeling with mathematics, and crucial as the system has an integer solution for both situations, that is, whether we include the dollar on the floor in the cash box or not.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This problem provides students with an opportunity to discover algebraic structure in a geometric context. More specifically, the student will need to divide up the given polygons into triangles and then use the fact that the sum of the angles in each triangle is 180°.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
In this task, students will use inverse operations to solve the equations for the unknown variable or for the designated variable if there is more than one.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this task is to give students practice writing a constraint equation for a given context. Instruction accompanying this task should introduce the notion of a constraint equation as an equation governing the possible values of the variables in question (i.e., "constraining" said values). In particular, it is worth differentiating the role of constraint equations from more functional equations, e.g., formulas to convert from degrees Celsius to degree Fahrenheit. The task has students interpret the context and choose variables to represent the quantities, which are governed by the constraint equation and the fact that they are non-negative (allowing us to restrict the graphs to points in the first quadrant only).
The four parts are independent and can be used as separate tasks.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task presents a simple but mathematically interesting game whose solution is a challenging exercise in creating and reasoning with algebraic inequalities. The core of the task involves converting a verbal statement into a mathematical inequality in a context in which the inequality is not obviously presented, and then repeatedly using the inequality to deduce information about the structure of the game.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students are given a word problem that can be solved by using a pair of linear equations. This task does not actually require that the student solve the system but that they recognize the pairs of linear equations in two variables that would be used to solve the system. This is an important step in the process of solving systems.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task examines the ways in which the plane can be covered by regular polygons in a very strict arrangement called a regular tessellation. These tessellations are studied here using algebra, which enters the picture via the formula for the measure of the interior angles of a regular polygon (which should therefore be introduced or reviewed before beginning the task). The goal of the task is to use algebra in order to understand which tessellations of the plane with regular polygons are possible.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This is a challenging task, suitable for extended work, and reaching into a deep understanding of units. Students are given a scenario and asked to determine the number of people required to complete the amount of work in the time described. The task requires students to exhibit , Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. An algebraic solution is possible but complicated; a numerical solution is both simpler and more sophisticated, requiring skilled use of units and quantitative reasoning. Thus the task aligns with either MAFS.912.A-CED.1.1 or MAFS.912.N-Q.1.1, depending on the approach.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students manipulate a given equation to find specified information.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students solve problems tracking the balance of a checking account used only to pay rent. This simple conceptual task focuses on what it means for a number to be a solution to an equation, rather than on the process of solving equations.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students extrapolate the list price of a car given a total amount paid in states with different tax rates. The emphasis in this task is not on complex solution procedures. Rather, the progression of equations, from two that involve different values of the sales tax, to one that involves the sales tax as a parameter, is designed to foster the habit of looking for regularity in solution procedures, so that students don't approach every equation as a new problem but learn to notice familiar types.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
In this resource, students refer to given information which defines 5 variables in the context of real world government expenses. They are then asked to write equations based upon specific known values for some of the variables. The emphasis is on setting up, rather than solving, the equations.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task is designed to make students think about the meaning of the quantities presented in the context and choose which ones are appropriate for the two different constraints presented. In particular, note that the purpose of the task is to have students generate the constraint equations for each part (though the problem statements avoid using this particular terminology), and not to have students solve said equations. If desired, instructors could also use this task to touch on such solutions by finding and interpreting solutions to the system of equations created in parts (a) and (b).
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Video/Audio/Animations
Khan Academy video tutorial on graphing linear equations: "Algebra: Graphing Lines 1"
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
This Khan Academy video tutorial introduces averages and algebra problems involving averages.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation