Re: [MATHEDCC] Curriculum Guide for H.S. Algebra 1

The Old Pro (jgajniak@IX.NETCOM.COM)
Tue, 03 Mar 1998 18:10:21 -0800

Edward Laughbaum wrote:
>
> At 05:48 AM 3/3/98 -0800, The Old Pro (Jim C. Gajniak) wrote:
> >To the learned educators on this list:
> >
> >I've been asked to list the main topics(sort of a Curriculum Guide) that
> >should be taught in High School Algebra 1.(sort of a Curriculum Guide)
> >
> >I'm aware that most teachers on this list are teaching
> >on the College Level; from reading so many reasoned conversations, whatever
> >input you could provide would be appreciated and included in this Guide.
> >
> >I'm sure there are more, but so far I've come up with:
> >
> >1. Solving Equations in one variable
> >2. factoring polynomials
> >3. solving simultaneous equations
> >4. graphing linear and quadratic equations
> >5. Basic Definitions of: "term", "coefficient", etc.
> >6. graphing "equalities" and "inequalities"
> >7. working with fractional exponents.
> >8. translating English sentences into algebraic expressions

> IS THE ORDER LISTED ABOVE THE ORDER OF PRESENTATION?

There was no attempt to list the above in any particular order.

IT SEEMS DISJOINTED.

I would agree that the list is disjointed; do you think these
topics, are candidates for Algebra I High School instruction??

> ALSO, WHY AREN'T YOU USING FUNCTIONS AS THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURE THAT
> CONNECTS ALL THE TOPICS?

This is where I need some help; your definition of a function (or
anyone's definition of a "function") would be helpful here.

My initial reaction to a function is that you've got a collection
of two sets of numbers; you perform some math calculation on any number
of the first set to get some member belonging to the second set.
The name of the first set is "X" ; it contains all the "x's"; the
name of the second set is "Y"; it contains all the calculated
values, the y's. Is this the definition of function or is there
a more meaningful defintion of function?

>
> JUST CURIOUS.
>
> ED
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