Linear equations and inequalities
Students start the year solving for an unknown and graphing straight lines. They write equations from word problems, like figuring out how long it takes to save up for something at a steady rate.
This is the year math shifts from working with numbers to working with letters that stand for numbers. Students write and solve equations, then graph them as lines, curves, and steep growth patterns. They learn to find where two lines cross and what that point means in a real situation, like comparing two phone plans. By spring, students can take a word problem about cost, distance, or growth and turn it into an equation they can solve and graph.
Students start the year solving for an unknown and graphing straight lines. They write equations from word problems, like figuring out how long it takes to save up for something at a steady rate.
Students work with two equations at the same time and find the point where both are true. Parents might see them comparing two phone plans or two pricing options to see when one becomes the better deal.
Students move from straight lines to curves shaped like a U. They learn to graph these curves, find where they cross zero, and use them to describe paths like a ball thrown in the air.
Students study patterns that double or shrink by half over and over. They use these to model things like money earning interest, a population growing, or a medicine wearing off.
Students add, subtract, and multiply expressions with variables, then look at sets of data to spot trends. They learn to read scatter plots and decide what a pattern in the numbers actually says.
Students read a math problem carefully, figure out what it's actually asking, and keep trying even when the first approach doesn't work.
Students take a real situation (a phone plan, a savings goal) and turn it into an equation, then work the math. When they get an answer, they check whether it actually makes sense in the original situation.
Students build a math argument by explaining why their answer works, then look at a classmate's reasoning and decide whether it holds up. The goal is to justify steps, not just show them.
Students take a real situation (a road trip, a sale price, a growing population) and write an equation or draw a graph that helps make sense of it. Math becomes a tool for answering questions that actually come up outside of school.
Students choose the right tool for the math in front of them: a calculator when precision matters, estimation when a close answer is enough, or pencil and paper to work through the steps. Picking the right tool is part of solving the problem.
Students use exact math vocabulary and correct units when solving problems and explaining their thinking. A measurement stays in meters, a rate stays in miles per hour, and the words students choose mean exactly what they say.
Students learn to spot patterns and hidden structure in math problems, like recognizing that an expression can be rewritten in a simpler form. That skill lets them solve new problems faster by seeing what they already know.
Students notice when the same steps keep appearing in a problem and use that pattern to find a shortcut or write a general rule. It's the habit of asking, "Why does this keep working?"
Students read a math problem carefully, figure out what it's actually asking, and keep working even when the path isn't obvious. They check whether their answer makes sense before moving on.
Students take a real problem (a triangle, a distance, an angle) and translate it into numbers or equations to solve it, then bring the answer back to explain what it means in the original situation.
Students back up math claims with logical steps and explain why a proof holds. They also listen to a classmate's reasoning and point out where it works or where it breaks down.
Students use math to make sense of real situations, like figuring out how much paint covers a wall or whether a design will fit a space. The math connects to something outside the classroom.
Students choose the right tool for the problem, whether that means a calculator, a sketch on paper, or a quick estimate. The skill is knowing which one to reach for.
Students use exact math vocabulary and label answers with the right units, such as inches or square feet. A precise answer isn't just correct; it's clear enough that someone else can follow the work.
Students spot patterns and hidden structure in shapes, equations, and diagrams, then use what they notice to solve problems faster or explain why something works.
When a solving method keeps working the same way, students stop and ask why. They turn that pattern into a rule or shortcut they can use again.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Make Sense of Problems Algebra I | Students read a math problem carefully, figure out what it's actually asking, and keep trying even when the first approach doesn't work. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-algebra-1.1 |
| Reason Abstractly Algebra I | Students take a real situation (a phone plan, a savings goal) and turn it into an equation, then work the math. When they get an answer, they check whether it actually makes sense in the original situation. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-algebra-1.2 |
| Construct Arguments Algebra I | Students build a math argument by explaining why their answer works, then look at a classmate's reasoning and decide whether it holds up. The goal is to justify steps, not just show them. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-algebra-1.3 |
| Model with Mathematics Algebra I | Students take a real situation (a road trip, a sale price, a growing population) and write an equation or draw a graph that helps make sense of it. Math becomes a tool for answering questions that actually come up outside of school. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-algebra-1.4 |
| Use Tools Strategically Algebra I | Students choose the right tool for the math in front of them: a calculator when precision matters, estimation when a close answer is enough, or pencil and paper to work through the steps. Picking the right tool is part of solving the problem. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-algebra-1.5 |
| Attend to Precision Algebra I | Students use exact math vocabulary and correct units when solving problems and explaining their thinking. A measurement stays in meters, a rate stays in miles per hour, and the words students choose mean exactly what they say. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-algebra-1.6 |
| Use Structure Algebra I | Students learn to spot patterns and hidden structure in math problems, like recognizing that an expression can be rewritten in a simpler form. That skill lets them solve new problems faster by seeing what they already know. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-algebra-1.7 |
| Express Regularity Algebra I | Students notice when the same steps keep appearing in a problem and use that pattern to find a shortcut or write a general rule. It's the habit of asking, "Why does this keep working?" | DE-MATH.MP.hs-algebra-1.8 |
| Make Sense of Problems Geometry | Students read a math problem carefully, figure out what it's actually asking, and keep working even when the path isn't obvious. They check whether their answer makes sense before moving on. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-geometry.1 |
| Reason Abstractly Geometry | Students take a real problem (a triangle, a distance, an angle) and translate it into numbers or equations to solve it, then bring the answer back to explain what it means in the original situation. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-geometry.2 |
| Construct Arguments Geometry | Students back up math claims with logical steps and explain why a proof holds. They also listen to a classmate's reasoning and point out where it works or where it breaks down. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-geometry.3 |
| Model with Mathematics Geometry | Students use math to make sense of real situations, like figuring out how much paint covers a wall or whether a design will fit a space. The math connects to something outside the classroom. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-geometry.4 |
| Use Tools Strategically Geometry | Students choose the right tool for the problem, whether that means a calculator, a sketch on paper, or a quick estimate. The skill is knowing which one to reach for. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-geometry.5 |
| Attend to Precision Geometry | Students use exact math vocabulary and label answers with the right units, such as inches or square feet. A precise answer isn't just correct; it's clear enough that someone else can follow the work. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-geometry.6 |
| Use Structure Geometry | Students spot patterns and hidden structure in shapes, equations, and diagrams, then use what they notice to solve problems faster or explain why something works. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-geometry.7 |
| Express Regularity Geometry | When a solving method keeps working the same way, students stop and ask why. They turn that pattern into a rule or shortcut they can use again. | DE-MATH.MP.hs-geometry.8 |
Students write and solve equations for straight-line relationships, then plot them on a graph. They use those equations to answer real questions, like figuring out total cost over time or when two quantities are equal.
Students write pairs of equations or inequalities and find the values that satisfy both at once. This skill shows up in budgeting, scheduling, and any problem where two conditions have to be true at the same time.
Students read a situation, write an equation where x is squared, and graph the curve it makes. This shows up in problems about thrown objects, areas, and anything that rises then falls.
Students read graphs and write equations for patterns that grow fast (like money earning interest) or shrink over time (like a car losing value). The focus is on recognizing and describing those patterns clearly.
Students add, subtract, and multiply polynomials, then read data from graphs and tables to draw conclusions about patterns and relationships between variables.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Linear Functions Algebra I | Students write and solve equations for straight-line relationships, then plot them on a graph. They use those equations to answer real questions, like figuring out total cost over time or when two quantities are equal. | DE-MATH.A1.hs-algebra-1.1 |
| Systems Algebra I | Students write pairs of equations or inequalities and find the values that satisfy both at once. This skill shows up in budgeting, scheduling, and any problem where two conditions have to be true at the same time. | DE-MATH.A1.hs-algebra-1.2 |
| Quadratic Functions Algebra I | Students read a situation, write an equation where x is squared, and graph the curve it makes. This shows up in problems about thrown objects, areas, and anything that rises then falls. | DE-MATH.A1.hs-algebra-1.3 |
| Exponential Functions Algebra I | Students read graphs and write equations for patterns that grow fast (like money earning interest) or shrink over time (like a car losing value). The focus is on recognizing and describing those patterns clearly. | DE-MATH.A1.hs-algebra-1.4 |
| Polynomials and Statistics Algebra I | Students add, subtract, and multiply polynomials, then read data from graphs and tables to draw conclusions about patterns and relationships between variables. | DE-MATH.A1.hs-algebra-1.5 |
Rigid transformations are moves that keep a shape exactly the same size and angles: slides, flips, and turns. Students use those moves to show that two triangles or other figures are identical, then write a formal proof explaining why.
Students use triangle proportions and the sine, cosine, and tangent ratios to find missing side lengths and angles in right triangles. These tools also apply when two triangles have the same shape but different sizes.
Students use rules about angles, arcs, and line segments inside or crossing a circle to solve geometry problems. This includes finding missing angle measures or segment lengths when only partial information is given.
Students use equations and the coordinate grid to prove things about shapes. They might find the slope of two lines to show they're parallel, or calculate a distance to confirm two sides are equal.
Students calculate the area of flat shapes, the surface area and volume of 3-D objects, and apply those skills to real problems like estimating materials or comparing containers.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Congruence Geometry | Rigid transformations are moves that keep a shape exactly the same size and angles: slides, flips, and turns. Students use those moves to show that two triangles or other figures are identical, then write a formal proof explaining why. | DE-MATH.GEO.hs-geometry.1 |
| Similarity, Right Triangles, and Trigonometry Geometry | Students use triangle proportions and the sine, cosine, and tangent ratios to find missing side lengths and angles in right triangles. These tools also apply when two triangles have the same shape but different sizes. | DE-MATH.GEO.hs-geometry.2 |
| Circles Geometry | Students use rules about angles, arcs, and line segments inside or crossing a circle to solve geometry problems. This includes finding missing angle measures or segment lengths when only partial information is given. | DE-MATH.GEO.hs-geometry.3 |
| Coordinate Geometry Geometry | Students use equations and the coordinate grid to prove things about shapes. They might find the slope of two lines to show they're parallel, or calculate a distance to confirm two sides are equal. | DE-MATH.GEO.hs-geometry.4 |
| Measurement and Modeling Geometry | Students calculate the area of flat shapes, the surface area and volume of 3-D objects, and apply those skills to real problems like estimating materials or comparing containers. | DE-MATH.GEO.hs-geometry.5 |
Delaware administers the SAT School Day to all 11th-grade students free of charge as part of the state's accountability system.
Students work with lines, then systems of two equations, then curves that bend (quadratics), then patterns that double or shrink fast (exponentials). They also add and multiply polynomial expressions and analyze data. By spring, students should be moving between an equation, a graph, and a table of values.
Ask what each number and letter stands for in plain English, and what units they have (dollars, minutes, miles). Most stuck moments come from skipping that step. Once the variables have a meaning, the equation usually writes itself.
Pull up a phone bill, a savings account, or a recipe and sketch it on paper as a line or curve. Ten minutes of graphing something real beats an hour of worksheets. The goal is for students to see a graph as a picture of a story.
Most teachers start with linear equations and inequalities, move to systems, then shift to quadratics in the winter and exponentials in the spring. Polynomial operations and data analysis usually thread through the year rather than living in their own unit.
Factoring quadratics, solving systems by substitution, and the difference between exponential growth and a steep line. Plan a second pass on each before the unit test, not after. Students also tend to confuse the slope of a line with the rate in an exponential pattern.
Yes, by the end of the year. It is faster than factoring once the numbers get messy, and students will use it again in later math courses. A sticky note on the desk for a week or two is a fine way to learn it.
Students can take a real situation, write an equation or system that fits it, solve it, and explain what the answer means in the original context. They can also recognize when a pattern is linear, quadratic, or exponential from a table or graph.
They can solve a linear equation without a calculator, graph a line from an equation, factor a simple quadratic, and read a basic scatter plot. If any of those feel shaky in May, a short summer review pays off more than a tutor in September.