​Seeing Structure in Expressions

Class:​ Algebra 1 Teachers:​ Mayarita Castillo, Mi Lin, Margaret Sturtevant

Website:​ uagreencareersmath.weebly.com Emails:​ ​Mcastillo@uagreencareers.org​,
Mlin@uagreencareers.org​, ​Msturtevant@uagreencareers.org

Directions

1. Unison Read​ the ​Unit Map​ and ​Pre-Test​ in your Responsibility Team (~1 week).
2. Map out what the ​Standards ​and ​Pre-Test​ want you to learn this unit on the ​Gist Form​.
3. Create a​ Plan​ with your Responsibility Team to learn the standards.
4. Take the ​Post-Test​.
5. Submit​ Evidence of Mastery ​and ​Revise​.

Standards

Interpret the structure of expressions

1. A.SSE.A.1​ Interpret expressions that represent a quantity in terms of its context.

a. Interpret parts of an expression, such as terms, factors, coefficients, degree of polynomial, leading
coefficient, constant term and the standard form of a polynomial (linear, exponential, quadratic).
b. Interpret complicated expressions by viewing one of more of their parts as a single entity. ​For
example, interpret P(I+r)n​ ​ as the product of P and a factor not depending on P ​(linear, exponential
quadratic).
2. A.SSE.A.2​ Use the structure of an expression to identify ways to rewrite it. ​For example, see x4​ ​-y4​ ​ as
(x2​ ​)2​ ​-(y2​ ​)2​ ​, thus recognizing it as a difference of squares that can be factored as (x2​ -y ​ )(x2​ ​+y​2​) ​(linear,
​ 2​

exponential, quadratic). Does not include factoring by grouping and factoring the sum and difference of
cubes.

Write expressions in equivalent forms to solve problems

1. A.SSE.B.3​ Choose and produce an equivalent form of an expression to reveal and explain properties of the
quantity represented by the expression.
a. Factor a quadratic expression to reveal the zeros of the function it defines. Includes trinomials with
leading coefficients other than 1.
b. Complete the square in a quadratic expression to reveal the maximum or minimum value of the
function it defines.
c. Use the properties of exponents to transform expressions for exponential functions. ​For example the
expression 1.15t​ ​ can be rewritten as (1.151/12
​ ​)​12t​=1.01212t
​ ​ to reveal the approximate equivalent
monthly interest rate if the annual rate is 15%.