High School Program Samples
The curriculum samples shown here represent critical topics we address at each grade level.
Algebra I
Connecting algebra to previous learning
- Solving linear equations, systems of linear equations (2 variables), and quadratic equations
- Solve: 2(5x - 1) = 3x + 2, 2x + 3 = 14, 4y + 3 = 0, x2 - x - 1 = 0
- Factoring. Factor: x2 - 8x - 20, a2 - 36, 9x2 - x - 8, 12abc - 8ab - 4a
- Solving algebraic word problems: "30 stamps are worth a total of $8.61. Some of the stamps are worth 32¢ each and the rest are worth 23¢ each. How many of the stamps are worth 23¢ each?"
High School Geometry
- Synthetic geometry: geometric proofs—use of axioms and primitive terms
"Prove vertical angles are equal."
- Metric (coordinate) geometry—the Pythagorean theorem, the distance formula, the mid-point formula
"Find the diagonal of a rectangle whose length is 12 and whose width is 5."
- Properties of geometric figures—congruence, similarity, proportionality
- All about slope
"Find the slope of the line that is perpendicular to the line 3x + 2y = 8."
Algebra II
- The relationship between logs and exponents
- Arithmetic and geometric sequences
"What is the 10th term of the sequence 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 ...?"
- Combinations and permutations
"How many ways can 7 books be arranged on a shelf in groups of 5?"
- Matrix operations
- Study of complex numbers
"Simplify (2 + 3i)/(3 – 4i)."
Trigonometry
- Properties of sine, cosine, and tangent and their inverses
"If sinA = 4/5, find cosA."
"Express tanB in terms of sinB and cosB."
- Graphs of trigonometric functions
"Sketch ƒ(x) = 2sinx + 3 over the domain -2Π to 2Π."
- Proving trigonometric identities
"Verify that secA – cosA = sinAtanA."
- Applications in the real world
"A rocket is fired at sea level and climbs at a constant angle of 65° through a distance of 12,000 miles. What is the altitude of the rocket to the nearest foot?"
Pre-Calculus
- Domain and range of a function; composition of functions
"What is the domain and range of the function ƒ(x) = 3/(x + 1)?"
"If ƒ(x) = 3x and g(x) = x + 1, find ƒ(g(x))."
- Exponential growth
"Find the interest on $1,000 invested at 5% per year, compounded continuously."
- Conic sections (circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas)
"What is the center and radius of the circle whose equation is (x - 3)2 + (x – 4)2 = 9?"
- Limits
"Find the limit of ƒ(x) = 1/x as x approaches infinity."