Mathematical Highlights Introducing Algebra
In Variables and Patterns, you will study some basic ideas of algebra and
learn some ways to use those ideas.
Some things never seem to change
In mathematics, science, and
The sun always rises in the east and business, quantities that change are
sets in the west. The United States called variables. Many problems
holds a presidential election every require predicting how changes in
four years. Labor Day always falls the values of one variable are related
on the first Monday of September to changes in the values of another
But many other things are always
To help you solve such problems,
changing. Temperatures rise and fall
you can represent the relationships
between variables using word
within a day and from season to
season. Store sales change in response equations. The mathematical ideas
descriptions, tables, graphs and
to rising and falling prices and shopper and skills used to solve such
demand. Audiences for television
problems come from the branch of
shows and movies change as viewers
mathematics called algebra. This
interests change. The speeds of cars
unit introduces some of the basic
on streets and highways change in
tools of algebra.
response to variations in traffic
density and road conditions
You will learn how to
• Identify variables in situations
• Recognize situations in which changes in variables are related in useful
patterns
• Describe patterns of change shown in words, tables, and graphs
• Construct tables and graphs to display relationships between variables
. Observe how a change in the relationship between two variables affects
the table, graph, and equation
• Use algebraic symbols to write equations relating variables
• Use tables, graphs, and equations to solve problems
• Use graphing calculators to construct tables and graphs of relationships
between variables and to answer questions about these relationships
As you work on problems in this unit, ask yourself questions about problem
situations that involve related quantitative variables:
What are the variables in the problem?
Which variables depend on, or change in relation to others?
How can I use a table, graph, or equation to display and analyze a
relationship between quantitative variables?
What does it mean when I see regular and predictable changes in a table
of data or a graph?
How can I use these regular or predictable changes to make estimates or
predictions about other data vales?
What is the The variable in this problem