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What does a student learn in ?

High school is when math shifts from following steps to building and using models. Students learn to write and solve equations for real situations, then graph the functions behind them, including lines, curves, exponential growth, and waves. Geometry moves into proofs, where students explain why shapes and angles behave the way they do. By spring, students can solve a quadratic equation, sketch its graph, and use it to answer a real question, such as when a thrown ball lands.

  • Algebra
  • Quadratic equations
  • Functions and graphs
  • Geometry proofs
  • Right triangle trigonometry
  • Statistics and probability
  • Exponential growth
Source: Idaho Idaho Content Standards
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
  1. 1

    Algebra and number foundations

    Students stretch the rules of exponents to cover roots and fractional powers, and they sharpen the kind of careful unit and accuracy work that real measurements demand. Expect homework that mixes radicals, scientific notation, and word problems with messy numbers.

  2. 2

    Equations, inequalities, and systems

    Students solve and rearrange equations with one or two variables, including absolute value, rational, and radical equations. They graph solutions, work with systems, and learn to justify each step rather than just chase the answer.

  3. 3

    Functions and modeling

    Students study function notation and compare linear, exponential, quadratic, polynomial, rational, and logarithmic models. They sketch graphs, read key features like maximums and intercepts, and build functions that match real situations such as loans or population change.

  4. 4

    Polynomials and complex numbers

    Students factor and divide polynomials, find zeros, and use those zeros to sketch graphs. They also meet complex numbers and use them to finish solving quadratics that have no real answer.

  5. 5

    Geometry and trigonometry

    Students prove theorems about triangles, parallel lines, circles, and parallelograms, and they use coordinates and transformations to back up their arguments. Right triangle trigonometry, the unit circle, area, and volume formulas all show up in design and measurement problems.

  6. 6

    Statistics and probability

    Students summarize and compare data sets, fit lines and curves to scatter plots, and judge whether a study supports its claims. They calculate probabilities for everyday situations and learn the difference between correlation and cause.

Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 9.
The Real Number System
  • Extend the properties of exponents to rational exponents

    9-12.RNS.A
    High School

    Students apply the rules of exponents they already know (like multiplying powers or raising a power to a power) to fractional exponents, connecting expressions like 8 to the one-third power to cube roots.

  • Explain how the definition of the meaning of rational exponents follows from…

    9-12.RNS.A.1
    High School

    Fractional exponents are another way to write square roots and cube roots. Students learn why writing 8 to the power of 1/3 means the same thing as the cube root of 8, using the same exponent rules they already know.

  • Rewrite expressions involving radicals and rational exponents using the…

    9-12.RNS.A.2
    High School

    Students convert between radical notation (like square roots and cube roots) and fractional exponents, then simplify those expressions using exponent rules.

  • Use properties of rational and irrational numbers

    9-12.RNS.B
    High School

    Students practice the rules that govern how rational and irrational numbers behave when added, subtracted, or multiplied together, such as why adding a rational number to an irrational one always produces an irrational result.

  • Explain why the sum or product of two rational numbers is rational

    9-12.RNS.B.3
    High School

    Students explain why combining rational and irrational numbers produces predictable results: two fractions added or multiplied stay rational, but mix a fraction with an irrational number like pi and the result is always irrational.

Quantities
  • Reason quantitatively and use units to solve problems

    9-12.Q.A
    High School

    Students use units (miles, dollars, square feet) as a thinking tool, not just a label. Choosing the right unit and converting between units helps them set up and solve real-world problems correctly.

  • Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of…

    9-12.Q.A.1
    High School

    Students pick units that fit the problem (miles, dollars, seconds) and stick with them across every step. On graphs, they choose a scale that makes the data readable and set the starting point to match what's being measured.

  • Define appropriate quantities for the purpose of descriptive modeling

    9-12.Q.A.2
    High School

    Students decide which numbers and units actually matter for a real-world problem, like choosing miles per hour instead of total distance when describing speed. Picking the right measurement is part of solving the problem.

  • Choose a level of accuracy appropriate to limitations on measurement when…

    9-12.Q.A.3
    High School

    Students learn to match their reported answer to the precision their measurement tools actually allow. If a ruler reads to the nearest centimeter, the answer shouldn't claim millimeter accuracy.

The Complex Number System
  • Perform arithmetic operations with complex numbers

    9-12.N.CN.A
    High School

    Students add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers that include imaginary parts, like expressions with the square root of negative one. The rules work like regular algebra, with one extra step to simplify i squared.

  • Know there is a complex number i such that i² = -1

    9-12.N.CN.A.1
    High School

    The imaginary unit i is defined so that i squared equals negative one. Students use that definition to write any complex number in the form a + bi, where a and b are ordinary real numbers.

  • Use the relation i² = -1 and the commutative, associative

    9-12.N.CN.A.2
    High School

    Adding and subtracting complex numbers works like combining like terms. Multiplying them uses the distributive property, plus the rule that i squared equals negative one, which turns what looks like an unsolvable square root into a regular number.

  • (+) Find the conjugate of a complex number

    9-12.N.CN.A.3
    High School

    Students find the "mirror" of a complex number by flipping the sign on its imaginary part, then use that mirror to divide one complex number by another and to measure how far a complex number sits from zero.

  • Represent complex numbers and their operations on the complex plane

    9-12.N.CN.B
    High School

    Students plot complex numbers on a grid and show what happens to those points when you add, subtract, or multiply the numbers together.

  • (+) Represent complex numbers on the complex plane in rectangular and polar form

    9-12.N.CN.B.4
    High School

    Students plot complex numbers on a graph using either a left-right/up-down grid or a distance-and-angle description, then explain why both methods point to the same number.

  • (+) Represent addition, subtraction, multiplication

    9-12.N.CN.B.5
    High School

    Students plot complex numbers on a coordinate plane and use those positions to work out addition, subtraction, multiplication, and conjugation visually. The geometry of the plane becomes a calculation tool.

  • (+) Calculate the distance between numbers in the complex plane as the absolute…

    9-12.N.CN.B.6
    High School

    Students find the distance between two points on the complex plane by taking the absolute value of their difference, and the midpoint by averaging the two numbers. It connects coordinate geometry to complex number arithmetic.

  • Use complex numbers in polynomial identities and equations

    9-12.N.CN.C
    High School

    Students apply complex numbers (numbers with an imaginary part) to solve polynomial equations that have no real-number solutions and to verify algebraic identities.

  • Solve quadratic equations with real coefficients that have complex solutions

    9-12.N.CN.C.7
    High School

    Quadratic equations don't always have clean whole-number answers. Students solve equations where the solutions involve imaginary numbers, written with the letter i, which shows up when a square root has a negative number inside it.

  • (+) Extend polynomial identities to the complex numbers

    9-12.N.CN.C.8
    High School

    Polynomial identities like the difference of squares work beyond real numbers. Students apply those same rules when expressions involve imaginary numbers.

  • (+) Know the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra

    9-12.N.CN.C.9
    High School

    The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra says every polynomial equation has at least one solution, even if that solution involves imaginary numbers. Students confirm this holds for quadratic equations by finding two solutions, real or complex.

Vector and Matrix Quantities
  • Represent and model with vector quantities

    9-12.VM.A
    High School

    Students use vectors to show movement, force, or direction as arrows with both size and direction. They apply vectors to real situations, like figuring out how fast a plane travels when wind pushes against it.

  • (+) Recognize vector quantities as having both magnitude and direction

    9-12.VM.A.1
    High School

    A vector describes both how far something moves and which direction it moves. Students learn to draw vectors as arrows and write them using standard notation that shows the vector itself and its length.

  • (+) Find the components of a vector by subtracting the coordinates of an…

    9-12.VM.A.2
    High School

    A vector is an arrow that shows direction and distance. Students find its horizontal and vertical parts by subtracting the starting point's coordinates from the ending point's coordinates.

  • (+) Solve problems involving velocity and other quantities that can be…

    9-12.VM.A.3
    High School

    Students use vectors to solve real problems involving speed, direction, and force, such as figuring out where a moving object ends up or how two forces combine when they push in different directions.

  • Perform operations on vectors

    9-12.VM.B
    High School

    Students add, subtract, and scale vectors, and use those operations to solve problems involving direction and magnitude.

  • (+) Add and subtract vectors

    9-12.VM.B.4
    High School

    Students add and subtract vectors by combining their directions and lengths, much like giving step-by-step directions on a map. They learn what happens when two arrows point the same way or pull against each other.

  • (+) Add vectors end-to-end, component-wise

    9-12.VM.B.4.a
    High School

    Students add vectors by lining them up tip-to-tail, by adding their parts separately, or by completing a parallelogram. The length of the combined vector is usually shorter than simply adding the two original lengths together.

  • (+) Given two vectors in magnitude and direction form, determine the magnitude…

    9-12.VM.B.4.b
    High School

    Students add two forces, velocities, or other directional quantities given as a size and an angle, then find the size and angle of the combined result.

  • (+) Demonstrate understanding of vector subtraction v – w as v +

    9-12.VM.B.4.c
    High School

    Subtracting one vector from another is the same as adding its opposite. Students draw this on a graph by connecting arrow tips in the right order, then check their work by subtracting each matching coordinate pair.

  • (+) Multiply a vector by a scalar

    9-12.VM.B.5
    High School

    Students multiply a vector by a number to stretch, shrink, or reverse its direction. A vector pointing right with length 4, multiplied by 3, becomes a vector pointing the same way with length 12.

  • (+) Represent scalar multiplication graphically by scaling vectors and possibly…

    9-12.VM.B.5.a
    High School

    Scalar multiplication stretches or shrinks a vector by a number, and flips its direction if that number is negative. Students calculate it by multiplying each component separately: c times (x, y) gives (cx, cy).

  • (+) Compute the magnitude of a scalar multiple cv using ||cv|| = |c|v

    9-12.VM.B.5.b
    High School

    Multiplying a vector by a number stretches or shrinks its length by that factor. If the number is positive the result points the same way; if negative, it flips to point the opposite direction.

  • Perform operations on matrices and use matrices in applications

    9-12.VM.C
    High School

    Students add, subtract, and multiply matrices to solve real problems, like organizing data or transforming shapes on a coordinate plane.

  • (+) Use matrices to represent and manipulate data, e.g., to represent payoffs…

    9-12.VM.C.6
    High School

    Matrices are grids of numbers that can store and organize real data, like which routes connect cities on a map or how much each team earns per win. Students learn to set up and work with those grids to solve problems that would be messy to track any other way.

  • (+) Multiply matrices by scalars to produce new matrices, e.g., as when all of…

    9-12.VM.C.7
    High School

    Students multiply every number in a matrix by the same value to scale the whole table up or down. Think of it as doubling every score on a scoreboard at once.

  • (+) Add, subtract, and multiply matrices of appropriate dimensions

    9-12.VM.C.8
    High School

    Students add, subtract, and multiply grids of numbers the way they once added and subtracted regular numbers. The size of each grid determines which operations work.

  • (+) Demonstrate understanding that, unlike multiplication of numbers, matrix…

    9-12.VM.C.9
    High School

    Multiplying two matrices in different orders usually gives different results, unlike multiplying two numbers. Students learn that matrix multiplication follows associative and distributive rules, but swapping the order changes the answer.

  • (+) Demonstrate understanding that the zero and identity matrices play a role…

    9-12.VM.C.10
    High School

    The zero matrix works like adding 0 to a number, and the identity matrix works like multiplying by 1. Students also learn when a square matrix has an inverse, which depends on whether its determinant equals zero.

  • (+) Multiply a vector

    9-12.VM.C.11
    High School

    Students multiply a vector by a matrix to produce a new vector, then use that process to describe how shapes or points shift, rotate, or scale in a coordinate plane.

  • (+) Work with 2×2 matrices as transformations of the plane

    9-12.VM.C.12
    High School

    Students use 2x2 matrices to move, stretch, or rotate shapes on a coordinate grid. The determinant tells them how much the area of a shape changes after the transformation.

Algebra
  • Interpret the structure of linear, quadratic, exponential, polynomial

    A.SSE.A
    High School

    Students read an algebraic expression the way a mechanic reads an engine: each part has a job. They figure out what the numbers, variables, and grouped terms mean in context, whether the expression is a simple line or something more complex.

  • Interpret expressions that represent a quantity in terms of its context

    A.SSE.A.1
    High School

    An algebraic expression is a shorthand description of a real situation. Students read an expression like 5t + 20 and explain what each number and variable actually means in context, such as a starting balance or a weekly rate.

  • Interpret parts of an expression, such as terms, factors

    A.SSE.A.1.a
    High School

    An algebraic expression is a math phrase built from parts. Students learn what each part does: a coefficient is the number multiplying a variable, a factor is something being multiplied, and a term is a chunk separated by addition or subtraction.

  • Interpret complicated expressions by viewing one or more of their parts as a…

    A.SSE.A.1.b
    High School

    A complex math expression can be broken into meaningful chunks. Students learn to spot a piece of an expression, treat it as one unit, and use that to make sense of what the whole thing means.

  • Use the structure of an expression to identify ways to rewrite it

    A.SSE.A.2
    High School

    Students look at an algebraic expression and spot patterns that let them rewrite it in a simpler or more useful form. For example, recognizing that x⁴ minus 1 has the same shape as a difference of squares helps them factor it quickly.

  • Write expressions in equivalent forms to solve problems

    A.SSE.B
    High School

    Students rewrite math expressions into different but equal forms to make a problem easier to solve. Factoring, expanding, or rearranging terms can reveal a solution that was harder to see in the original form.

  • Choose and produce an equivalent form of an expression to reveal and explain…

    A.SSE.B.3
    High School

    Students rewrite a math expression, like factoring a quadratic or adjusting an exponential, to make a hidden pattern visible. The new form shows something useful, like when a value hits zero or how fast a quantity grows.

  • Factor a quadratic expression to reveal the zeros of the function it defines

    A.SSE.B.3.a
    High School

    Students factor a quadratic expression, like x² + 5x + 6, to find the values of x that make it equal zero. Those values show where the graph of the function crosses the horizontal axis.

  • Complete the square in a quadratic expression to reveal the maximum or minimum…

    A.SSE.B.3.b
    High School

    Students rewrite a quadratic expression by completing the square to find the highest or lowest point on a parabola. That peak or valley tells you where the function turns around.

  • Use the properties of exponents to transform expressions for exponential…

    A.SSE.B.3.c
    High School

    Students rewrite exponential expressions using exponent rules to reveal useful information, like finding an equivalent monthly growth rate from a yearly one.

  • Derive the formula for the sum of a finite geometric series

    A.SSE.B.4
    High School

    Students figure out where the formula for adding up a geometric series comes from, then use it to solve real problems like calculating loan payments or the total of repeated percentage growth.

  • Perform arithmetic operations on polynomials

    A.APR.A
    High School

    Students add, subtract, and multiply expressions with variables and exponents the way they would with plain numbers. The skills here lay the groundwork for solving more complex equations later in algebra.

  • Demonstrate understanding that polynomials form a system analogous to the…

    A.APR.A.1
    High School

    Adding, subtracting, or multiplying two polynomials always produces another polynomial. Students practice these operations and see why dividing polynomials can break that pattern.

  • Perform operations on polynomial expressions

    A.APR.A.1.a
    High School

    Students add, subtract, multiply, and divide expressions with variables and exponents, the same way they would with whole numbers. The rules that work for integers carry over to these longer algebraic expressions.

  • Factor and/or expand polynomial expressions, identify and combine like terms

    A.APR.A.1.b
    High School

    Students break down or build up expressions by grouping matching terms and distributing multiplication across parentheses. This is the algebraic version of simplifying before solving.

  • Understand the relationship between zeros and factors of polynomials

    A.APR.B
    High School

    Zeros are the inputs that make a polynomial equal zero, and factors are what the polynomial is made of when multiplied together. Students learn that these two ideas connect directly: finding one tells you the other.

  • Know and apply the Remainder Theorem

    A.APR.B.2
    High School

    When dividing a polynomial by a simpler expression like (x - 2), students use the Remainder Theorem to find the leftover amount by plugging the number directly into the polynomial. If the result is zero, that expression divides in evenly with no remainder.

  • Identify zeros of polynomials when suitable factorizations are available

    A.APR.B.3
    High School

    Students factor a polynomial expression to find where its graph crosses the x-axis, then use those crossing points to sketch the shape of the curve.

  • Use polynomial identities to solve problems

    A.APR.C
    High School

    Students use known algebraic patterns, like how two squares multiply or factor, to solve problems faster without working through every step from scratch.

  • Prove polynomial identities and use them to describe numerical relationships

    A.APR.C.4
    High School

    Students prove that algebraic rules like (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b² always hold, then use those rules to explain patterns in numbers.

  • (+) Know and apply the Binomial Theorem for the expansion of

    A.APR.C.5
    High School

    Students expand expressions like (x + y) raised to a large power without multiplying the whole thing out by hand. They use a pattern called Pascal's Triangle to find the right coefficients for each term.

  • Rewrite rational expressions

    A.APR.D
    High School

    Rational expressions are fractions where the numerator or denominator contains variables. Students simplify, add, subtract, multiply, and divide those expressions the same way they work with ordinary fractions.

  • Rewrite simple rational expressions in different forms using inspection, long…

    A.APR.D.6
    High School

    Students divide and rewrite fractions that contain variables, like turning a messy algebraic fraction into a simpler form. This is the same idea as simplifying a numeric fraction, but with expressions that include letters and exponents.

  • (+) Demonstrate understanding that rational expressions form a system analogous…

    A.APR.D.7
    High School

    Rational expressions are fractions where the numerator and denominator are polynomials. Students add, subtract, multiply, and divide them using the same rules they already know for fractions with numbers.

  • Create equations that describe numbers or relationships

    A.CED.A
    High School

    Students write equations and inequalities to describe real-world situations, then use those equations to solve problems or make predictions.

  • Create one-variable equations and inequalities to solve problems, including…

    A.CED.A.1
    High School

    Students write a single equation or inequality to solve a real problem, such as finding when a loan is paid off or how long it takes a population to double. The equation might be linear, quadratic, or exponential depending on the situation.

  • Interpret the relationship between two or more quantities

    A.CED.A.2
    High School

    Students learn to read a graph, table, or equation and explain what the numbers mean in real life, like how cost changes as hours worked go up.

  • Define variables to represent the quantities and write equations to show the…

    A.CED.A.2.a
    High School

    Students decide what each variable stands for, then write an equation that shows how two or more quantities relate to each other.

  • Use graphs to show a visual representation of the relationship while adhering…

    A.CED.A.2.b
    High School

    Students graph an equation on a coordinate plane, choosing axis labels and number scales that make the relationship between two quantities easy to read.

  • Represent constraints using equations or inequalities and interpret solutions…

    A.CED.A.3
    High School

    Students write equations or inequalities to describe real-world limits, like a budget or a speed cap, then decide whether the answers they get actually make sense in that situation.

  • Represent constraints using systems of equations and/or inequalities and…

    A.CED.A.4
    High School

    Students write systems of equations or inequalities to describe real limits, like a budget or a schedule, then decide whether a solution actually makes sense in that situation.

  • Rearrange formulas to highlight a quantity of interest, using the same…

    A.CED.A.5
    High School

    Students take a familiar formula (like distance = speed x time) and rearrange it to solve for the piece they actually need. The algebra stays the same; only the target changes.

  • Understand solving equations as a process of reasoning and explain the…

    A.REI.A
    High School

    Solving an equation isn't just getting the answer. Students learn to explain each step they take and why it's valid, so the solution is something they can defend, not just a number they landed on.

  • Explain each step in solving a simple equation as following from the equality…

    A.REI.A.1
    High School

    When solving an equation, students explain why each step is valid, not just what the step is. They show that each move keeps both sides balanced and can argue whether a solution method works or falls apart.

  • Solve simple rational and radical equations in one variable

    A.REI.A.2
    High School

    Students solve equations that contain fractions with variables in the denominator or square roots, then check whether each answer actually works in the original equation. Some answers look correct but break the math when plugged back in.

  • Solve equations and inequalities in one variable

    A.REI.B
    High School

    Students practice solving equations and inequalities that have one unknown, such as finding the value of x in an equation or figuring out the range of values that make an inequality true.

  • Solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable, including equations…

    A.REI.B.3
    High School

    Students solve equations and inequalities with one unknown, like 3x + 5 = 20 or 2x < 8. They also work through the same process when some numbers are replaced by letters, keeping the steps consistent no matter what form the equation takes.

  • Solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable involving absolute…

    A.REI.B.3.a
    High School

    Solving an equation like |x, 3| = 7 means finding every value of x that makes the expression inside the absolute value bars work out. Students practice splitting these into two separate equations and solving each one.

  • Solve quadratic equations in one variable

    A.REI.B.4
    High School

    Students solve equations where a variable is squared, using methods like factoring or the quadratic formula to find the values that make the equation true.

  • Use the method of completing the square to transform any quadratic equation in…

    A.REI.B.4.a
    High School

    Students rewrite a quadratic equation by completing the square, reshaping it into a form that makes the solutions easier to find. That process also shows where the quadratic formula comes from.

  • Solve quadratic equations by inspection

    A.REI.B.4.b
    High School

    Students solve quadratic equations using whatever method fits the problem: square roots, factoring, or the quadratic formula. When the formula produces a complex answer, students write it in a + bi form.

  • Solve systems of equations

    A.REI.C
    High School

    Students learn to find the value of two or more unknowns that satisfy multiple equations at once, like finding the price of a shirt and pants when you know what two different shopping totals came out to.

  • Verify that, given a system of two equations in two variables, replacing one…

    A.REI.C.5
    High School

    When solving two equations at once, students check that adding a multiple of one equation to the other gives a new pair of equations that still has the exact same solution. It's the logic behind why the elimination method actually works.

  • Solve systems of linear equations exactly and approximately

    A.REI.C.6
    High School

    Students find the point where two straight lines cross by solving them together, either by working through the math on paper or by graphing both lines and spotting where they meet.

  • Solve a simple system consisting of a linear equation and a quadratic equation…

    A.REI.C.7
    High School

    Students find where a line and a curve cross by solving them together, both on paper with algebra and on a graph. The solution is the point (or points) where both equations are true at the same time.

  • (+) Represent a system of linear equations as a single matrix equation in a…

    A.REI.C.8
    High School

    Students learn to rewrite a set of two or more linear equations as one compact matrix equation. This is a shortcut mathematicians use to organize and solve large systems faster than working through each equation line by line.

  • (+) Find the inverse of a matrix if it exists and use it to solve systems of…

    A.REI.C.9
    High School

    Students learn to reverse a matrix the way you'd reverse a recipe, then use that reversed matrix to solve systems of equations with multiple unknowns. For larger matrices, they use a calculator or software to do the heavy arithmetic.

  • Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically

    A.REI.D
    High School

    Graphs turn equations and inequalities into pictures. Students plot lines and curves to find where solutions live, reading answers from a graph instead of solving everything by hand.

  • Demonstrate understanding that the graph of an equation in two variables is the…

    A.REI.D.10
    High School

    A line or curve on a graph shows every point that makes an equation true. Students learn to pick any point on that graph, plug its coordinates into the equation, and confirm it works.

  • Explain why the x-coordinates of the points where the graphs of the equations y…

    A.REI.D.11
    High School

    Students find where two graphed equations cross and explain why that crossing point answers the equation. They practice this with many types of graphs, using tables or technology to approximate the answer when it isn't exact.

  • Graph the solutions to a linear inequality in two variables as a half-plane

    A.REI.D.12
    High School

    Students shade a region of a coordinate graph to show every point that satisfies a linear inequality. When two inequalities appear together, students find where those shaded regions overlap.

Functions (9-12)
  • Understand the concept of a function and use function notation

    F.IF.A
    High School

    A function is a rule that pairs each input with exactly one output. Students read and write function notation like f(x) and use it to describe how one quantity depends on another.

  • Demonstrate understanding that a function is a correspondence from one set

    F.IF.A.1
    High School

    A function pairs every input with exactly one output. Students learn to read function notation like f(x) and connect it to a graph where each x-value has a single point.

  • Use function notation, evaluate functions for inputs in their domains

    F.IF.A.2
    High School

    Students read and use function notation like f(x) to find an output for a given input, then explain what that value means in a real situation.

  • Demonstrate that a sequence is a functions, sometimes defined recursively…

    F.IF.A.3
    High School

    A sequence is a function where each position number (1st, 2nd, 3rd) maps to exactly one value. Students recognize that a recursive rule, like "add 3 each time," defines that same relationship using the previous term.

  • Interpret functions that arise in applications in terms of the context

    F.IF.B
    High School

    Reading a graph or equation in context means understanding what the numbers actually describe. Students look at a function from a real situation and explain what the inputs, outputs, and key features mean in plain terms.

  • For a function that models a relationship between two quantities, interpret key…

    F.IF.B.4
    High School

    Students read a graph or table to explain what's happening between two quantities: where values rise or fall, where the graph crosses an axis, and what happens at the peaks, valleys, and edges.

  • Relate the domain of a function to its graph and, where applicable, to the…

    F.IF.B.5
    High School

    The domain is the set of inputs a function will accept. Students look at a graph or a real-world situation (like a ticket price that only makes sense for whole numbers) and decide which input values actually work.

  • Calculate and interpret the average rate of change of a function

    F.IF.B.6
    High School

    Students find how fast something is changing over a stretch of time or values, like miles per hour between two points on a trip. They calculate it from an equation or table, and estimate it by reading a graph.

  • Analyze functions using different representations

    F.IF.C
    High School

    Reading a function from a graph, a table, or an equation tells the same story in a different form. Students practice moving between those forms to spot patterns, understand what the function is doing, and answer questions about it.

  • Graph functions expressed symbolically and show key features of the graphs, by…

    F.IF.C.7
    High School

    Students graph equations like lines, curves, and parabolas, then label the key features: where the graph crosses an axis, where it peaks, and where it levels off. Simple graphs go by hand; complex ones use a calculator or software.

  • Graph linear and quadratic functions and show intercepts, maxima

    F.IF.C.7.a
    High School

    Students graph lines and parabolas, then label where the curve crosses the axes and where it hits its highest or lowest point.

  • Graph square root, cube root

    F.IF.C.7.b
    High School

    Students graph functions that don't follow a straight line or simple curve, including square roots, cube roots, and absolute value expressions. They also graph piecewise functions, which use different rules for different parts of the input.

  • Graph polynomial functions, identifying zeros when suitable factorizations are…

    F.IF.C.7.c
    High School

    Students graph polynomial functions by plotting where the curve crosses the x-axis and showing what happens to the line at the far left and far right of the graph.

  • (+) Graph rational functions, identifying zeros and asymptotes when suitable…

    F.IF.C.7.d
    High School

    Students graph rational functions (fractions with polynomials top and bottom), marking where the graph crosses zero, where it has gaps or vertical walls it never touches, and what happens to the curve as x runs toward positive or negative infinity.

  • Graph exponential and logarithmic functions, showing intercepts and end behavior

    F.IF.C.7.e
    High School

    Students graph exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric curves by hand or with tools, marking where each curve crosses the axes, where it levels off or shoots upward, and (for wave-shaped graphs) how tall and wide each wave is.

  • Write a function defined by an expression in different but equivalent forms to…

    F.IF.C.8
    High School

    Students rewrite the same math rule in different forms to uncover hidden information, like factoring an equation to find where a graph crosses zero or completing the square to find its peak or valley.

  • Use the process of factoring and/or completing the square in quadratic and…

    F.IF.C.8.a
    High School

    Factoring or completing the square on a quadratic equation reveals where its graph crosses zero, hits a peak or valley, and folds symmetrically. Students connect those features to what the numbers mean in a real situation.

  • Use the properties of exponents to interpret expressions for exponential…

    F.IF.C.8.b
    High School

    Students read exponential equations to find how fast something gains or loses value over time, like figuring out how much a car is worth five years after it was bought.

  • Compare properties of two functions each represented in a different way

    F.IF.C.9
    High School

    Students compare two functions shown in different forms, such as an equation paired with a graph or a table paired with a written description, to figure out which grows faster, peaks higher, or starts at a different value.

  • Given algebraic, numeric and/or graphical representations of functions…

    F.IF.C.10
    High School

    Students look at an equation, a table of values, or a graph and identify what kind of function it is: polynomial, rational, logarithmic, exponential, or trigonometric. The goal is pattern recognition across different forms of the same idea.

  • Build a function that models a relationship between two quantities

    F.BF.A
    High School

    Students write or find a function that describes how one quantity changes based on another, like how distance changes as time passes or how cost changes as items are added.

  • Write a function that describes a relationship between two quantities

    F.BF.A.1
    High School

    Students write an equation that shows how one quantity changes based on another, like how distance grows over time or how interest compounds. They practice this across several function types, from straight-line patterns to curved ones.

  • Determine an explicit expression, a recursive process

    F.BF.A.1.a
    High School

    Given a real situation (a savings account growing each month, a population doubling each year), students write a formula or step-by-step rule that calculates any value in the pattern.

  • Combine standard function types using arithmetic operations

    F.BF.A.1.b
    High School

    Students add, subtract, multiply, or divide two functions to build a new one. For example, combining a linear and an exponential function creates a single rule that captures both patterns at once.

  • (+) Compose functions

    F.BF.A.1.c
    High School

    Students combine two functions into one by chaining them together, so the output of the first becomes the input of the second. Think of it as running a number through two machines in sequence.

  • Write arithmetic and geometric sequences both recursively and with an explicit…

    F.BF.A.2
    High School

    Students write number patterns (like doubling a value each step or adding the same amount each time) as formulas, then use those formulas to predict future values and solve real problems.

  • Build new functions from existing functions

    F.BF.B
    High School

    Students learn to shift, flip, stretch, or combine existing graphs and equations to build new ones. The focus is on understanding what changes when you alter a function, not just memorizing steps.

  • Identify the effect on the graph of replacing f

    F.BF.B.3
    High School

    Students learn how shifting, stretching, or flipping a graph connects to changes in its equation. Given two graphs, they can find the exact value that produced the change.

  • Find inverse functions algebraically and graphically

    F.BF.B.4
    High School

    Students find the "reverse" of a function: given an output, they work backward to find the original input. They do this with algebra and by reading graphs.

  • Solve an equation of the form f

    F.BF.B.4.a
    High School

    Students learn to "undo" a function: given an equation like f(x) = 10, they solve for x and write the reverse rule. They practice this with linear equations, basic polynomials, and exponential expressions.

  • (+) Verify by composition that one function is the inverse of another

    F.BF.B.4.b
    High School

    Students check that two functions are truly inverses by feeding the output of one into the other and confirming the result comes back to the original input. Both directions have to work.

  • (+) Read values of an inverse function from a graph or a table, given that the…

    F.BF.B.4.c
    High School

    Given a graph or table for a function, students find the inverse by swapping inputs and outputs. If the original function maps 3 to 7, the inverse maps 7 back to 3.

  • (+) Produce an invertible function from a non-invertible function by…

    F.BF.B.4.d
    High School

    A function can fail the horizontal line test, meaning it maps two inputs to the same output. Students learn to cut the domain to a smaller interval so the function becomes one-to-one and an inverse can exist.

  • Construct and compare linear, quadratic

    F.LE.A
    High School

    Students build equations for situations that grow steadily (linear), speed up (quadratic), or multiply over time (exponential), then compare those models to figure out which one fits a real-world problem.

  • Distinguish between situations that can be modeled with linear functions and…

    F.LE.A.1
    High School

    Linear functions grow by adding the same amount each step. Exponential functions grow by multiplying. Students learn to look at a situation and decide which type of pattern fits.

  • Demonstrate that linear functions grow by equal differences over equal intervals

    F.LE.A.1.a
    High School

    Linear functions add the same amount in every equal time step. Exponential functions multiply by the same factor instead. Students learn to tell the two apart by looking at how quickly each one grows.

  • Identify situations in which one quantity changes at a constant rate per unit…

    F.LE.A.1.b
    High School

    Spotting linear growth in real life. Students look at a situation, like a car traveling at steady speed or a salary growing by the same amount each year, and recognize that one value is changing by the same amount every time the other value increases by one.

  • Identify situations in which a quantity grows or decays by a constant percent…

    F.LE.A.1.c
    High School

    Exponential growth and decay show up when something increases or decreases by the same percentage repeatedly, like a bank account earning 5% interest each year or a population shrinking by 10% annually. Students learn to spot those patterns in real data.

  • Construct linear and exponential functions, including arithmetic and geometric…

    F.LE.A.2
    High School

    Students build the equation for a line or exponential curve using whatever they're given: a graph, a table of values, or a written description of a pattern. The goal is to find the rule, not just read it.

  • Use graphs and tables to demonstrate that a quantity increasing exponentially…

    F.LE.A.3
    High School

    Students compare how fast different equations grow by reading graphs and tables. Exponential growth (like doubling) always pulls ahead of linear or quadratic growth eventually, no matter how big a head start the slower pattern has.

  • For exponential models, express as a logarithm the solution to ab<sup>ct</sup>…

    F.LE.A.4
    High School

    Students learn to solve equations where a quantity grows or shrinks by a repeated multiplier, like compound interest or population growth. When the unknown is in the exponent, students rewrite the equation using a logarithm and use a calculator to find the answer.

  • Interpret expressions for functions in terms of the situation they model

    F.LE.B
    High School

    Students read a math formula and explain what each number or variable actually means in the real situation it describes, like identifying what the starting value or growth rate represents in a problem about money or population.

  • Interpret the parameters in a linear or exponential function

    F.LE.B.5
    High School

    Students figure out what the numbers in a formula actually mean in real life. If a savings account grows by 3% a year, they explain what that 3% and the starting balance tell you about the account's future.

  • Extend the domain of trigonometric functions using the unit circle

    F.TF.A
    High School

    Students use a circle with radius 1 to define sine, cosine, and tangent for any angle, not just the acute angles found in right triangles. This opens up trig functions to negative angles, full rotations, and beyond.

  • Demonstrate radian measure as the ratio of the arc length subtended by a…

    F.TF.A.1
    High School

    Radians are a way to measure angles using circle math instead of degrees. Students learn that one radian equals the arc length divided by the radius, so a full circle is about 6.28 radians instead of 360 degrees.

  • Use radian measure to solve problems

    F.TF.A.1.a
    High School

    Radians are another way to measure angles, the way a circle's own radius sets the scale instead of degrees. Students use radian measures to solve problems involving rotation, arc length, and angle size.

  • Explain how the unit circle in the coordinate plane enables the extension of…

    F.TF.A.2
    High School

    The unit circle is a circle with radius 1 centered at the origin. Students use it to define sine and cosine for any angle, not just the acute angles inside a right triangle, by reading the coordinates of a point as it travels around the circle.

  • (+) Use special triangles to determine geometrically the values of sine…

    F.TF.A.3
    High School

    Students use 30-60-90 and 45-45-90 triangles to find exact sine, cosine, and tangent values for key angles, then use those results to find trig values for angles in other quadrants of the unit circle.

  • (+) Use the unit circle to explain symmetry

    F.TF.A.4
    High School

    The unit circle is a circle with radius 1 centered at the origin. Students use it to show why sine and cosine repeat in a predictable pattern and why some trig functions mirror themselves across an axis while others don't.

  • Model periodic phenomena with trigonometric functions

    F.TF.B
    High School

    Students use sine and cosine to write equations that model real repeating patterns, like ocean tides or sound waves. The math describes how something rises, falls, and repeats over time.

  • Model periodic phenomena using trigonometric functions with specified…

    F.TF.B.5
    High School

    Students take a real repeating pattern, like a tide, a sound wave, or a spinning wheel, and write a sine or cosine equation that matches its height, how often it repeats, and where it centers.

  • (+) Understand that restricting a trigonometric function to a domain on which…

    F.TF.B.6
    High School

    To find the inverse of a sine or cosine function, students limit it to a section of its graph that only moves in one direction. That restriction makes it possible to reverse the function and solve for an angle.

  • (+) Use inverse functions to solve trigonometric equations that arise in…

    F.TF.B.7
    High School

    Students use inverse trig functions to work backward from a known ratio to find a missing angle in a real-world problem, then check the answer with a calculator and explain what it means in context.

  • Prove and apply trigonometric identities

    F.TF.C
    High School

    Students use known angle relationships to rewrite and simplify trig expressions, then apply those shortcuts to solve problems. This is the algebra of sine, cosine, and tangent working together.

  • Relate the Pythagorean Theorem to the unit circle to discover the Pythagorean…

    F.TF.C.8
    High School

    Students learn that sin²(θ) + cos²(θ) = 1 always holds true on the unit circle, then use that relationship to find a missing sine, cosine, or tangent value when one value and the angle's quadrant are known.

  • (+) Prove the addition and subtraction formulas for sine, cosine

    F.TF.C.9
    High School

    Students prove why sin(A+B) and cos(A+B) formulas work from scratch, then use those formulas to find exact values for angles that don't sit neatly on a unit circle.

Geometry (9-12)
  • Experiment with transformations in the plane

    G.CO.A
    High School

    Students learn how shapes move, flip, and rotate on a flat surface without changing size or form. This is the foundation for understanding when two shapes are identical.

  • Know precise definitions of angle, circle, perpendicular line, parallel line

    G.CO.A.1
    High School

    Students memorize exact definitions for basic shapes and lines: what makes two lines parallel, what defines a circle, and what separates a line segment from a full line. These definitions become the foundation for every proof and figure that follows.

  • Represent transformations in the plane and describe transformations as…

    G.CO.A.2
    High School

    Students learn how slides, flips, and rotations move points on a graph, then sort those moves into two groups: ones that keep shapes the same size and angle, and ones that stretch or distort them.

  • Describe the rotations and reflections that carry a given figure

    G.CO.A.3
    High School

    Students identify which flips and turns map a shape exactly back onto itself. A square, for example, can be rotated a quarter turn or reflected across its center line and still look unchanged.

  • Develop definitions of rotations, reflections

    G.CO.A.4
    High School

    Students practice the precise rules behind slides, flips, and turns by connecting each move to geometry concepts like parallel lines and circles. The goal is defining these movements exactly, not just describing them loosely.

  • Draw the transformation

    G.CO.A.5
    High School

    Students draw what a shape looks like after it has been slid, flipped, or turned. Given a starting figure, they produce the new position on the page.

  • Specify a sequence of transformations that will carry a given figure onto…

    G.CO.A.6
    High School

    Students describe the exact steps (slides, flips, or turns) needed to move one shape onto another so they line up perfectly.

  • Understand congruence in terms of rigid motions

    G.CO.B
    High School

    Rigid motions are moves that slide, flip, or rotate a shape without changing its size. Students use these moves to show that two shapes are congruent, meaning they match exactly.

  • Use geometric descriptions of rigid motions to transform figures and to predict…

    G.CO.B.7
    High School

    Rigid motions are slides, flips, and turns that move a shape without changing its size or angles. Students use these moves to show whether two shapes are congruent, meaning one maps exactly onto the other.

  • Use the definition of congruence in terms of rigid motions to show that two…

    G.CO.B.8
    High School

    Two triangles are congruent when their matching sides and angles are equal. Students show this by proving the triangles can be flipped, slid, or rotated to land exactly on top of each other.

  • Explain how the criteria for triangle congruence

    G.CO.B.9
    High School

    Students show why two triangles with matching angles and sides must be identical in size and shape, using the idea that one triangle can be flipped, slid, or rotated onto the other without any stretching.

  • Prove geometric theorems and, when appropriate, the converse of theorems

    G.CO.C
    High School

    Students prove that geometric rules always hold, such as why opposite angles formed by two crossing lines are always equal or why the angles in any triangle always add up to 180 degrees. The work requires a logical chain of steps, not just a correct answer.

  • Prove theorems about lines and angles

    G.CO.C.10
    High School

    Students write formal proofs about how angles behave when lines cross, including why parallel lines create matching angles and why a perpendicular bisector marks the exact midpoint between two points.

  • Prove theorems about triangles

    G.CO.C.11
    High School

    Students prove the rules that make triangles predictable: why the three interior angles always add to 180 degrees, why equal sides force equal angles, and why the line connecting two midpoints runs parallel to the base at exactly half its length.

  • Prove theorems about parallelograms

    G.CO.C.12
    High School

    Students prove that parallelograms follow predictable rules: opposite sides match in length, opposite angles match in measure, and the two diagonals cut each other exactly in half.

  • Prove theorems about polygons

    G.CO.C.12.a
    High School

    Students prove why interior and exterior angles in polygons follow predictable rules, then use those rules to solve real problems. Think of it as moving from "this is always true" to "here's why."

  • Make geometric constructions

    G.CO.D
    High School

    Students use a compass and straightedge to draw precise geometric shapes, such as a copied angle or a bisected line segment, without measuring tools.

  • Make formal geometric constructions with a variety of tools and methods

    G.CO.D.13
    High School

    Students use a compass, straightedge, or folded paper to draw precise geometric figures: copying a segment or angle, splitting one in half, and drawing perpendicular or parallel lines.

  • Construct an equilateral triangle, a square

    G.CO.D.14
    High School

    Using only a compass and straightedge, students draw a perfect triangle, square, and six-sided shape that fit exactly inside a circle, with every corner touching the edge.

  • Understand similarity in terms of similarity transformations

    G.SRT.A
    High School

    Similarity transformations are moves like scaling, rotating, or flipping a shape so it stays the same shape but changes size. Students learn to recognize and explain when two figures are similar using those transformations.

  • Verify experimentally the properties of dilations given by a center and a scale…

    G.SRT.A.1
    High School

    A dilation stretches or shrinks a shape by a fixed amount from a center point. Students test what stays the same (angles, parallel lines) and what changes (side lengths) when a figure is scaled up or down.

  • A dilation takes a line not passing through the center of the dilation to a…

    G.SRT.A.1.a
    High School

    Dilations scale figures up or down from a fixed center point. A line through that center stays in place; any other line shifts but stays parallel to where it started.

  • The dilation of a line segment is longer or shorter in the ratio given by the…

    G.SRT.A.1.b
    High School

    When a line segment is scaled up or down, its new length equals the original length multiplied by the scale factor. A segment scaled by 3 becomes three times as long; scaled by one-half, it becomes half as long.

  • Use the definition of similarity to decide if two given figures are similar

    G.SRT.A.2
    High School

    Two shapes are similar if one can be scaled, rotated, or reflected to match the other exactly. Students identify whether two triangles are similar by checking that all matching angles are equal and all matching sides are in the same ratio.

  • Use the properties of similarity transformations to establish the Angle-Angle

    G.SRT.A.3
    High School

    Two triangles are similar if two of their angles match, meaning the triangles have the same shape even if different sizes. Students prove why that two-angle match is enough, using what they know about how shapes scale.

  • Prove theorems involving similarity

    G.SRT.B
    High School

    Students prove that two shapes are similar by showing their angles match and their sides scale by the same ratio. This includes writing formal proofs about triangles using angle relationships and proportional sides.

  • Prove theorems about triangles

    G.SRT.B.4
    High School

    Students prove why triangles work the way they do, including why a line drawn parallel to one side splits the other two sides in equal proportions and why the Pythagorean Theorem holds up using the logic of similar triangles.

  • Use congruence and similarity criteria for triangles to solve problems and to…

    G.SRT.B.5
    High School

    Students use the rules of congruent and similar triangles to solve geometry problems and explain why certain shapes or measurements must be equal. This includes finding unknown side lengths, angles, and distances in real figures.

  • Define trigonometric ratios and solve problems involving right triangles

    G.SRT.C
    High School

    Trigonometric ratios connect the angles of a right triangle to the lengths of its sides. Students use those ratios to find a missing side or angle when they know two other measurements.

  • Demonstrate understanding that by similarity, side ratios in right triangles…

    G.SRT.C.6
    High School

    In any right triangle, the ratio of two sides depends only on the angles, not the size of the triangle. That idea is the foundation of sine, cosine, and tangent.

  • Explain and use the relationship between the sine and cosine of complementary…

    G.SRT.C.7
    High School

    Sine and cosine are linked: the sine of any angle equals the cosine of its complement, and students use that connection to solve problems with triangles without needing a calculator for every step.

  • Use trigonometric ratios and the Pythagorean Theorem to solve right triangles…

    G.SRT.C.8
    High School

    Given a real-world situation involving a right triangle, students use sine, cosine, tangent, or the Pythagorean Theorem to find missing side lengths and angles. Think ramps, shadows, and roof slopes.

  • Apply trigonometry to general triangles

    G.SRT.D
    High School

    Trigonometry isn't just for right triangles. Students use sine and cosine rules to find missing angles and side lengths in any triangle, including the kind that shows up in real maps, construction plans, and navigation problems.

  • (+) Derive the formula A = ½ absin

    G.SRT.D.9
    High School

    Students find the area of any triangle using two side lengths and the angle between them, not just triangles with a known height. They work out where the formula comes from by dropping a perpendicular line from one corner to the opposite side.

  • (+) Prove the Laws of Sines and Cosines and use them to solve problems

    G.SRT.D.10
    High School

    Students use two rules that connect a triangle's angles to its side lengths to find missing measurements in any triangle, not just right triangles.

  • (+) Understand and apply the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines to find…

    G.SRT.D.11
    High School

    When a triangle has no right angle, the usual shortcuts stop working. Students use the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines to find missing side lengths and angles anyway.

  • Understand and apply theorems about circles

    G.C.A
    High School

    Circle theorems connect angles, arcs, and line segments inside or around a circle. Students use these relationships to solve problems about inscribed angles, tangent lines, and the parts of a circle that cross or meet at its edge.

  • Prove that all circles are similar

    G.C.A.1
    High School

    Students show why any two circles are always the same shape, just different sizes, by explaining that one can always be scaled up or down to match the other exactly.

  • Identify and describe relationships among inscribed angles, radii

    G.C.A.2
    High School

    Students study the hidden rules that govern circles: why an angle formed inside a circle is always half the arc it cuts, why a radius always meets a tangent line at a perfect right angle, and how chords and arcs relate to each other.

  • Prove properties of angles for a quadrilateral and other polygons inscribed in…

    G.C.A.3
    High School

    Students prove that opposite angles in a four-sided shape drawn inside a circle always add up to 180 degrees. The work includes drawing the largest circle that fits inside a triangle and the smallest circle that fits around it.

  • (+) Construct a tangent line to a circle from a point outside the given circle

    G.C.A.4
    High School

    Given a point outside a circle, students draw the one straight line that just grazes the circle's edge at exactly one spot. This is an advanced geometry construction done with a compass and straightedge.

  • Find arc lengths and areas of sectors of circles

    G.C.B
    High School

    Students calculate how long a curved piece of a circle's edge is and how much area a pie-slice section covers. Both answers depend on the central angle and the radius.

  • Derive using similarity the fact that the length of the arc intercepted by an…

    G.C.B.5
    High School

    Students learn why a wedge of a circle gets bigger as the radius grows, then use that relationship to define radian measure and calculate the area of a pie-slice region.

  • Translate between the geometric description and the equation for a conic…

    G.GPE.A
    High School

    Students convert between a written description of a circle, parabola, or ellipse and its algebraic equation. They work in both directions: starting from a graph or description to write the equation, and starting from an equation to describe the shape.

  • Derive the equation of a circle of given center and radius using the…

    G.GPE.A.1
    High School

    Students learn where the equation for a circle comes from by connecting it to the Pythagorean Theorem. They also work backwards from an equation to find the circle's center point and its radius.

  • Derive the equation of a parabola given a focus and directrix

    G.GPE.A.2
    High School

    Students learn where a parabola comes from by working backward from two key pieces: a fixed point (the focus) and a fixed line (the directrix). From those two anchors, they build the equation that describes the curve.

  • (+) Derive the equations of ellipses and hyperbolas given the foci, using the…

    G.GPE.A.3
    High School

    Given two fixed points called foci, students figure out the equation of an ellipse or hyperbola by working with a distance rule: for an ellipse the distances from any point to each focus always add to the same total, and for a hyperbola they always subtract to the same amount.

  • (+) Use equations and graphs of conic sections to model real-world problems

    G.GPE.A.3.a
    High School

    Students use the equations and graphs of circles, ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas to solve real-world problems, such as modeling a satellite dish or a planet's orbit around the sun.

  • Use coordinates to prove simple geometric theorems algebraically

    G.GPE.B
    High School

    Students use x-y coordinates and algebra to prove facts about shapes, like whether two lines are parallel or a point lands exactly at the midpoint of a segment.

  • Use coordinates to prove simple geometric theorems algebraically, including the…

    G.GPE.B.4
    High School

    Students use x-y coordinates and the distance formula to prove that a shape has the properties it claims, such as showing that a figure is a true rectangle or that two lines are parallel.

  • Prove the slope criteria for parallel and perpendicular lines and use them to…

    G.GPE.B.5
    High School

    Parallel lines have the same slope; perpendicular lines have slopes that multiply to -1. Students use those two rules to prove relationships between lines and solve problems involving right angles and parallel paths on a coordinate grid.

  • Find the point on a directed line segment between two given points that…

    G.GPE.B.6
    High School

    Given two points on a graph, students find the exact spot between them that splits the distance into a specific ratio, like 1 to 3. This shows up in design, mapping, and any problem where an even split won't do.

  • Use coordinates to compute perimeters of polygons and areas of triangles and…

    G.GPE.B.7
    High School

    Students use coordinate points on a graph to calculate the perimeter of a shape or the area of a triangle or rectangle. They apply the distance formula to measure the length of each side without a physical ruler.

  • Explain volume formulas and use them to solve problems

    G.GMD.A
    High School

    Students learn where volume formulas come from and use them to find how much space a shape holds. This covers prisms, pyramids, cones, and spheres.

  • Give an informal argument for the formulas for the circumference of a circle

    G.GMD.A.1
    High School

    Students explain *why* area and volume formulas work, not just how to use them. They reason through why the area of a circle or the volume of a cone comes out the way it does, using diagrams, comparisons, and informal logic.

  • (+) Give an informal argument using Cavalieri's principle for the formulas for…

    G.GMD.A.2
    High School

    Students explain why the volume formulas for spheres and cones actually work by comparing cross-sections of stacked layers. The logic relies on the idea that two solids with identical layer areas at every height have equal volumes.

  • Use volume formulas for cylinders, pyramids, cones

    G.GMD.A.3
    High School

    Students use formulas to find the volume of shapes like cans, funnels, ice cream cones, and balls. The problems involve real measurements, not just plugging in numbers.

  • Visualize relationships between two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects

    G.GMD.B
    High School

    Students picture how flat shapes become solid objects, like how a rectangle rotates to form a cylinder or how slicing a cone produces a circle. This connects what they draw on paper to the 3-D shapes around them.

  • Identify the shapes of two-dimensional cross-sections of three-dimensional…

    G.GMD.B.4
    High School

    Slice a cone or a cylinder and name the flat shape you'd see cut through the middle. Students also picture what solid a spinning flat shape would carve out, like a rectangle spinning into a cylinder.

  • Apply geometric concepts in modeling situations

    G.MG.A
    High School

    Students use shapes, measurements, and geometric reasoning to model real-world situations, like figuring out how much material a building needs or how far apart two objects are.

  • Use geometric shapes, their measures

    G.MG.A.1
    High School

    Students look at a real object, like a building or a bridge, and figure out which geometric shape it most closely resembles. Then they use that shape's measurements and properties to solve practical problems.

  • Apply concepts of density based on area and volume in modeling situations

    G.MG.A.2
    High School

    Students use density to solve real-world problems, like figuring out how many people fit in a room or how much a slab of material weighs based on its size.

  • Apply geometric methods to solve design problems

    G.MG.A.3
    High School

    Students use shapes, measurements, and geometric reasoning to solve real-world design problems, like figuring out how much material a structure needs or whether an object will fit in a given space.

  • Use dimensional analysis for unit conversions to confirm that expressions and…

    G.MG.A.4
    High School

    Students check that an equation makes sense by tracking units the way they track numbers. If the units don't work out, the math is wrong.

Statistics and Probability (9-12)
  • Summarize, represent

    S.ID.A
    High School

    Reading a set of numbers and making sense of them. Students organize data into charts or graphs, spot patterns, and draw conclusions from what the numbers show.

  • Differentiate between count data and measurement variable

    S.ID.A.1
    High School

    Count data means you tally whole things, like the number of students in a class. Measurement data means you record a quantity that can take any value, like height or temperature. Students learn to tell the two apart before choosing how to display or analyze a data set.

  • Represent measurement data with plots on the real number line

    S.ID.A.2
    High School

    Students organize measurement data by placing values on a number line using dot plots, histograms, or box plots. Each display shows how the data spreads out and where most values cluster.

  • Compare center (median, mean) and spread

    S.ID.A.3
    High School

    Compare two data sets by looking at their averages and how spread out the numbers are. Students choose the right measure based on whether the data is symmetric or skewed.

  • Interpret differences in shape, center

    S.ID.A.4
    High School

    A single unusually high or low number can pull an average off course. Students learn to spot those outliers and explain how they change what a data set's shape, center, and spread actually tell you.

  • Use the mean and standard deviation of a data set to fit it to a normal…

    S.ID.A.5
    High School

    Students use the average and spread of a data set to figure out what percentage of a population falls in a given range. They also learn when that method doesn't fit the data, using tools like calculators or spreadsheets to do the math.

  • Summarize, represent

    S.ID.B
    High School

    Students learn to read and display data that involves two variables at once, such as comparing test scores against hours of study, then draw conclusions about what the relationship between those two things actually shows.

  • Represent data on two categorical variables on a clustered bar chart and…

    S.ID.B.6
    High School

    Students read two-way tables and grouped bar charts that compare two categories, like gender and favorite sport, then describe what patterns show up between them.

  • Represent data on two quantitative variables on a scatter plot

    S.ID.B.7
    High School

    Students plot two sets of numbers on a graph to see if they move together. A scatter plot might show whether students who study more tend to score higher, and students describe what the pattern means.

  • Fit a linear function to data where a scatter plot suggests a linear…

    S.ID.B.7.a
    High School

    Students draw a best-fit line through a scatter plot and use that line to make predictions. If the data looks roughly linear, the line becomes a working formula for answering real questions about the data.

  • Use functions fitted to data, focusing on quadratic and exponential models

    S.ID.B.7.b
    High School

    Students use a curved or exponential line fitted to a scatter plot to describe how two things relate. They choose the model that fits the data's shape, using a calculator or software to run the numbers.

  • Informally assess the fit of a function by plotting and analyzing residuals

    S.ID.B.7.c
    High School

    Students plot the difference between what a trend line predicts and what the data actually shows. Bigger or patterned gaps mean the line is a poor fit; random small gaps mean it works well.

  • Interpret linear models

    S.ID.C
    High School

    Students read a trend line on a scatter plot and explain what the slope and starting point mean in plain terms. They also decide how well the line fits the data and whether a strong pattern means one thing actually causes the other.

  • Interpret the slope

    S.ID.C.8
    High School

    Students read a best-fit line on a scatter plot and explain what the slope and starting point actually mean for that real situation, such as how much a cost rises per mile driven.

  • Compute (using technology) and interpret the linear correlation coefficient

    S.ID.C.9
    High School

    Students calculate a number between -1 and 1 that shows how closely two data sets move together in a straight-line pattern, then explain what that number means in plain terms.

  • Distinguish between

    S.ID.C.10
    High School

    Correlation means two things move together in data. Causation means one thing actually causes the other. Students learn why spotting a pattern in a graph does not prove what's driving it.

  • Understand and evaluate random processes underlying statistical studies

    S.IC.A
    High School

    Students learn to judge whether a study's results are trustworthy by examining how data was collected and whether chance alone could explain the outcome. The focus is on spotting when a random process, like a survey or experiment, was designed well enough to support a real conclusion.

  • Understand statistics as a process for making inferences about population…

    S.IC.A.1
    High School

    Statistics is the practice of learning about a large group by studying a smaller, randomly chosen slice of it. Students learn why the way you pick that sample determines how much you can trust what it tells you about the whole group.

  • Decide if a specified model is consistent with results from a given…

    S.IC.A.2
    High School

    Students check whether a mathematical model actually matches real data. They run simulations or test the model against known results to see if the predictions hold up.

  • Make inferences and justify conclusions from sample surveys, experiments

    S.IC.B
    High School

    Students learn to draw conclusions from real data and explain why those conclusions hold up. That means reading survey results, experiment outcomes, or observational studies and deciding what the data actually shows.

  • Recognize the purposes of and differences among sample surveys, experiments

    S.IC.B.3
    High School

    Surveys ask people questions, experiments test what happens when you change something, and observational studies watch without interfering. Students learn why each method exists and how using random selection makes the results more trustworthy.

  • Use data from a sample survey to estimate a population mean or proportion and a…

    S.IC.B.4
    High School

    Students use survey results to estimate something about a larger group, like the average or the percentage, and calculate how far off that estimate might be.

  • Use data from a randomized and controlled experiment to compare two treatments

    S.IC.B.5
    High School

    Students compare results from two experiment groups to decide if one treatment actually worked better or if the difference could just be chance. Margins of error tell them how much to trust the numbers.

  • Evaluate reports of statistical information based on data

    S.IC.B.6
    High School

    Students read a chart, survey, or study and decide whether the conclusions it claims actually hold up. They look for signs that the data was collected and interpreted fairly.

  • Understand independence and conditional probability and use them to interpret…

    S.CP.A
    High School

    Students learn when two events are truly unrelated versus when one affects the odds of the other. They use that thinking to make sense of real data from experiments or simulations.

  • Describe events as subsets of a sample space

    S.CP.A.1
    High School

    Students sort possible outcomes into groups, then combine or compare those groups using everyday logic: which outcomes fit one condition or another, which fit both at once, and which fit neither.

  • Demonstrate understanding that two events A and B are independent if the…

    S.CP.A.2
    High School

    Two events are independent when knowing one happened tells you nothing about the other. Students check this by multiplying the two separate probabilities and seeing if the result matches the chance both happen together.

  • Understand the conditional probability of A given B as P

    S.CP.A.3
    High School

    Conditional probability measures how likely one event is when another event has already happened. Students learn when two events are truly independent by checking whether knowing the first event's outcome changes the odds of the second.

  • Construct and interpret two-way frequency tables of data when two categories…

    S.CP.A.4
    High School

    A two-way table sorts a group of people or objects into two categories at once, like grade level and sport played. Students read the table to figure out whether two traits are connected or just coincidence.

  • Recognize and explain the concepts of conditional probability and independence…

    S.CP.A.5
    High School

    Conditional probability asks how knowing one thing changes the odds of another. Students learn to spot whether two events are truly connected or just happening at the same time, using real situations like weather forecasts or test results.

  • Use the rules of probability to compute probabilities of compound events in a…

    S.CP.B
    High School

    Students calculate the chances of two or more events happening together, such as rolling a six and flipping heads on the same turn. They use probability rules to find those combined chances when every outcome is equally likely.

  • Find the conditional probability of A given B as the fraction of B's outcomes…

    S.CP.B.6
    High School

    Students figure out how likely one event is, given that another event has already happened. They calculate that probability as a fraction and explain what the answer means in context.

  • Apply the Addition Rule, P

    S.CP.B.7
    High School

    Students use a formula to find the chance that at least one of two events happens, adjusting for any overlap so the overlapping outcomes aren't counted twice.

  • (+) Apply the general Multiplication Rule in a uniform probability model P

    S.CP.B.8
    High School

    Students use a formula to find the probability that two events both happen, accounting for how one event affects the odds of the other. They explain what the result means in plain terms.

  • (+) Use permutations and combinations to compute probabilities of compound…

    S.CP.B.9
    High School

    Students figure out how many ways an event can happen, then use that count to calculate the odds. This covers ordered arrangements (permutations) and unordered groupings (combinations).

  • Calculate expected values and use them to solve problems

    S.MD.A
    High School

    Students learn to find the average outcome you'd expect over many tries of something uncertain, like a game, a bet, or an insurance policy, then use that number to decide if the risk is worth it.

  • (+) Define a random variable for a quantity of interest by assigning a…

    S.MD.A.1
    High School

    Students assign numbers to possible outcomes of a chance event, such as the sum of two dice, then draw a graph showing how likely each outcome is.

  • (+) Calculate the expected value of a random variable

    S.MD.A.2
    High School

    Students calculate the average outcome you'd expect from a random event over many tries. Think of it as finding the long-run average if you flipped a coin or rolled a die hundreds of times.

  • (+) Develop a probability distribution for a random variable defined for a…

    S.MD.A.3
    High School

    Students list every possible outcome of a situation, assign each outcome its theoretical probability, then calculate the average result they'd expect over many repetitions. This is the foundation for decisions based on chance.

  • (+) Develop a probability distribution for a random variable defined for a…

    S.MD.A.4
    High School

    Students collect real data from an experiment or survey, build a table showing how likely each outcome is, then calculate the average result they'd expect over many trials.

  • Use probability to evaluate outcomes of decisions

    S.MD.B
    High School

    Students weigh the likelihood of different outcomes to decide which option makes the most sense. This is the math behind choosing a health plan, buying insurance, or deciding whether a game is worth playing.

  • (+) Weigh the possible outcomes of a decision by assigning probabilities to…

    S.MD.B.5
    High School

    Students calculate the average payoff they can expect from a risky choice by multiplying each possible result by its likelihood and adding those products together. This is how casinos, insurance companies, and investors decide if a bet is worth taking.

  • Find the expected payoff for a game of chance

    S.MD.B.5.a
    High School

    Students calculate the average payout they'd expect from a game of chance over many plays, weighing each possible outcome by how likely it is to happen. This is the math behind why casinos always win in the long run.

  • Evaluate and compare strategies on the basis of expected values

    S.MD.B.5.b
    High School

    Students weigh different choices by calculating which one pays off most often over time. They use expected value to decide which strategy is the better bet.

  • (+) Use probabilities to make objective decisions

    S.MD.B.6
    High School

    Students use calculated odds to make fair, real-world decisions, like figuring out whether a game is worth playing or whether a policy treats people equally.

  • (+) Analyze decisions and strategies using probability concepts

    S.MD.B.7
    High School

    Real-world choices often come down to odds. Students use probability to weigh options, judge strategies, and explain why one decision makes more sense than another.

Common Questions
  • What math should a high schooler be doing across these four years?

    Most students move through algebra, geometry, more advanced algebra, and then statistics or precalculus. The work shifts from solving for x to building functions that model real situations, proving why things are true, and reading data with a careful eye.

  • How can I help at home when my teen gets stuck on algebra?

    Ask them to read the problem out loud and say what each letter stands for. Then ask what they already tried and where it stopped making sense. Naming the stuck point is usually more useful than getting the right answer together.

  • My student says they are bad at math. What helps?

    Treat speed and ability as separate things. Most high school math rewards students who go slow, check their work, and redo problems they missed. Short daily practice of 15 to 20 minutes beats long weekend cram sessions.

  • Do students still need to know times tables and mental math?

    Yes. Quick recall of multiplication facts, fractions, and percents makes algebra and geometry much less painful. If those feel shaky, five minutes a day with flashcards or a free app pays off all year.

  • How should I sequence functions across the year?

    Anchor the year in function behavior, then layer families on top. Start with linear and quadratic, move to polynomial and rational, then exponential and logarithmic, and finish with trigonometric. Revisit transformations, inverses, and rate of change inside each family so students see the pattern.

  • Which topics usually need the most reteaching?

    Rational exponents, completing the square, and the difference between correlation and causation come back as gaps every year. Build short review problems into warm-ups across units rather than saving one big review week.

  • How much should we lean on graphing calculators and software?

    Use technology for messy graphs, regressions, and matrix work where the arithmetic gets in the way of the idea. Keep by-hand work for the cases where students need to see structure, such as factoring, completing the square, and basic transformations.

  • How do I know if a student is ready for the next math course?

    Ready students can model a situation with a function, solve and check their solution, and explain what the answer means in context. If a student can only follow steps from an example, plan for extra support in the next course.

  • What does proof look like at this level, and why does it matter?

    Students justify steps in geometry, algebra, and trigonometry by citing rules they already know. The point is not memorizing two-column formats. It is learning to defend an answer with reasons, which is the habit that carries into college math, science, and statistics.

  • How can parents support statistics and probability work at home?

    Talk about numbers in the news. Ask whether a poll sample seems fair, what a percent change actually means, or whether a chart is misleading. Five minutes of skeptical conversation builds the habits these standards are asking for.