Well-Trained Mind Academy
AoPS Pre-Algebra
Course website: [Link]
Required Texts:
Rusczyk, Richard; Patrick, David; Boppana, Ravi, Prealgebra. Alpine, CA: Art of Problem
Solving Incorporated, 2012. ISBN 9781934124215
Recommended text:
Rusczyk, Richard; Patrick, David; Boppana, Ravi, Prealgebra Solutions Manual. Alpine, CA:
Art of Problem Solving Incorporated, 2012. ISBN 9781934124222
Course Description: Prepares the student for challenging upper level math courses such as
Algebra 1, Number Theory, and other exciting classes. Prealgebra focuses on problem-solving
and engagement with upper-level math to foster in-depth understanding and enjoyment. The
class will strengthen the student’s ability to wrestle with tough problems. Topics include:
arithmetic, exponents, number theory, fractions, equations and inequalities, decimals, ratios and
rates, percents, square roots, angles, area and perimeter, right triangles and equilateral triangles,
statistics, counting, and problem solving strategies. Students are expected to come to class
prepared to discuss problems and to work individually and in groups to solve assigned problems.
Note: Students must be able to save and upload documents to Blackboard in PDF format.
Is my child ready for pre-algebra?
Students should complete the following readiness test to determine whether they are ready for
the class. [Link] In
addition, students should expect to work roughly 5-7 hours per week on assignments in addition
to the online class. Students should be comfortable using a keyboard to write and input work.
Course Assignments: Assignments consist of problems from the text to be completed at home
and submitted via Blackboard as well as online problems. At least two problems each week
involve a proof-type response where a written solution must be given which shows and explains
the steps taken to solve the problem. In addition, students will participate in regular discussion
challenges. Extra practice will be given as needed to aid learning. Regular tests consist of no
more than 15 problems, similar to those found in the texts. Active participation during the
weekly class times is expected. Sample problems are found here:
[Link]
Grading, Correcting and Accommodations: Solutions to online problems will be provided.
Students will be expected to rework problems they have missed and resubmit. This may be done
twice before the assignment due date with no penalty. Assignments will be available for a
minimum of 10 days. Late work is not accepted, except under extreme circumstances. Students
are responsible to seek help when needed and the instructor is available to meet with students for
extra help by appointment. If a student has a disability that may have some impact on work in
this class and for which he or she may require accommodations, please contact the instructor
prior to the first week of class.
Attendance: According to Well-Trained Mind Academy Policy, students may not miss more
than 25% of the total classes each semester. Excused absences are not counted in this total. If a
student will be absent during a planned lecture, please notify the instructor as soon as possible so
that a plan may be made to keep the student on track.
Attendance is recorded at the beginning of class. Students who are late to class without prior
arrangement are marked absent. It is the student’s responsibility to submit notes in order to
change their status to present.
Delayed students who watch the recordings of the classes must submit class notes weekly to
receive attendance and participation points.
Archiving work: Students are responsible for keeping an archive of all work completed for this
course, including work posted to Blackboard.
Grades will be based on:
Homework 50%: Regular Problems - 30%, Proof Problems - 20%
Discussion response questions - 10%
Class Engagement and Participation - 10%
Regular Tests - 30%
Example Schedule
Week Text Sections/Topics (subject to change)
1 1.1 - 1.3 Properties of Arithmetic: Arithmetic, Addition, Multiplication
2 1.4 - 1.7 Properties of Arithmetic: Negation, Subtraction, Reciprocals, Division
3 1.8 - 2.1 Properties of Arithmetic: Summary, Exponents: Squares
4 2.2 - 2.4 Exponents: Higher Exponents, Zero as an Exponent, Negative Exponents
5 2.5 - 3.2 Exponents: Summary, Number Theory: Multiples, Divisibility Tests
6 3.3 - 3.5 Number Theory: Prime Numbers, Prime Factorizations, LCM
7 3.6 - 3.7 Number Theory: Divisors, Greatest Common Divisor
8 3.8 - 4.2 Number Theory: Summary, Fractions: What is a Fraction?, Multiplying
Fractions
9 4.3 - 4.4 Fractions: Dividing by a Fraction, Raising Fractions to Powers
10 4.5 - 4.6 Fractions: Simplest Form of a Fraction, Comparing Fractions
11 4.7 - 4.8 Fractions: Adding and Subtracting Fractions, Mixed Numbers
No classes - Thanksgiving Break
12 4.9 - 5.1 Fractions: Summary, Equations and Inequalities: Expressions
13 5.2 - 5.3 Equations and Inequalities: Solving Linear Equations I and II
14 5.4 - 5.5 Equations and Inequalities: Word Problems, Inequalities
No Classes - Winter Break
15 5.5 - 6.1 Equations and Inequalities: Summary, Decimals: Arithmetic with
Decimals
16 6.2 - 6.3 Decimals: Rounding, Decimals and Fractions
No Classes - Exam Week
17 6.4 - 7.1 Decimals: Repeating Decimals, Summary, Ratios, Conversions and Rates:
What is a Ratio?
18 7.2 - 7.3 Ratios, Conversions and Rates: Multi-way Ratios, Proportions
19 7.4 - 7.5 Ratios, Conversions and Rates: Conversions, Speed
20 7.6 - 8.1 Ratios, Conversions and Rates: Other Rates, Summary, Percents: What is
a Percent?
21 8.2 - 8.4 Percents: Word Problems, Percent Increase and Decrease, Summary
22 9.1 - 9.2 Square Roots: From Squares to Square Roots, Square Roots of
Non-Squares
23 9.3 - 9.4 Square Roots: Arithmetic with Square Roots, Summary
24 10.1 - 10.4 Angles: Measuring, Parallel Lines, Angles in Polygons, Summary
No Classes - Spring Break
25 11.1 - 11.2 Perimeter and Area: Measuring Segments, Area
26 11.3 - 11.4 Perimeter and Area: Circles, Summary
27 12.1 - 12.4 Right Triangles and Quadrilaterals: Pythagorean Theorem, Some
Special Triangles, Types of Quadrilaterals, Summary
28 13.1 - 13.4 Data and Statistics: Basic Statistics, Limits of Basic Statistics, Tables,
Graphs and Charts, Summary
29 14.1 - 14.4 Counting: Counting with Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication
Principle, Case Work, Counting Pairs
30 14.5 - 15.2 Counting: Probability, Summary, Problem Solving Strategies: Find a
Pattern, Make a List
31 15.3 - 15.5 Problem Solving Strategies: Draw a Picture, Work Backwards, Summary
32 Review
No Classes - Exam Week