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What does a student learn in ?

This is the stretch of math where students stop crunching numbers and start working with letters, graphs, and proofs as the main tools. Students solve equations with variables on both sides, graph lines and curves, and learn to read what the shape of a graph is telling them. They also use right-triangle rules to find missing sides, and they read data from charts to spot patterns. By spring, students can write an equation from a word problem, graph it, and explain what the answer means in plain language.

  • Algebra
  • Graphing functions
  • Geometry proofs
  • Right triangles
  • Data and probability
  • Quadratic equations
Source: New Mexico New Mexico Adopted 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

    Numbers, units, and expressions

    Students start the year working with real and complex numbers, radicals, and exponents. They use units to set up real-world problems and read expressions the way a writer reads a sentence, by pulling out the parts that matter.

  2. 2

    Equations, inequalities, and systems

    Students solve linear, quadratic, rational, and radical equations and explain each step. They also handle systems of equations and inequalities, both with algebra and by reading graphs.

  3. 3

    Functions and modeling

    Students work with functions as inputs and outputs and learn function notation. They graph and compare linear, quadratic, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions, and use them to model real situations like growth, decay, and rates of change.

  4. 4

    Geometry and trigonometry

    Students prove geometric relationships using transformations, congruence, and similarity. They use right-triangle trig and the unit circle to find missing measurements, work with circles and volume, and apply geometry to design and modeling problems.

  5. 5

    Statistics and probability

    Students summarize data sets, fit lines and curves to scatter plots, and judge how well a model fits. They study sampling, simulations, and conditional probability, and use expected value to compare choices and read claims based on data.

Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 12.
High School — Number and Quantity
  • Extend the properties of exponents to rational exponents

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-RN.A
    High School

    Students learn to work with exponents that are fractions, such as writing a square root as a power of one-half. This connects the rules they already know for whole-number exponents to roots and fractional powers.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-RN.A.1
    High School

    Rational exponents are another way to write roots. Students learn why an exponent like 1/2 means square root by following the same multiplication rules that work with whole-number exponents, then applying that logic to fractions.

  • Rewrite expressions involving radicals and rational exponents using the…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-RN.A.2
    High School

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

  • Use properties of rational and irrational numbers

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-RN.B
    High School

    Students learn why adding or multiplying rational and irrational numbers produces predictable results. For example, they explain why pi plus a whole number stays irrational, and why the square root of 2 times itself becomes rational.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-RN.B.3
    High School

    Students explain why adding or multiplying two fractions (or whole numbers) always gives a fraction, and why mixing a fraction with a number like pi always gives something that can't be written as a fraction. The rules come from how number types behave under arithmetic.

  • Reason quantitatively and use units to solve problems

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-Q.A
    High School

    Students use units like miles per hour, dollars per item, or square feet to set up and solve real-world problems. Choosing the right unit is part of getting the right answer.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-Q.A.1
    High School

    Students pick the right units for a problem (miles, seconds, dollars) and stick with them through every step. They also read graphs carefully, knowing what the scale and starting point mean for the data shown.

  • Define appropriate quantities for the purpose of descriptive modeling

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-Q.A.2
    High School

    Students choose which numbers and units actually matter for a real-world problem. A model tracking a road trip, for example, might need miles and hours but not the color of the car.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-Q.A.3
    High School

    When reporting a measurement, students pick a level of precision that fits the tool used and the context. A ruler marked in centimeters can't justify an answer in thousandths.

  • Perform arithmetic operations with complex numbers

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.A
    High School

    Students add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers that include imaginary parts (written with an "i," as in 3 + 2i). The work extends arithmetic beyond the number line into a broader number system used in advanced math and engineering.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.A.1
    High School

    The square root of -1 doesn't exist on the regular number line, so mathematicians gave it a name: i. Students learn that every complex number combines a regular number with a multiple of i, written as a + bi.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.A.2
    High School

    Students add, subtract, and multiply complex numbers (numbers that include a square root of a negative number) by applying familiar arithmetic rules, using the fact that i² equals -1 to simplify the result.

  • (+) Find the conjugate of a complex number

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.A.3
    High School

    Finding the conjugate of a complex number means flipping the sign on its imaginary part. Students use that paired number to divide complex numbers and to find how far a complex number sits from zero on the number plane.

  • Represent complex numbers and their operations on the complex plane

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.B
    High School

    Students plot complex numbers on a grid that uses a real axis and an imaginary axis, then show what happens to those points when the numbers are added, subtracted, or multiplied.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.B.4
    High School

    Students plot complex numbers on a coordinate grid using either rectangular coordinates (horizontal and vertical distances) or polar coordinates (angle and distance from the origin). They explain why both methods describe the exact same point.

  • (+) Represent addition, subtraction, multiplication

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.B.5
    High School

    Complex numbers can be plotted as points on a grid, where adding, subtracting, or multiplying them becomes a visual move across that grid. Students use those geometric patterns to solve computations.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.B.6
    High School

    Finding the distance between two complex numbers works like finding the distance between two points on a graph. Students calculate how far apart the numbers are and locate the midpoint of the segment connecting them.

  • Use complex numbers in polynomial identities and equations

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.C
    High School

    Students apply complex numbers to solve polynomial equations that have no real-number solutions. This includes working with equations where the answer involves the square root of a negative number.

  • Solve quadratic equations with real coefficients that have complex solutions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.C.7
    High School

    Quadratic equations don't always have real-number answers. Students solve equations like x² + 4 = 0 and find solutions that include imaginary numbers, written with the letter i.

  • (+) Extend polynomial identities to the complex numbers

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.C.8
    High School

    Polynomial identities like (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b² still hold when a and b are complex numbers. Students apply those same algebraic rules to expressions that include imaginary parts.

  • (+) Know the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-CN.C.9
    High School

    Every polynomial equation has at least one solution, even when that solution is a complex number. Students prove this holds for quadratic equations by finding both roots, real or imaginary.

  • Represent and model with vector quantities

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.A
    High School

    Vectors describe quantities that have both a size and a direction, like the speed and path of a moving object. Students learn to draw, label, and calculate with these values to model real situations.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.A.1
    High School

    A vector is an arrow that carries two pieces of information: how far and which way. Students learn to draw vectors as directed line segments and read the symbols that show a vector's length and direction.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.A.2
    High School

    A vector is an arrow on a graph with a starting point and an ending point. Students find its horizontal and vertical parts by subtracting the starting coordinates from the ending coordinates.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.A.3
    High School

    Students use vectors to solve real problems involving speed and direction, like figuring out where a plane ends up after flying through a crosswind. The math connects movement in the real world to arrows on a graph.

  • Perform operations on vectors

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.B
    High School

    Students add, subtract, and scale vectors, working with both their numeric components and their geometric representations as arrows in a coordinate plane.

  • (+) Add and subtract vectors

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.B.4
    High School

    Students add and subtract vectors by combining their direction and length, the way you might track a ship's position after two separate legs of a journey. This shows up in physics, navigation, and any problem where forces or movements stack on top of each other.

  • Add vectors end-to-end, component-wise

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.B.4a
    High School

    Students learn three ways to add vectors and discover that the combined length of two vectors is usually shorter than you'd expect from adding their individual lengths.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.B.4b
    High School

    Two vectors point in different directions with different strengths. Students find the single direction and strength that results from combining them.

  • Understand vector subtraction v - w as v +

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.B.4c
    High School

    Subtracting one vector from another means adding its reverse. Students flip the second vector's direction, then add the two together, both on a graph and by subtracting each matching pair of numbers.

  • (+) Multiply a vector by a scalar

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.B.5
    High School

    Students scale a vector up or down by multiplying it by a single number, changing how long the arrow is (and sometimes flipping its direction) while keeping it pointed along the same line.

  • Represent scalar multiplication graphically by scaling vectors and possibly…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.B.5a
    High School

    Multiplying a vector by a number stretches or shrinks its arrow on a graph and flips it if the number is negative. Students also do this calculation by multiplying each component separately.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.B.5b
    High School

    Scaling a vector by a number changes how long it is, not just which way it points. Students calculate the new length and figure out whether the scaled vector still faces the same direction or flips to face the opposite direction.

  • Perform operations on matrices and use matrices in applications

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.C
    High School

    Students add, subtract, and multiply grids of numbers called matrices, then use those calculations to solve real problems like encoding data or transforming shapes.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.C.6
    High School

    A matrix is a grid of numbers that organizes real-world data so students can calculate with it. Students use matrices to track things like game scores, costs, or connections between points in a network.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.C.7
    High School

    Multiplying a matrix by a single number scales every value inside it by that amount. If a game pays out certain points and the rewards double, students multiply the whole matrix by 2 to find the new values.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.C.8
    High School

    Students add, subtract, and multiply grids of numbers called matrices, as long as the grids are the right sizes to work together. This is the arithmetic of data arranged in rows and columns.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.C.9
    High School

    Multiplying matrices in a different order usually gives a different answer, unlike multiplying regular numbers. But matrices still follow the grouping and distribution rules students learned with numbers.

  • (+) Understand that the zero and identity matrices play a role in matrix…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.C.10
    High School

    The zero matrix works like adding 0, and the identity matrix works like multiplying by 1. Students also learn that a square matrix can be "undone" only when its determinant is not zero.

  • (+) Multiply a vector

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.C.11
    High School

    Multiplying a matrix by a vector shifts or stretches that vector to a new position or size. Students use this to see how matrices act as movement rules that push points and shapes around a coordinate plane.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.C.12
    High School

    A 2x2 matrix can shift, rotate, or stretch shapes on a coordinate plane. Students learn how the determinant of that matrix tells you how much the area of a shape changes after the transformation.

High School — Algebra
  • Interpret the structure of expressions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.A
    High School

    Students read an algebraic expression and explain what each part means in context. They recognize familiar patterns, like a squared term or a growing factor, and use those patterns to make sense of the math before solving anything.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.A.1
    High School

    An expression like 3t or 500 - 12x isn't just symbols. Students read it and explain what each number and variable means in the situation it describes, like a rate, a starting value, or a running total.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.A.1a
    High School

    An expression like 3x + 5 is made of parts, each with a job. Students read those parts and explain what each number or variable means in the situation.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.A.1b
    High School

    A complex math expression can be broken into chunks, each meaning something on its own. Students learn to spot those chunks and reason about what they represent before working with the full expression.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.A.2
    High School

    Students look at an algebraic expression and spot a pattern that makes it easier to factor or simplify. For example, recognizing that x⁴ minus 1 has the same shape as a difference of squares.

  • Write expressions in equivalent forms to solve problems

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.B
    High School

    Students rewrite a math expression in a different but equal form to make a problem easier to solve, like factoring or expanding terms to reveal what the expression is actually doing.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.B.3
    High School

    Students rewrite a math expression into a different but equal form to make a hidden pattern or value easier to see. Factoring a quadratic or pulling out a common term are both ways to do this.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.B.3a
    High School

    Students factor a quadratic expression, like x² + 5x + 6, to find where its graph crosses zero on a number line. Rewriting the expression as a product of simpler terms shows which input values make the whole thing equal zero.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.B.3b
    High School

    Students rewrite a quadratic expression by completing the square, which shifts the equation into a form that shows exactly where the parabola peaks or bottoms out.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.B.3c
    High School

    Students rewrite exponential expressions using exponent rules to reveal something useful, like converting a monthly growth rate into a yearly one.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-SSE.B.4
    High School

    Students learn where the geometric series formula comes from, then use it to find the total of a sequence where each term is multiplied by the same number. Think loan payments, bouncing ball distances, or any pattern that grows or shrinks by a fixed ratio.

  • Perform arithmetic operations on polynomials

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.A
    High School

    Adding, subtracting, and multiplying polynomial expressions using the same rules as regular numbers. Students learn to combine like terms and distribute across parentheses to simplify or rewrite expressions.

  • Understand that polynomials form a system analogous to the integers, namely…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.A.1
    High School

    Adding, subtracting, and multiplying polynomials works the same way as adding, subtracting, and multiplying whole numbers. Students practice combining and simplifying expressions like (x squared plus 3x) times (x minus 2) and confirm the result is still a polynomial.

  • Understand the relationship between zeros and factors of polynomials

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.B
    High School

    Zeros are the inputs that make a polynomial equal zero, and factors are the expressions that multiply to build it. Students learn that finding one tells you the other, which is the key move behind solving polynomial equations.

  • Know and apply the Remainder Theorem

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.B.2
    High School

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

  • Identify zeros of polynomials when suitable factorizations are available

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.B.3
    High School

    Students find where a polynomial equation equals zero by factoring it, then use those points to sketch what the graph looks like. It connects the algebra of factoring to the shape of a curve on a coordinate plane.

  • Use polynomial identities to solve problems

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.C
    High School

    Students use shortcut formulas for multiplying and factoring expressions, like (a + b)^2 or (a^2 - b^2), to solve problems faster than expanding everything by hand.

  • Prove polynomial identities and use them to describe numerical relationships

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.C.4
    High School

    Students verify algebraic rules like (a + b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2, then use those rules to explain why certain number patterns always work the same way.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.C.5
    High School

    Students use Pascal's Triangle to expand expressions like (x + y) raised to a whole-number power without multiplying the expression out by hand over and over. The triangle's rows give the coefficients for each term in the result.

  • Rewrite rational expressions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.D
    High School

    Rational expressions are fractions where the numerator or denominator contains a variable. Students rewrite them in simpler or equivalent forms, the same way they would simplify a numeric fraction like 6/9 down to 2/3.

  • Rewrite simple rational expressions in different forms

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.D.6
    High School

    Students divide one polynomial expression by another, similar to long division with whole numbers, and rewrite the result as a simpler expression plus a remainder fraction. This shows up when simplifying algebraic fractions in precalculus work.

  • (+) Understand that rational expressions form a system analogous to the…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.D.7
    High School

    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions that contain variables works by the same rules as ordinary fractions. Students apply those rules to combine and simplify algebraic fractions.

  • Create equations that describe numbers or relationships

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-CED.A
    High School

    Students write equations and inequalities to model real situations, like figuring out how long a road trip takes at a given speed, then use those equations to solve problems.

  • Create equations and inequalities in one variable and use them to solve problems

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-CED.A.1
    High School

    Students write an equation or inequality with one unknown to model a real situation, then solve it. The equation might come from a steady rate, a growing pattern, or a ratio.

  • Create equations in two or more variables to represent relationships between…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-CED.A.2
    High School

    Students write an equation that connects two changing quantities, like speed and time or price and number of items, then plot that relationship on a labeled graph.

  • Represent constraints by equations or inequalities

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-CED.A.3
    High School

    Students write equations or inequalities to capture real-world limits, like a budget or a time constraint, then figure out whether the answers their math gives them actually make sense in the situation.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-CED.A.4
    High School

    Students take a formula like d = rt and rewrite it to solve for the variable they actually need, such as isolating t to find travel time. The algebra steps work the same way as solving any equation.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.A
    High School

    Solving an equation is not just arithmetic. Students explain why each step is legal, treating algebra as a series of logical moves with rules that have to hold up.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.A.1
    High School

    Students explain why each step in solving an equation makes sense, not just what the answer is. They show that every move keeps both sides of the equation balanced.

  • Solve simple rational and radical equations in one variable

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.A.2
    High School

    Solving equations that contain fractions with variables in the denominator, or square roots, sometimes produces answers that don't actually work when plugged back in. Students learn to spot and discard those false answers.

  • Solve equations and inequalities in one variable

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.B
    High School

    Students practice solving for a single unknown, whether the answer is one value, a range of values, or no solution at all. This covers linear equations and inequalities as well as quadratic equations.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.B.3
    High School

    Solving for a single unknown in an equation or inequality, even when some numbers are replaced by letters. Students rearrange and simplify until they isolate the variable.

  • Solve quadratic equations in one variable

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.B.4
    High School

    Quadratic equations have a variable multiplied by itself. Students learn to solve for the unknown using methods like factoring or the quadratic formula, finding the value (or values) that make the equation true.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.B.4a
    High School

    Completing the square is a technique for rewriting a quadratic equation so it takes the form (x - p)² = q. Students use that rewritten form to derive the quadratic formula from scratch.

  • Solve quadratic equations by inspection

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.B.4b
    High School

    Students solve equations where a variable is squared, choosing the method that fits the problem: factoring, square roots, or the quadratic formula. When the formula produces no real solution, students write the result using imaginary numbers.

  • Solve systems of equations

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.C
    High School

    Students learn to find the value of two or more unknowns at once by solving a set of equations together. That might mean finding where two lines cross on a graph or using substitution to pin down exact numbers.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.C.5
    High School

    When solving two equations at once, adding a multiple of one equation to the other gives a new pair of equations with the exact same answer. Students learn why that substitution is always valid, not just that it works.

  • Solve systems of linear equations exactly and approximately

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.C.6
    High School

    Two straight lines can cross at exactly one point. Students find that point by solving two equations together, using algebra or a graph.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.C.7
    High School

    Students solve problems where a straight-line equation and a curved (parabolic) equation share the same graph. They find the points where the two curves cross, using both algebra and a sketch of the graph.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.C.8
    High School

    A system of linear equations can be packed into a single matrix equation, where coefficients, variables, and constants each become their own matrix. Students learn to translate back and forth between the two forms.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.C.9
    High School

    Students learn to reverse a matrix the way you'd undo a math operation, then use that reversed matrix to solve a group of equations at once. For bigger matrices (3x3 and up), they use a calculator or software.

  • Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.D
    High School

    Students take an equation or inequality and draw it as a line or curve on a coordinate grid, then read the graph to find where solutions live. The picture makes the algebra easier to check and explain.

  • Understand that the graph of an equation in two variables is the set of all its…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.D.10
    High School

    Every point on a graph is a pair of numbers that makes the equation true. Students learn to read a curve or line as a picture of every solution to an equation, not just one answer.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.D.11
    High School

    When two equations are graphed as lines or curves, students find where the graphs cross. That crossing point is the answer to the equation, and students learn to locate it by reading a graph, building a table of values, or using a graphing calculator.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-REI.D.12
    High School

    Students shade a region of a graph to show every point that satisfies an inequality. When two inequalities apply at once, students find where both shaded regions overlap.

High School — Functions
  • Understand the concept of a function and use function notation

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-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 evaluate, interpret, and compare functions from equations, graphs, and tables.

  • Understand that a function from one set

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.A.1
    High School

    A function is a rule where every input has exactly one output. Students learn to read f(x) as "the output when x goes in" and connect that rule to points on a graph.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.A.2
    High School

    Students learn to read and use notation like f(x) to describe a function, then plug in a specific value and interpret what the result means in a real situation, such as a cost or a temperature at a given time.

  • Recognize that sequences are functions, sometimes defined recursively, whose…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.A.3
    High School

    A sequence like 1, 2, 4, 8... is a function. Each position number (1st, 2nd, 3rd) maps to exactly one value, and some sequences find the next term by using the one before it.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.B
    High School

    Reading a function means understanding what it actually describes. Students look at an equation or graph tied to a real situation and explain what the numbers, slope, or peak means for that specific context.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.B.4
    High School

    A graph tells a story about two quantities changing together. Students read that story by identifying where the values rise, fall, or level off, then sketch a rough graph from a written description of the same relationship.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.B.5
    High School

    The domain is the set of inputs a function will accept. Students look at a graph or a real situation (like hours worked or ticket prices) and decide which input values actually make sense.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.B.6
    High School

    Students find how fast something is rising or falling over a stretch of time, using a formula, a data table, or a graph. Think of it as calculating a car's average speed between two points on a trip.

  • Analyze functions using different representations

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C
    High School

    Reading a function from a graph, table, or equation tells a different story each time. Students learn to move between all three and pull out what each one shows best about how the function behaves.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.7
    High School

    Students graph equations like y = x² or y = sin(x) and mark the important parts: where the line crosses an axis, where it peaks, where it levels off. Simpler graphs get done by hand; complex ones use a calculator or graphing tool.

  • Graph linear and quadratic functions and show intercepts, maxima

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.7a
    High School

    Students graph straight lines and curved parabolas on a coordinate plane, then label where the graph crosses the axes and where it peaks or bottoms out.

  • Graph square root, cube root

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.7b
    High School

    Students graph curved functions like square roots and cube roots, plus functions that change rules mid-way through, such as one that behaves differently below zero than above it.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.7c
    High School

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

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.7d
    High School

    Graphing rational functions means plotting curves that can have holes, breaks, or lines the graph approaches but never crosses. Students factor the equation to find where the graph hits zero and where it shoots off toward infinity.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.7e
    High School

    Students graph exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric curves by hand or with tools, labeling where each curve crosses the axes, how it behaves as it stretches toward infinity, and key wave features like height and cycle length.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.8
    High School

    Rewriting a function in an equivalent form can reveal new information about it. Students learn to factor, complete the square, or rearrange expressions to uncover a parabola's peak, a growth rate, or where a graph crosses zero.

  • Use the process of factoring and completing the square in a quadratic function…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.8a
    High School

    Rewriting a quadratic equation by factoring or completing the square reveals where the parabola crosses the x-axis, where it peaks or bottoms out, and where its line of symmetry falls. Students then explain what those points mean in the real situation the equation describes.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.8b
    High School

    Exponential functions can be rewritten using exponent rules to reveal the growth rate or decay rate hiding in the formula. Students practice spotting what a rewritten expression tells them about how quickly a value rises or falls.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.9
    High School

    Two functions can be described in different ways: an equation, a graph, a table of values, or words. Students compare the two to find which grows faster, peaks higher, or has a different starting value.

  • Build a function that models a relationship between two quantities

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.A
    High School

    Students write or adjust a function (an equation or rule) to describe how one real-world quantity changes in relation to another, like how distance changes with speed or cost changes with items purchased.

  • Write a function that describes a relationship between two quantities

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.A.1
    High School

    Students write an equation that shows how one quantity changes as another changes, like how total cost rises as more items are bought. The equation becomes a tool for predicting values without listing every case.

  • Determine an explicit expression, a recursive process

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.A.1a
    High School

    Given a real situation (say, a phone plan or a savings account), students write a formula or step-by-step rule that calculates the output for any input.

  • Combine standard function types using arithmetic operations

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.A.1b
    High School

    Students add, subtract, multiply, or divide two functions together to build a new one. For example, combining a linear and an exponential function produces a single equation that captures both behaviors.

  • (+) Compose functions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.A.1c
    High School

    Two functions can be chained so the output of one becomes the input of the next. Students combine functions that way to model situations where one quantity feeds directly into another calculation.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.A.2
    High School

    Students write rules for number patterns like "add 5 each time" or "double each time," then use those rules to predict any term in the sequence without listing every step in between.

  • Build new functions from existing functions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.B
    High School

    Students take a function they already know, like a parabola or a line, and shift it, flip it, or stretch it to create a new one. This skill is about seeing how changes to an equation change the shape and position of its graph.

  • Identify the effect on the graph of replacing f

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.B.3
    High School

    Students learn how adding, multiplying, or shifting a number inside a function moves, stretches, or flips its graph. Given two graphs, students can work backward to find what change was made.

  • Find inverse functions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.B.4
    High School

    Students learn to reverse a function: if a rule turns 3 into 7, the inverse turns 7 back into 3. They practice finding and writing that reverse rule algebraically.

  • Solve an equation of the form f

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.B.4a
    High School

    Students solve an equation like f(x) = 10 to find what input produces a given output, then write the reverse rule that "undoes" the original function.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.B.4b
    High School

    Students check that two functions are true inverses by plugging one into the other and confirming the result is just x. If f and g undo each other perfectly, composing them in either order gives back the original input.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.B.4c
    High School

    Given a graph or table, students find the reverse input-output pairs of a function. If a function turns 3 into 9, its inverse turns 9 back into 3.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.B.4d
    High School

    A function that fails the horizontal line test can be made invertible by limiting its inputs to a specific interval. Students learn to choose a restricted domain so the trimmed function has a working inverse.

  • (+) Understand the inverse relationship between exponents and logarithms and…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-BF.B.5
    High School

    Exponents and logarithms are opposites of each other, the way multiplication and division are. Students use that relationship to solve equations where the unknown is in an exponent or inside a logarithm.

  • Construct and compare linear, quadratic

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.A
    High School

    Students learn to recognize whether a situation calls for a straight-line, curved, or rapidly-growing math model, then build and compare those models to answer real questions about things like population growth, falling objects, or loan balances.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.A.1
    High School

    Deciding whether a pattern grows by adding the same amount each time (linear) or by multiplying by the same amount each time (exponential). Students learn to look at real data and choose the right type of function to describe it.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.A.1a
    High School

    Linear functions add the same amount in every equal stretch of time or input. Exponential functions multiply by the same factor instead. Students prove why each pattern holds, not just observe it.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.A.1b
    High School

    A straight-line graph shows this: one quantity grows or shrinks by the same amount every time the other increases by one. Students learn to spot that pattern in tables, graphs, and real-life situations like hourly pay or steady speed.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.A.1c
    High School

    A quantity growing or decaying by a constant percent each period is exponential, not linear. Students learn to spot this pattern in situations like compound interest or population decline, where the rate of change is always a fixed percentage of the current amount.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.A.2
    High School

    Students build the equation for a line or exponential curve using clues like a graph, a word description, or two points from a table. The goal is to find a rule that fits the pattern.

  • Observe using graphs and tables that a quantity increasing exponentially…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.A.3
    High School

    Graphs and tables show that exponential growth, like compound interest or population doubling, eventually outpaces any straight-line or curved polynomial pattern. Students compare these models to see how quickly exponential quantities pull ahead.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.A.4
    High School

    Students solve equations where a quantity grows or shrinks by a repeated factor, then rewrite the answer as a logarithm. A calculator handles the final arithmetic.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.B
    High School

    Reading a function's equation to understand what each number actually means in a real situation. Students explain why the starting value, rate of change, or growth factor matters for the thing being modeled, such as a loan, a population, or a temperature drop.

  • Interpret the parameters in a linear or exponential function in terms of a…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-LE.B.5
    High School

    Students figure out what the numbers in a linear or exponential equation actually mean for a given situation. If a bank account grows by 3% each year, they can point to exactly where that 3% lives in the formula.

  • Extend the domain of trigonometric functions using the unit circle

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.A
    High School

    The unit circle is a circle with radius 1 centered at the origin. Students use it to define sine, cosine, and tangent for any angle, not just the acute angles inside a right triangle.

  • Understand radian measure of an angle as the length of the arc on the unit…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.A.1
    High School

    Radians are another way to measure angles. Students learn that one radian equals the length of the arc that angle cuts along a circle with radius 1, connecting angle size directly to a distance on that circle.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.A.2
    High School

    The unit circle is a circle with radius 1 centered at the origin. Students use it to find sine and cosine for any angle, not just the sharp angles inside a right triangle, by reading the x and y coordinates where the angle meets the circle.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.A.3
    High School

    Using the 30-60-90 and 45-45-90 triangles, students find the exact sine, cosine, and tangent values for key angles. They then use those values to find what happens to each ratio when an angle is reflected or rotated around the unit circle.

  • (+) Use the unit circle to explain symmetry

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.A.4
    High School

    Students use a circle with radius 1 to explain why sine and cosine repeat in a predictable pattern and why flipping an angle to the negative side changes some trig values but not others.

  • Model periodic phenomena with trigonometric functions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.B
    High School

    Students use sine and cosine functions to model things that repeat on a cycle, like a pendulum's swing or the rise and fall of tides. They find the equation that fits the pattern.

  • Choose trigonometric functions to model periodic phenomena with specified…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.B.5
    High School

    Students pick a sine or cosine function that fits a real pattern, like a tide or a spinning wheel, by matching its height, how often it repeats, and where it sits on a graph.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.B.6
    High School

    To find the inverse of a sine or cosine function, students first limit it to a portion of its graph that only goes up or only goes down. That restriction makes a true inverse possible.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-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, such as a ramp angle or a satellite's path. They check answers with a calculator and explain what the angle means in context.

  • Prove and apply trigonometric identities

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.C
    High School

    Students use algebra to show why sine, cosine, and tangent always relate to each other in predictable ways, then apply those relationships to simplify expressions and solve problems.

  • Prove the Pythagorean identity sin²

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-TF.C.8
    High School

    Students learn why sin²(θ) + cos²(θ) always equals 1, then use that relationship to figure out a missing trig value when they know one value and which quadrant the angle sits in.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-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 a calculator alone can't simplify.

High School — Geometry
  • Experiment with transformations in the plane

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.A
    High School

    Students learn how shapes move, flip, and rotate on a flat surface. They explore what changes about a shape's position and what stays the same when it slides, reflects, or turns.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.A.1
    High School

    Students learn the exact definitions of basic geometry terms: what makes lines parallel or perpendicular, how a circle is defined by distance from a center point, and what separates a line segment from an infinite line.

  • Represent transformations in the plane using, e.g., transparencies and geometry…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.A.2
    High School

    Students describe how shapes move, flip, or stretch on a flat grid, and sort those moves into two groups: ones that keep the shape the same size and angle, and ones that don't.

  • Given a rectangle, parallelogram, trapezoid

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.A.3
    High School

    Students figure out which turns and flips leave a shape looking exactly the same as it started. A square, for example, can be rotated a quarter turn or flipped across its middle and still match up perfectly.

  • Develop definitions of rotations, reflections

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.A.4
    High School

    Rotations, reflections, and translations each have precise definitions built from basic geometry: angles, circles, and lines. Students learn exactly what makes each movement work, not just what it looks like.

  • Given a geometric figure and a rotation, reflection

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.A.5
    High School

    Students slide, flip, or rotate a shape on graph paper to a new position, then describe the exact steps that move one shape onto another.

  • Understand congruence in terms of rigid motions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-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…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.B.6
    High School

    Rigid motions are slides, flips, and turns that move a shape without changing its size or angles. Students use those moves to show whether two shapes are congruent, meaning one can land exactly on top of the other.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.B.7
    High School

    Two triangles are congruent when you can slide, flip, or rotate one to land exactly on the other. Students show this works only when every matching side and every matching angle between the two triangles are equal.

  • Explain how the criteria for triangle congruence

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.B.8
    High School

    Two triangles are congruent when one can be moved exactly onto the other using flips, slides, and turns. ASA, SAS, and SSS are shortcuts that confirm this is possible without testing every point.

  • Prove geometric theorems

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.C
    High School

    Students write logical, step-by-step arguments to show why rules about lines, angles, and triangles must be true. The goal is not just to know the answer but to explain why it works.

  • Prove theorems about lines and angles

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.C.9
    High School

    Students prove basic geometry rules from scratch, such as why vertical angles are equal or why a straight line always measures 180 degrees. The focus is on building a logical argument, not just stating the answer.

  • Prove theorems about triangles

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.C.10
    High School

    Students prove why triangles behave the way they do, such as why the three angles always add up to 180 degrees or why the longest side always sits across from the largest angle. The focus is on building a logical argument, not just accepting the rule.

  • Prove theorems about parallelograms

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.C.11
    High School

    Students prove that opposite sides of a parallelogram are equal, opposite angles match, and diagonals cut each other in half. The work moves from drawing and measuring to writing a logical argument that holds up every time.

  • Make geometric constructions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.D
    High School

    Students use a compass and straightedge to draw precise geometric shapes, like bisecting an angle or constructing a perpendicular line, without relying on measurement tools.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.D.12
    High School

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

  • Construct an equilateral triangle, a square

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-CO.D.13
    High School

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

  • Understand similarity in terms of similarity transformations

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.A
    High School

    Similarity means two shapes are the same figure at different sizes or orientations. Students learn to describe that relationship using the moves, scaling, rotating, reflecting, that map one shape exactly onto the other.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.A.1
    High School

    Dilations stretch or shrink a figure from a fixed center point by a scale factor. Students test what stays the same (angles, shape) and what changes (side lengths) when they scale a figure up or down on the coordinate plane.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.A.1a
    High School

    When a figure is stretched or shrunk from a fixed point, any line that doesn't run through that point shifts to a new position but stays parallel to where it started. Lines that do run through the fixed point stay put.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.A.1b
    High School

    Scale up or shrink a line segment, and its new length equals the original multiplied by the scale factor. Students use that ratio to find exact measurements after any dilation.

  • Given two figures, use the definition of similarity in terms of similarity…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.A.2
    High School

    Two shapes are similar if one can be resized and repositioned to match the other exactly. Students decide whether two triangles are similar by checking that their matching angles are equal and their matching side lengths stay in the same ratio.

  • Use the properties of similarity transformations to establish the AA criterion…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.A.3
    High School

    Two triangles are similar when two of their angles match. Students use that rule to prove triangles have the same shape even when one is larger or smaller than the other.

  • Prove theorems involving similarity

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.B
    High School

    Students use proportions and angle relationships to prove that two shapes are scaled versions of each other. The proofs appear in formal written arguments or diagrams showing why corresponding sides and angles must match.

  • Prove theorems about triangles

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.B.4
    High School

    Students prove that a line drawn parallel to one side of a triangle cuts the other two sides proportionally. The work builds the logical case from scratch using what they already know about similar triangles.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.B.5
    High School

    Students use the rules for matching or scaling triangles to find missing side lengths and angles, then explain why those relationships hold in other shapes built from triangles.

  • Define trigonometric ratios and solve problems involving right triangles

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.C
    High School

    Trigonometric ratios connect the angles of a right triangle to the lengths of its sides. Students use sine, cosine, and tangent to find missing side lengths or angles in real situations like measuring a building's height or a ramp's slope.

  • Understand that by similarity, side ratios in right triangles are properties of…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.C.6
    High School

    The ratio between two sides of a right triangle stays the same whenever the angles stay the same. That consistent relationship is where sine, cosine, and tangent come from.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.C.7
    High School

    Sine and cosine are linked: the sine of any angle equals the cosine of its complement. Students use this to swap between the two when solving triangle problems, without recalculating from scratch.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.C.8
    High School

    Given a real situation with a right triangle, such as finding the height of a building or the distance across a river, students use sine, cosine, tangent, and the Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing side lengths and angles.

  • Apply trigonometry to general triangles

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.D
    High School

    Students use sine, cosine, and tangent to find missing side lengths and angles in triangles that don't have a right angle. This includes the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines.

  • (+) Derive the formula A = 1/2 ab sin

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.D.9
    High School

    Students learn where the triangle area formula A = 1/2 ab sin(C) actually comes from. By dropping a perpendicular line from one corner to the opposite side, they build the formula from scratch instead of just memorizing it.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.D.10
    High School

    Using the Laws of Sines and Cosines, students find missing side lengths and angles in any triangle, not just right triangles. They also work through the reasoning that proves why those formulas hold.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-SRT.D.11
    High School

    Given a triangle where some sides or angles are unknown, students use the Law of Sines and Law of Cosines to find the missing measurements. This applies to any triangle, not just ones with a right angle.

  • Understand and apply theorems about circles

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-C.A
    High School

    Circles follow predictable rules about angles, arcs, and line segments. Students learn those rules and use them to solve problems involving chords, tangents, and the relationships between parts of a circle.

  • Prove that all circles are similar

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-C.A.1
    High School

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

  • Identify and describe relationships among inscribed angles, radii

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-C.A.2
    High School

    Inscribed angles, radii, and chords all follow predictable rules inside a circle. Students learn those rules and use them to find missing angles and lengths.

  • Construct the inscribed and circumscribed circles of a triangle

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-C.A.3
    High School

    Students learn to draw the largest circle that fits inside a triangle and the smallest circle that wraps around it. They also prove why opposite angles in a four-sided shape drawn inside a circle always add up to 180 degrees.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-C.A.4
    High School

    Given a point outside a circle, students draw a line that just grazes the circle's edge at exactly one spot. This construction uses a compass and straightedge, with no guessing.

  • Find arc lengths and areas of sectors of circles

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-C.B
    High School

    Students calculate how long a curved slice of a circle's edge is, and how much area a pie-slice section covers. Both answers depend on the angle at the center and the size of the circle.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-C.B.5
    High School

    Students learn why a bigger circle stretches an arc by the same factor it stretches the radius, then use that relationship to define radian measure and calculate the area of a pie-slice section of any circle.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GPE.A
    High School

    Students connect the shape of a curve (a circle, parabola, or ellipse) to its equation, and work in both directions: starting from a graph to write the equation, or starting from an equation to sketch the curve.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GPE.A.1
    High School

    Students use the Pythagorean Theorem to build the equation of a circle from its center point and radius. They also work backward, rewriting a given equation to figure out where the circle sits and how wide it is.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GPE.A.2
    High School

    Students learn where a parabola comes from by using two geometric pieces: a fixed point and a fixed line. They write the equation that describes every point on the curve that sits exactly halfway between those two references.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GPE.A.3
    High School

    Given two fixed points called foci, students figure out the equation of an ellipse or hyperbola by using the rule that the distances from any point on the curve to those two foci always add up to (or differ by) the same number.

  • Use coordinates to prove simple geometric theorems algebraically

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GPE.B
    High School

    Students use x-y coordinates to prove geometric facts, like showing two lines are parallel or that a shape's diagonals bisect each other, without relying on a diagram alone.

  • Use coordinates to prove simple geometric theorems algebraically

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GPE.B.4
    High School

    Students use x-y coordinates to prove geometry facts with algebra instead of diagrams. For example, they might show that a shape is a rectangle by calculating slopes to confirm its angles are right angles.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GPE.B.5
    High School

    Parallel lines have equal slopes; perpendicular lines have slopes that are negative reciprocals of each other. Students use those two rules to write equations for lines that run alongside or cut straight across a given line through a specific point.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GPE.B.6
    High School

    Students find the exact spot on a line segment that divides it into two pieces with a specific size relationship, like cutting a road into a one-third and two-thirds split. They use coordinates and ratios to locate that point precisely.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GPE.B.7
    High School

    Students use the x-y coordinates of a shape's corners to calculate how far around the outside it measures and how much space it covers inside. The work leans on the distance formula to find side lengths first.

  • Explain volume formulas and use them to solve problems

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GMD.A
    High School

    Students learn where volume formulas come from and use them to find how much space a solid shape holds. They apply those formulas to solve real problems involving cylinders, cones, pyramids, and spheres.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GMD.A.1
    High School

    Students explain in their own words why the formulas for circle circumference, circle area, and the volumes of cylinders, pyramids, and cones actually work, not just how to use them.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GMD.A.2
    High School

    Students explain why the volume formulas for spheres and cones actually work by showing that two solids with matching cross-sections at every height must have equal volumes. It's the geometric reasoning behind the numbers, not just the formula itself.

  • Use volume formulas for cylinders, pyramids, cones

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GMD.A.3
    High School

    Students apply volume formulas to find how much space fits inside cylinders, cones, pyramids, and spheres. The problems go beyond plugging in numbers, asking students to work backward or combine shapes to find a missing measurement.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GMD.B
    High School

    Students practice seeing how flat shapes and solid objects connect. For example, rotating a rectangle creates a cylinder, and slicing a cone with a flat cut reveals a circle.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-GMD.B.4
    High School

    Slice a cone or a cylinder with an imaginary cut and name the flat shape you see. Students also figure out what solid a flat shape would form if you spun it around an axis.

  • Apply geometric concepts in modeling situations

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-MG.A
    High School

    Students use shapes, measurements, and spatial reasoning to solve real-world problems, like figuring out how much paint covers a wall or how much space fits inside a building.

  • Use geometric shapes, their measures

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-MG.A.1
    High School

    Real objects can be described using basic shapes. Students practice seeing a tree trunk as a cylinder or a room as a rectangular box, then use the measurements of that shape to solve practical problems.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-MG.A.2
    High School

    Density problems ask students to figure out how much of something fits into a given space. For example, students might calculate how many people live per square mile or how much heat energy fills a room.

  • Apply geometric methods to solve design problems

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-MG.A.3
    High School

    Students use geometry to solve real design problems, like figuring out the best shape for a structure or the most efficient layout for a space. The math has a practical goal: meet a constraint, cut a cost, or make something fit.

High School — Statistics and Probability
  • Summarize, represent

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.A
    High School

    Students learn to collect a single set of numbers, display it in a graph or table, and explain what the data shows. Think test scores, heights, or wait times organized so patterns are easy to spot.

  • Represent data with plots on the real number line

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.A.1
    High School

    Students learn to display a set of numbers as a dot plot, histogram, or box plot, placing each value along a number line so patterns in the data become easier to spot.

  • Use statistics appropriate to the shape of the data distribution to compare…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.A.2
    High School

    Students compare two or more data sets by choosing the right summary numbers: the middle value or average to show center, and a range or spread measure to show how scattered the data is.

  • Interpret differences in shape, center

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.A.3
    High School

    When comparing two sets of data, students explain what differences in the middle values, spread, and overall shape actually mean. They also spot outliers and describe how those unusual values pull the average or skew the picture.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.A.4
    High School

    Students learn to use the average and spread of a data set to sketch a bell curve, then estimate what percentage of a population falls in a given range. They also learn when the bell curve does not fit the data.

  • Summarize, represent

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.B
    High School

    Students look at two variables at once, like age and test score, to find patterns, draw graphs, and decide whether the relationship between them is real or a coincidence.

  • Summarize categorical data for two categories in two-way frequency tables

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.B.5
    High School

    Students read a two-way table that cross-references two groups (like gender and favorite subject) and use the numbers to spot patterns, such as whether one group leans strongly toward a particular choice.

  • Represent data on two quantitative variables on a scatter plot

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.B.6
    High School

    Students plot two sets of numbers on a graph to see whether they move together, like whether more study hours tend to mean higher test scores. Then they describe the pattern they see.

  • Fit a function to the data

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.B.6a
    High School

    Students plot real data points, then find a curve or line that fits the pattern closely. They use that fitted line to answer practical questions, like predicting a future value based on what the data shows.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.B.6b
    High School

    Students plot the difference between a line's predictions and the actual data points to see where the line fits well and where it misses.

  • Fit a linear function for a scatter plot that suggests a linear association

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.B.6c
    High School

    Students draw a straight line through a scatter plot that captures the general direction of the data points. That line summarizes how two measured quantities move together.

  • Interpret linear models

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.C
    High School

    Students read a trend line on a scatter plot to draw conclusions, like estimating someone's height from their age. They also learn when a strong pattern in the data does and doesn't mean one thing is actually causing the other.

  • Interpret the slope

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.C.7
    High School

    Students read a best-fit line on a scatter plot and explain what the slope and starting point actually mean for the real situation, like how much cost rises per mile driven or what the baseline value was before any change.

  • Compute (using technology) and interpret the correlation coefficient of a…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.C.8
    High School

    Students calculate a number between -1 and 1 that shows how closely two things are related on a scatter plot. A result near 1 or -1 means a strong connection; a result near 0 means little to none.

  • Distinguish between correlation and causation

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.C.9
    High School

    Two things can move together in data without one causing the other. Students learn to tell the difference between a real cause-and-effect relationship and two numbers that just happen to rise or fall at the same time.

  • Understand and evaluate random processes underlying statistical experiments

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-IC.A
    High School

    Statistical experiments rely on random processes to produce trustworthy results. Students learn to judge whether an experiment's random setup is sound enough to support conclusions about a larger group.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-IC.A.1
    High School

    A random sample is a small slice of a larger group. Statistics uses that slice to make educated guesses about the whole population, like estimating how many teens in a city prefer a certain sport based on surveying a few hundred.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-IC.A.2
    High School

    Students check whether a math model actually fits real data by running simulations, like rolling a virtual die thousands of times to see if the results match what the model predicts.

  • Make inferences and justify conclusions from sample surveys, experiments

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-IC.B
    High School

    Students learn to draw conclusions from real data and explain why those conclusions hold up. They work with surveys, experiments, and observational studies to decide what the results actually mean and whether the evidence supports the claim.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-IC.B.3
    High School

    Sample surveys ask people questions, experiments test what happens when you change something, and observational studies just watch. Students learn why researchers choose each method and how random selection makes the results trustworthy.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-IC.B.4
    High School

    Students take survey results from a sample group and use them to estimate a fact about the whole population, like an average or a percentage. They also run simulations to figure out how far off that estimate might be.

  • Use data from a randomized experiment to compare two treatments

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-IC.B.5
    High School

    Students run experiments or simulations to compare two groups and decide whether the difference in results is real or just due to chance.

  • Evaluate reports based on data

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-IC.B.6
    High School

    Students read a chart, survey result, or study and decide whether the conclusion actually follows from the data. They look for missing information, biased samples, or numbers that don't support the claim being made.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.A
    High School

    Students learn when two events truly have nothing to do with each other and when the outcome of one changes the odds of another. They use those ideas to make sense of real data.

  • Describe events as subsets of a sample space

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.A.1
    High School

    A sample space lists every possible outcome of a situation, like all the results from rolling a die. Students sort those outcomes into groups using "or," "and," and "not" to describe which results count as an event.

  • Understand that two events A and B are independent if the probability of A and…

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.A.2
    High School

    Two events are independent if knowing one happened tells you nothing about the odds of the other. Students check independence by multiplying the two separate probabilities and seeing if that matches the probability of both happening at once.

  • Understand the conditional probability of A given B as P

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.A.3
    High School

    Conditional probability measures how likely one event is once you know another has happened. Two events are independent when knowing one occurred tells you nothing new about the other.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.A.4
    High School

    Students build a table that sorts data into two categories at once, like age and favorite sport, then use the table to figure out whether those two things are actually related or just coincidentally lined up.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.A.5
    High School

    Students decide whether two real-world events actually affect each other's odds. For example, they explain whether being late to school changes the chance it will rain that day, and why those two things are unrelated.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.B
    High School

    Students use probability rules to figure out the chances of two or more events happening together or in sequence. Think of drawing cards or rolling dice: students calculate how likely combined outcomes are, not just single ones.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.B.6
    High School

    When one event has already happened, students find the probability that a second event also occurred. They calculate it as a fraction and explain what that number means in context.

  • Apply the Addition Rule, P

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-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 between them. They then explain what that probability means in the context of the situation.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.B.8
    High School

    Students use a formula to find the probability that two events both happen, accounting for how the first event affects the odds of the second. They then explain what that combined probability means in context.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.B.9
    High School

    Students figure out the odds of multi-step events by counting the possible arrangements or groupings that could occur. This shows up in real problems like lottery odds, card hands, or tournament brackets.

  • Calculate expected values and use them to solve problems

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.A
    High School

    Students learn to find the "expected value" of a situation, like how much a lottery ticket is actually worth on average, and use that number to make smarter decisions about risk and chance.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.A.1
    High School

    Students assign numbers to possible outcomes of a chance event, then plot how likely each outcome is on a graph. This works the same way as graphing real data, just applied to probability.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.A.2
    High School

    Expected value is the long-run average outcome of a random event, like the average winnings per spin in a game of chance. Students calculate it by weighting each possible result by how likely it is to occur.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.A.3
    High School

    Students list every possible outcome of a situation, assign each one a probability, then calculate the average result they'd expect over many tries. Think of it as figuring out how much a game of chance is really worth playing.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.A.4
    High School

    Students use real collected data to build a probability distribution for a random variable, then calculate the expected value to predict what outcome is most likely over many trials.

  • Use probability to evaluate outcomes of decisions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B
    High School

    Students learn to use probability to weigh real choices, like whether a game is worth playing or whether a medical test is reliable. The math helps them judge whether an outcome is worth the risk.

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

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B.5
    High School

    Students learn to make smarter decisions under uncertainty by calculating the average outcome they can expect from a choice, taking into account both how likely each result is and how much it's worth.

  • Find the expected payoff for a game of chance

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B.5a
    High School

    Students calculate the average outcome of a game of chance by weighing each possible result against how likely it is to happen. This tells them whether a game is worth playing or how much a player can expect to win or lose over time.

  • Evaluate and compare strategies on the basis of expected values

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B.5b
    High School

    Students compare two options by calculating the average outcome each one produces over time, then use those numbers to decide which strategy is the better bet.

  • (+) Use probabilities to make fair decisions

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B.6
    High School

    When a fair choice needs to be made, students use probability tools like random draws or number generators to ensure no option is unfairly favored. The method gives everyone or everything an equal chance.

  • (+) Analyze decisions and strategies using probability concepts

    CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B.7
    High School

    Students learn to use probability to judge real-world decisions, like whether a medical test result is reliable or when a sports team should pull its goalie. The math shows which choice actually makes sense given the odds.

Common Questions
  • What math do high school students cover across these four years?

    Students work through algebra, geometry, functions, and statistics. They solve equations, graph functions, prove things about shapes, and read data from charts and surveys. By the end, they can model real situations with math and explain their reasoning in writing.

  • How can someone help at home without remembering all the algebra?

    Ask students to explain a problem out loud before they solve it. If they get stuck, ask what the question is really asking and what they already know. Talking through one problem for five minutes often does more than watching a tutorial.

  • Why does math suddenly feel so much harder in high school?

    The work shifts from getting an answer to explaining why the answer works. Students are expected to show steps, justify a method, and connect graphs to equations to tables. That writing and reasoning piece catches a lot of students off guard.

  • How should the year be sequenced for a first algebra course?

    Start with expressions and linear equations, then move to functions and graphing, then quadratics, then exponential models. Statistics works well as a closing unit because it pulls in linear models students already know. Leave room to reteach factoring and the quadratic formula.

  • Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

    Fractions, signed numbers, and solving for a variable show up as the main blockers, even in upper grades. A short warm-up that revisits one of these each week pays off more than a full reteach unit. Factoring and function notation also need steady practice across the year.

  • What does mastery look like by the end of high school math?

    Students can solve a problem they have not seen before, choose a reasonable method, and explain why it works. They can read a graph or a data set and say what it means in plain language. They can also catch their own errors when something looks off.

  • How can students practice math at home in 10 minutes?

    Pick one problem from class that gave them trouble and have them redo it from scratch. Then ask them to write one sentence about what they did differently. Short, focused practice beats an hour of worksheets every time.

  • How do graphing calculators and software fit in?

    Students should be able to solve basic problems by hand and use technology for the heavier graphing, regression, and matrix work. Decide early which tasks are calculator-allowed and which are not, and keep that consistent. The goal is judgment about when to reach for the tool.

  • How can teachers tell a student is ready for the next course?

    Look for students who can move between an equation, a graph, and a table without losing the thread. They should be able to set up a word problem and check whether their answer makes sense. A clean final exam score matters less than that kind of flexible thinking.