MS Algebra Unit 1 Expressions, Order of Operations and Scientific Notation
Enduring understanding (Big Idea): Students will understand how to represent quantities, patterns, and relationships using
the language of algebra. Students will understand how mathematical expressions can represent real-world relationships using
symbols and operations. Students will understand how the properties are used to simplify expressions. Students will also
perform operations with numbers expressed in scientific notation (8.EE.1).
Essential Questions: 1. How can you represent quantities, patterns and relationships? 2. How are properties related to
Algebra? 3. How are numbers represented in scientific and decimal notation?
BY THE END OF THIS UNIT:
Students will know…
 Like terms
 Order of Operations
 Distributive property a(b + c) = ab + ac / a(b – c) = ab – ac
 Multiplicative Identity a · 1 = a/Additive Identity a + 0 = a
 Multiplicative Inverse a · 1/a = 1/ Additive Inverse a + -a = 0
 Greater than or equal to ≥, Less than or equal to ≤,
 Less than <, Greater than >
Vocabulary: simplify, variable, evaluate, coefficient, Multiplicative Inverse,
Multiplicative Identity, Additive Inverse, Additive Identity, Equivalent
Equations, Scale.
Unit Resources
MARS Task - Interpreting Algebraic expressions
MARS Task – Estimating Length Using Scientific Notation
Students will be able to…
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interpret the structure of expressions
translate verbal phrases into algebraic expressions and interpret
algebraic expressions as word phrases.
use the distributive property to find the product of an algebraic
expression and a number.
use equations to represent the relationship between two quantities that
have the same value.
use tables, equations, and graphs to describe relationships.
Use scientific notation to represent small and large numbers
Mathematical Practices in Focus:
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively
5. Use appropriate tools strategically
Successive pages contain an unpacking of the standards contained in the unit. Standards are listed in alphabetical and numerical
order not suggested teaching order. Teachers must order the standards to form a reasonable unit for instructional purposes.
MS Algebra Unit 1 Expressions, Order of Operations and Scientific Notation
CORE CONTENT
Cluster Title:
Interpret the structure of expressions
Standard
A.SSE.1.a Interpret parts of an expression, such as terms, factors, and coefficients.
Concepts and Skills to Master
Simplify and evaluate expressions by applying order of operations and properties
SUPPORTS FOR TEACHERS
Critical Background Knowledge
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Real Numbers and the Number Line
Properties of Real Numbers
Basic knowledge of order of operations, evaluate expressions, properties
Academic Vocabulary
Variable, Coefficient, Term, Constant, Expression, Equation, Evaluate, Algebraic
Suggested Instructional Strategies
 Simplify expressions that require students to
combine like terms and apply the distributive
property.
 Discuss what happens when a negative sign is in
front of a parenthesis.
 Discuss Real-World Expressions – For example,
write an expression for the amount of money left in
your savings account after depositing 1/3 into your
savings.
Resources
 Textbook Correlation: 1-1, 1-2, 1-7
Successive pages contain an unpacking of the standards contained in the unit. Standards are listed in alphabetical and numerical
order not suggested teaching order. Teachers must order the standards to form a reasonable unit for instructional purposes.
MS Algebra Unit 1 Expressions, Order of Operations and Scientific Notation
Sample Formative Assessment Tasks
Skill-based task
Simplify the expression: 2(12 – 24x) – 15x
Evaluate the expression –xy – y when x = 2 and y = -5
Problem Task (From Textbook page 67 Task 3)
You are buying gifts for 10 people. You decide to buy each person
either a CD or a DVD. A CD costs $12 and a DVD costs $20.
a) Let c = the number of CDs you decide to buy. What is an
expression in terms of c for the number of DVDs you buy?
b) What is an expression in terms of c for the cost of the CDs?
For the cost of the DVDs?
c) Write and simplify an expression in terms of c for the total
cost of all the gifts that you buy. What properties of real
numbers did you use to simplify the expression?
Successive pages contain an unpacking of the standards contained in the unit. Standards are listed in alphabetical and numerical
order not suggested teaching order. Teachers must order the standards to form a reasonable unit for instructional purposes.
MS Algebra Unit 1 Expressions, Order of Operations and Scientific Notation
CORE CONTENT
Cluster Title: 8th grade - Expression and Equations
Standard
8.EE. 4 - Perform operations with numbers expressed in scientific notation, including problems where both decimal and
scientific notation are used. Use scientific notation and choose units of appropriate size for measurements of very large or very
small quantities. Interpret scientific notation that has been generated by technology.
Concepts and Skills to Master
Write numbers in scientific and decimal notation. Apply scientific notation to real world problems.
SUPPORTS FOR TEACHERS
Critical Background Knowledge
Decimals, negative exponent
Academic Vocabulary
Scientific notation, standard notation, power, exponent, negative, positive.
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Resources
 Scientific notation is a number written as a product
 Textbook Correlation: 7.2
of two factors.
 Students may move the decimal correctly when
writing 0.0056 in scientific notation; however they
may associate the rightward movement with a
positive exponent instead of a negative exponent.
Successive pages contain an unpacking of the standards contained in the unit. Standards are listed in alphabetical and numerical
order not suggested teaching order. Teachers must order the standards to form a reasonable unit for instructional purposes.
MS Algebra Unit 1 Expressions, Order of Operations and Scientific Notation
Sample Formative Assessment Tasks
Skill-based task
Write 9,400,000 in scientific notation
Write 49.7 X 10-1 in standard notation
Problem Task Prentice Hall Standardized Test Prep 7-2 #7
“A state government has 5.7 x 107 dollars invested in a pension
fund for retired employees. It expects the investments to double in
value every 8 years. What is the value of the investment after 8
years, 16 years and 24 years? Write your response in scientific
notation.”
Teacher Created Argumentation Tasks (W1-MP3&6)
Prentice Hall 7-2 Enrichment Task offers students an opportunity to explore real-world applications of really small or large
numbers.
Prantice Hall 7-2 Practice page 1 questions #17
Successive pages contain an unpacking of the standards contained in the unit. Standards are listed in alphabetical and numerical
order not suggested teaching order. Teachers must order the standards to form a reasonable unit for instructional purposes.