The fundamental purpose of this course is to formalize and extend the mathematics that students learned in the middle grades. There is a focus on real-life applications and word problems that require a high reading level. Topics of this course include: algebra processes; systems of equations; inequalities; polynomials; factoring; arithmetic and geometric sequences; statistical regressions; linear, exponential, and quadratic models. A graphing calculator (TI-84+) will be used in class. We will provide each student with a calculator.