Syllabus
Texas Success Initiative Assessment:
Mathematics Part 1
Course Overview
The development of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment Courses aligns Plato
Courseware with the strands and topics assessed in the TSI Assessment. Each unit targets the
essential concepts assessed on the TSI assessment for Mathematics. This course focuses on
the study of both numerical and algebraic problem-solving skills. In this course, you will find a
variety of lessons and activities to improve your knowledge and skills in these areas.
Course Goals
By the end of this course, you will:
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Learn to solve difficult linear equations by isolating the variable.
Explore how to use linear math sentences in one variable to solve practical problems.
Study how to solve linear inequalities using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Determine whether an ordered pair is a solution of a linear equation.
Understand the concepts of point, slope, and intercept, and explore the slope and intercept
of a linear relationship, slope-intercept form, and point-slope form.
Learn to graph linear inequalities in two variables.
Learn to solve linear equations by adding, subtracting, or using the substitution or linear
combinations methods.
Study different types of patterns and predict future items in these patterns.
Study and use function notation.
Learn how to find the domain and range of a function.
Explore how equations, tables, and graphs can represent the same function.
Explore how to write and combine functions to represent situations.
Write rules for arithmetic and geometric sequences and find sums of arithmetic and
geometric series.
Learn how to compute functional values by translating and transforming a function.
Learn how to use the product rule, quotient rule, and power rule for integer exponents.
Explore how to rationalize the denominator in rational expressions using the rules for
exponents.
Learn how to apply the rules for exponents when the exponents are rational numbers.
Study how to simplify rational expressions with exponents and radicals.
Explore addition and subtraction on monomials, polynomials, and between binomials and
monomials.
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Explore products and quotients of a monomial and polynomial.
Learn how to factor polynomials that have monomial factors.
Learn how to group terms to write an expression as the product of two sums or differences.
Study how to rewrite formulas to solve problems with variables.
Learn how to solve and find the solution set for quadratic equations.
Review how to solve equations and inequalities.
Solve linear-quadratic equations algebraically and graphically and learn how to describe
real-world situations as linear and quadratic functions.
Identify exponential and logarithmic functions by looking at graphs of these functions.
Relate a domain to a function written in context and compare the growth of different types of
functions.
General Skills
To participate in this course, you should be able to do the following:
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Complete basic operations with word processing software, such as Microsoft Word or
Google Docs.
Perform online research using various search engines and library databases.
Communicate through email.
For a complete list of general skills that are required for participation in online courses, refer to
the Prerequisites section of the Plato Student Orientation document, found at the beginning of
this course.
Course Materials
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notebook
pencils or ink pens
computer with Internet connection and speakers or headphones
Microsoft Word or equivalent
Course Structure
Unit 1–2: Elementary Algebra and Functions
Unit 1 focuses on linear equalities and inequalities. In this unit, you will learn to solve practical
problems using linear math sentences in one variable. You will learn how to solve difficult linear
inequalities by isolating the variable. You will also explore the slope, intercept, and graphs of
linear functions and solve problems based on linear graphs that represent real-world situations.
In unit 2, you will learn to solve of linear equalities and inequalities by graphing. You will learn to
solve real-world problems using system of equations by methods such addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, substitution, and linear combination. This unit includes lessons on writing
rules for arithmetic and geometric. You will then learn to find the sums of their series. This unit
concludes with a focus on functions, where you will learn function notations, domain, and range
of a function, normal functions, recursive functions, and combine functions to represent
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situations. You will also learn how equations, tables, and graphs can represent the same
function and how to compute functional values by translating and transforming a function.
Unit 3–4: Intermediate Algebra and Functions
Unit 3 teaches the application of the rules of exponents and radicals like the power rules,
product rule, and quotient rule, when the exponents are integers. You will learn how to simplify
rational expressions with exponents and radicals. This unit also explains how to perform
addition and subtraction on monomials and addition and subtraction between binomials and
monomials. You will learn to find the sum and difference of polynomials. In addition, you will
also figure out how to determine the product or quotient of a monomial and polynomial. This unit
concludes with demonstration on how to use the distributive property or group them to write an
expression as the product of two sums or differences.
In unit 4, you will explore and solve different types of quadratic equations. You will also study
how to use quadratic equations in one variable to solve practical problems. You will review
methods of solving equations and inequalities. In this unit, you will also learn to describe realworld situations as linear or quadratic functions. Additionally, you will study the properties of
exponential functions and identify exponential and logarithmic functions by looking at graphs of
these functions. Toward the end of the unit, you will learn to relate a domain to a function written
in context and compare the growth of different types of functions.
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