Algebra I is one of the most critical courses that students take in high school. Not only does it introduce a powerful reasoning tool with applications in many different careers, it is a gateway to higher education. Because algebra involves a new way of thinking, it can be especially challenging. Professor Sellers begins with a review of fractions, decimals, percents, positive and negative numbers, and numbers raised to various powers. Variables are the building blocks of algebraic expressions, and after completing a carefully crafted series of gradually more challenging problems, students will be familiar with the terminology and symbolic nature of first-year algebra. Students will understand how to represent various types of functions (linear, quadratic, rational, and radical) using algebraic rules, tables of data, and graphs. They will also become acquainted with the types of problems that can be solved using such functions, with a particular eye toward solving various types of equations and inequalities.