8th Grade Math—Semester B

Move over, Pythagoras.

Baffled by how dysfunctional functions can be? Upset that most triangles feel more wrong than right? Dismayed that despite your best efforts, lines of best fit are your worst enemies?

Well, not anymore.

We'll guide you through complex systems of linear equations and help you identify functions and relations. (Just a tip: those Groucho glasses aren't fooling anyone.) After we buckle down and prove the Pythagorean Theorem, we'll slide on our 3D glasses and get cozy with cones, cylinders, and spheres. By the time we finish up with scatter plots and lines of best fit, you'll be wishing the math party never ended.

Chock-full of problem sets, activities, and quizzes, this Common Core-aligned course covers:

  • solving systems of linear equations and inequalities.
  • comparing and describing functions and relations.
  • proving and applying the Pythagorean Theorem.
  • calculating volumes of 3D solids.
  • graphing scatter plots and analyzing lines of best fit.

P.S. 8th Grade Math is a two-semester course. You're looking at Semester B, but you can check out Semester A here.


Here's a sneak peek at a video from the course. BYOP (bring your own popcorn).


Unit Breakdown


  1. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Rational and Irrational Numbers

    We'll review the ins and outs of rational numbers and get to know their enigmatic counterparts, irrational numbers. They've been shrouded in mystery, but we'll answer all the questions you ever had about them. What kind of music do they like? What's their favorite Ben and Jerry's flavor? Where do they belong on a number line? (Answers: classic rock, Chunky Monkey, and it depends—in case you were curious.)

  2. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Radicals, Exponents, and Number Theory

    This unit will be all about understanding the ins and outs of exponents and radicals. The two are opposite operations, which means that one undoes the other. You don't want a number to be squared anymore? Throw a radical over it. Radicals ruining your day? Invite exponents over to set them straight.

  3. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Expressions

    In this unit, we'll cover the order of operations, the distributive property, and how to translate from English to Algebrese, all of which are important tools in actually using expressions. We'll even simplify your life by teaching you how to simplify and evaluate expressions. By the end, you'll be able to express yourself in more variables than one.

  4. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - One-Variable Equations

    By putting an equal sign between two expressions, one-variable equations dare us to find those values that make them true. The trouble is that equations aren't always going to hand those solutions over easily. They'll hide behind exponents and coefficients, try to intimidate us with cubed roots, or overwhelm us by having infinitely many solutions. But after this unit, solving equations will be a cinch.

  5. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Geometric Transformations

    If you're sick of numbers and letters, this might just be the unit for you. Aside from a few tricky definitions and a coordinate plane that might give you some turbulence, we're all about movin' and groovin' with figures. Just be careful; some of those shapes have pointy edges. The last thing you want is to be poked in the stomach mid-disco.

  6. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Linear Functions

    This will be our first glance at functions, so we'll start with the very basics: learning the definition of a function, seeing how they can be identified in tables and graphs, and visualizing them on the coordinate plane. Then, we'll look at linear functions and all of their different parts and pieces—no dissection necessary. Leave that for science class.

  7. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Graphing Linear Equations and Inequalities

    Our knowledge of linear equations can only get us so far if we don't know how to graph them. Shockingly, graphs of linear equations have a purpose other than looking really cool; they can make problems easier to understand and solve—especially when there are real-world applications to be made. Of course, looking really cool doesn't hurt.

  8. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities

    In this unit, we're going to work with two of the most common algebraic tools that humans use to plan and strategize: systems of linear equations and systems of linear inequalities. You can use them to plan your entrepreneurial ventures, strategize your rise to power, and orchestrate your eventual takeover of the free world. Useful stuff, isn't it?

  9. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Functions and Relations

    By the end of this unit, you'll have so many new function friends, you'll need to build a bigger tree fort. We'll get familiar with what our function pals look like in algebraic or in graph form, what kinds of x and y values they have, their favorite One Direction song, and what their food allergies are. You know; all those little details that friends should know about each other.

  10. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem

    Triangles are really basic stuff, right? After all, how many permutations of three sides and angles can there be? Sure, the shapes themselves are pretty simple and predictable—but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot to say about them. We'll explore these three-legged creatures in their natural habitats and even use the Pythagorean Theorem to prove that some are more right than others.

  11. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - 3D Geometry

    This unit is all about getting to know cylinders, cones, and spheres inside and out—and we're literally talking about the insides and outsides of these solids. We'll learn their volume and surface area formulas and even dive into a bit of density, so it may help to break out the calculator for this one. We'll finish off with a hands-on project that'll get students psyched about circular solids.

  12. 8th Grade Math—Semester B - Statistics

    In this unit, we're going to cover the basics of collecting and analyzing bivariate data, or data that explains the relationship between two variables. With two-way frequency tables and scatterplots abound, we'll guide you through the complexities of nonlinear associations, linear models, and both numerical and categorical data. By the time we're through, lines of best fit will be your very best friends. Get the scrapbook ready.

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