Common Sense Rating 3

How Can Teachers Use It?

Khan Academy’s Algebra 2 content might be best used as solid, at-home practice to support kids who struggle. The tutorials and instructional videos are clearly labeled with the topics commonly used in Algebra 2 classrooms. As with much of the site, the videos have a spur-of-the-moment feel. Some kids might enjoy the spontaneity of Sal’s conversational tone, and it’s probably best utilized to liven up at-home practice and review. However, many videos lack the organization expected of a well-articulated in-class lesson. Whether you’re using the Missions or pointing students directly to specific tutorials, be sure to carefully screen content beforehand to make sure it aligns with your in-class instruction.

If using the Algebra 2 Mission, students will enjoy moving through the curriculum at their own pace as well as the immediate feedback on quizzes. This can be helpful for kids who need to catch up with a lot of material over a short time. Advanced students may not find the problems challenging enough; nevertheless, this could be useful practice for those looking to test out of the class. Advanced students could also go to the Community Questions section and earn badges by answering other students’ questions.

• The Community Question section does a great job of encouraging kids to teach each other.
• Some videos, like “Introduction to conic sections,” lack organization and may be hard to follow.
• “Trolls, Tolls, and Systems of Equations ” presents a creative way to introduce this concept.

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Key Standards Supported

Arithmetic With Polynomials And Rational Expressions

HSA.APR: Rewrite Rational Expressions

Rewrite simple rational expressions in different forms; write a(x)/b(x) in the form q(x) + r(x)/b(x), where a(x), b(x), q(x), and r(x) are polynomials with the degree of r(x) less than the degree of b(x), using inspection, long division, or, for the more complicated examples, a computer algebra system.

(+) Understand that rational expressions form a system analogous to the rational numbers, closed under addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division by a nonzero rational expression; add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational expressions.

Use Polynomial Identities To Solve Problems

Prove polynomial identities and use them to describe numerical relationships. For example, the polynomial identity (x2 + y2)2 = (x2 – y2)2 + (2xy)2 can be used to generate Pythagorean triples.

(+) Know and apply the Binomial Theorem for the expansion of (x + y)n in powers of x and y for a positive integer n, where x and y are any numbers, with coefficients determined for example by Pascal’s Triangle.1

Building Functions

HSF.BF: Build A Function That Models A Relationship Between Two Quantities