Course title

Pre-requisite

Course description

Financial Algebra will use sophisticated mathematics to give students the tools to become financially responsible young adults. The course employs Algebra; Geometry; Pre-Calculus; Probability and Statistics; and Calculus to solve financial problems that occur in everyday life. Real-world problems in investing; credit; banking; auto ownership; mortgages; employment; income taxes; budgeting and planning for retirement are solved by applying relevant mathematics. Field projects; computer spreadsheets; and graphing calculators are key components of this course.
Course Topics: Stocks/Investments; Business Modeling; Employment; Banking; Credit; Income Taxes; Automobile Ownership; Independent Living/Mortgages; Retirement Planning; Budgeting
Stocks/Investments:
• Stocks are ownerships in companies. Being able to read the data about these companies and how their stocks are doing; by reading graphs; tickers; and publications; can help me know whether to buy or sell a stock; and when to sell a stock to make money or hold on to it.
• Students use mathematics to understand market events and make informed decisions about personal investments.
Business Modeling
• Students use mathematics to model business ventures. Students graph and interpret scatterplots; linear functions and parabolas. Students represent real-world situations with equations; analyze data; make predictions and generate and interpret graphs to maximize profit.
Banking:
• Consumers need to consider the variety of services available; types of interest associated with accounts; and additional fees to make financial decisions for their lifestyles.
• Students use mathematics to determine risks and rewards of savings accounts and checking accounts. Students analyze the degrees of risk and rewards in different investment options. Compound interest and continuous compound interest are explored in this analysis.
Credit:
• Students use algebraic representations; regression analysis and spreadsheets to explore loan/credit card payments and charges. Given different scenarios; students determine if the applied interest is a worthwhile fee for the loan/purchase.
Automobile Ownership
• Students use a variety of formulas and statistical displays as they work on pricing structures; insurance issues; automobile depreciation; and data that can assist them in making wise automobile purchasing decisions.
Employment:
• Students use a variety of mathematics to explore employment opportunities. Students compute periodic salary based on annual salary; hourly pay and overtime pay; and pay based on production/commission.
• Students calculate the value of certain employee benefits and compute paycheck deductions.
Taxes:
• Students will use tax tables; as well as discover the equations and piecewise functions used when completing their taxes. Taxes affect everyone whether it is through sales; property; or income tax.
• By filling out a variety of tax forms; students will determine needed information to fill out forms; and be able to choose which form to use for different life situations.

Independent Living/Mortgages:
• Students use algebra and geometry when investigating living options – home ownership vs rental; relationships between square footage and monthly rent; monthly cost of a home; affordability; relationship between cooling/heating expenses and size of home/rooms; mortgage rates; and moving expenses.
• Being able to know the value for your money will help you get the best value on a place to live.

Retirement Planning:
• Students use formulas to explore different retirement planning options – pre-tax dollars; after-tax investments; employer’s matching contributions; social security benefits; pensions; and life insurance.
• Given different scenarios; students calculate future values of investments.

Budgeting:
• Changes in life require us to change our budget on a constant basis.
• Students use spreadsheets and statistical graphs to create; examine; and chart budgets. Students develop and interpret cash flow charts to determine whether budget goals can be met.

Financial Algebra
Common Core Math Standards Alignment to Course
Number and Quantity: N-RN.1-2; N-Q.1-3; N.VM.6
Algebra: A-CED.1-4; A-REI.2-4;6;7;10-12; A-SSE.1-3; A-APR.6
Functions: F-IF.1;2;4-9; F-BF.1; F-LE.1;5
Geometry: G-C.5; G-MG.3
Statistics and Probability: S-ID.2-4;6-9; S-MD.1;2;4;5
All 8 Math Practice Standards are utilized throughout course.

School Country

School state

School city

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School zip code

Requested competency code

Date submitted

Approved

Approved competency code

• MTHA
• 4 years of Math

Approved date

Online / Virtual