This is an annotated and hand-picked list of algebra tutorials, lessons, worksheets, games, word problems, and algebra books. It is a very long list, and includes a great variety of resources. I have personally chosen each website to make sure it is truly useful for my visitors!
Pre-algebra / Algebra 1 advice & recommendations
Homeschool pre-algebra curriculum—advice and recommendations
My own article that lists options for pre-algebra curriculum for homeschoolers, including descriptions of textbooks.
www.mathmammoth.com/complete/
Homeschool algebra 1 curriculum—advice and recommendations
My own article that lists options for algebra curriculum for homeschoolers, including detailed descriptions of four textbooks.
www.mathmammoth.com/complete/
Algebra tutorials and lessons
Purplemath—Your Algebra Resource
Practical algebra lessons with lots of pictures and animations and worked-out examples.
www.purplemath.com/modules/
Shmoop.com Prealgebra
Free learning guides (tutorials) for all prealgebra topics with interactive practice problems, step-by-step examples, graphs, and real-world applications. This can be used for an online pre-algebra textbook.
www.shmoop.com/pre-algebra
Algebra2goTM Beginning Algebra
Attend Professor Perez's virtual classroom alongside his favorite student, Charlie. Class notes, video lectures, and video worksheets that mirror the video lectures. Some videos are close captioned.
www.saddleback.edu/faculty/
Algebra-Class.com
A website with some simple algebra lessons for typical Algebra 1 class. Each lesson has a brief introduction followed by several examples with detailed explanations, and then a few practice problems.
www.algebra-class.com
The MathPage: Skill in Algebra
and Topics in Precalculus
Tutorials with exercises; with mouseover the answer is revealed.
www.themathpage.com/alg/algebra.htm
www.themathpage.com/aPreCalc/
HippoCampus
High-quality free video lessons with interactive questions covering high school algebra, calculus, physics and many other high school subjects.
www.hippocampus.org
Algebra lessons—Interactive Mathematics
Quite a complete list of algebra lessons from Interactive Mathematics. Each section has an interactive quiz.
www.intmath.com
Real World Algebra by Edward Zaccaro
Algebra is often taught abstractly with little or no emphasis on what algebra is or how it can be used to solve real problems. Just as English can be translated into other languages, word problems can be "translated" into the math language of algebra and easily solved. Real World Algebra explains this process in an easy to understand format using cartoons and drawings. This makes self-learning easy for both the student and any teacher who never did quite understand algebra. Includes chapters on algebra and money, algebra and geometry, algebra and physics, algebra and levers and many more. Designed for children in grades 4-9 with higher math ability and interest but could be used by older students and adults as well. Contains 22 chapters with instruction and problems at three levels of difficulty.
Virtual Nerd
Video tutorials for prealgebra, algebra 1, algebra 2, and intro physics. This will also include practice problems and quizzes sometime during 2010-2011 school year. Includes both a free and paid (premium) versions.
virtualnerd.com
Algebra Help—The Bracket Method
No more PEMDAS—this method uses brackets to help you figure out in what order and how to simplify expressions.
algebramethods.com
S.O.S Math
Math review material—text-book type explanations. Their cyberboard haslots of questions and answers on high school and college level math problems.
www.sosmath.com/algebra/algebra.html
Algebra Lessons at FreeMathHelp.com
Free algebra text and video lessons.
www.freemathhelp.com/algebra-help.html
Math Ops
Free and subscription online pre-algebra and algebra course that includes step-by-step narrated tutorials, videos, and online quizzes.
www.mathops.com/free
AlgeBasics
Watch free Flash tutorials about algebra. Easy to navigate.
www.algebasics.com
Chili Math
Lots of solved examples for algebra 1 and especially algebra 2 topics.
ChiliMath.com
Algebra and graphing lessons & videos—MathExpression.com
Includes study tips and videos on graphing and basic algebra 1 topics.
www.mathexpression.com/algebra-variables.html
Algebra 2 Video LessonsIncludes online video lessons and other support materials to accompany Holt Algebra 2 textbook. Click on the Homework help, choose a chapter, and then view the lessons.
go.hrw.com/gopages/ma/alg2_07.html
www.algebrahelp.com
Explanations of basic algebra concepts, lots of worksheets where you can check the solutions.
www.algebrahelp.com
College Algebra Online Tutorial
including prerequisites for college algebra (= high school algebra) and college algebra topics both. Step-by-step instructions, lots of worked out examples, also some practice problems with answers.
www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/
MathTV.com
Over 6,000 free, online video lessons for basic math, algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Videos also available in Spanish. Also includes online textbooks. I've written a review of MathTV lessons when they used to be offered on CDs.
www.mathtv.com
BrightStorm Math
Over 2,000 free videos covering all high school math topics from algebra to calculus. Registration required (free).
Khan Academy
Possibly the web's biggest and free site for math videos. What started out as Sal making a few algebra videos for his cousins has grown to over 2,100 videos and 100 self-paced exercises and assessments covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history.
www.khanacademy.org
Algebra Within Reach
Free algebra videos presented by Dana Mosely, worked-out solutions for selected exercises, and other companion helps for Ron Larson's algebra textbooks.
www.algebrawithinreach.com
Tablet Class
Online curriculum and math learning system. Includes videos lessons, course materials, review notes, practice worksheets, tests and answer keys. Courses offered are prealgebra, algebra 1 & 2, intermediate and college algebra, and GED math. $25/month or $180 a year. Free trial available.
www.tabletclass.com
Dynamic Algebra Explorations
About 30 interactive explorations for algebra 1. The activities include dynamic online sketches and graphs and center on real-life situations.
math.kendallhunt.com/x19172.html
Key to Algebra Workbooks
Key to Algebra offers a unique, proven way to introduce algebra to your students. New concepts are explained in simple language, and examples are easy to follow. Word problems relate algebra to familiar situations, helping students to understand abstract concepts. Students develop understanding by solving equations and inequalities intuitively before formal solutions are introduced. Students begin their study of algebra in Books 1-4 using only integers. Books 5-7 introduce rational numbers and expressions. Books 8-10 extend coverage to the real number system.
EMathematics.net
Examples and interactive practice problems on a host of algebra topics. For each topic you get a change to practice yourself with computer-checked problems.
www.emathematics.net
Math 101: College Algebra Course
Includes video and text lessons with self-grading quizzes from linear equations to exponential & logarithmic functions and sequences & series. The lessons can also prepare you to earn the lowest-cost college credit in the U.S.
education-portal.com/academy/
Algebra in the Real World
A DVD that includes short movies, showing how algebra is used in the real world, plus supplemental activities & lesson plans. Also available as an online subscription. The DVD costs $95.
www.thefutureschannel.com/e-store
Hand Made Manipulatives
Print these pages on cardstock to get your own base 10 blocks, rods, geometrical shapes, or algebra tiles (XY-blocks)
mason.gmu.edu/~mmankus/
Homemade Tiles for Algebra
Algebra tiles are manipulatives that visualize many basic concepts of algebra. This site has instructions how to make them and links to pages with info how to use them.
mathforum.org/alejandre/factor1.html See also:
- Understanding Algebraic Factoring
A lesson plan explaining how "algebra tiles" help visualize common factoring rules. It is very illustrative, bringing the abstract down to a concrete level.
mathforum.org/alejandre/algfac.html
Trout Pond Population
A ready-to-use interactive tutorial where students investigate the numeric, graphical, and symbolic representations of a recursive function. Specifically, students will explore a scenario in which a trout pond loses a portion of its population to natural causes, but the pond is restocked with fish each year. (The lesson will take some time to complete.)
illuminations.nctm.org/Lesson.aspx?id=1549
-
More great interactive math investigations
illuminations.nctm.org/pages/912.html
Explorelearning Algebra Gizmos
Covering all algebra topics, an extensive collection of 'gizmos' or interactive visual illustrations. They are like virtual hands-on manipulatives with exploration guides (means you have the lesson plan ready there) and assessment questions. Excellent site! Free trial.
www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?
College-Cram Algebra Topics
Interactive and simple algebra tutorials and worksheets.
www.college-cram.com/study/algebra/
High School Operations Research
Series of 10 tutorials (modules) that illustrate how mathematics is used in real-world applications. The student tutorials are printable and ready-to-use pdf-files. The teacher resources have background info, case studies of real companies, homework exercises, and more. For those who want to know where mathematics is actually used, and how. Topics include systems of inequalities, probability & simulation, and finding shortest route among others.
www.hsor.org/modules.cfm
Algebra 2 High School Lesson Plans
Thirty complete lesson plans with real-life examples, exercises, and solutions. Ten of them are free!
www.mathmediator.net/php/alg2.php
Algebra worksheets
Math Mammoth Algebra 1 Worksheets Collection
A two-part collection (A and B) of 137 quality algebra worksheets covering all the topics in a typical algebra 1 curriculum. These worksheets are hand-crafted and contain lots of word problems and other variable problems. Free samples available. $13.50.
www.mathmammoth.com/worksheets/
Free pre-algebra worksheets
Includes worksheets for a variety of topics: simplifying expressions, solving equations, graphing, integers, percent, proportions, ratio, pi, and more. The worksheets are randomly generated and printable from your browser.
/worksheets/grade_7.php
Free worksheets for linear equations
Worksheets for linear equations. Includes one-step, two-step, multi-step equations, variable on both sides, and more. Available both as PDF and html files.
/worksheets/linear_equations.php
Free worksheets for linear inequalities
Worksheets for linear inequalities. Graph a given inequality, write the inequality from the graph, solve an inequality in a given set, and solve various types of linear inequalities. Available both as PDF and html files.
/worksheets/linear_inequalities.php
Free worksheets for simplifying expressions
You can control the number of problems, difficulty level, the type of expressions, workspace, and more. For grades 6-9, pre-algebra, and algebra 1.
/worksheets/simplify_expressions.php
Free worksheets for graphing/slope
Graph linear equations and determine the slope or the equation of a line. You can control the type of problems, number of problems, whether a fractional slope is allowed, workspace, and more.
/worksheets/graphing.php
Free Math 7 Worksheets
Free worksheets for pre-algebra, such as percent, exponents, angles, proportions, and more.
karen.mcnabbs.org/worksheets
Worksheet Builder
Great and free worksheet maker software with nearly 7,000 built-in algebra and geometry questions.
www.jmap.org/
Free Algebra Worksheets from KUTA Software
Free worksheets (PDF) for equations, exponents, inequalities, polynomials, radical & rational expressions and more.
www.kutasoftware.com/free.html
AlgebraHelp.com worksheets
Interactive worksheets that are checked online for most algebra 1 topics.
www.algebrahelp.com/worksheets
Math.Com algebra worksheets generator
Generate worksheets for: linear equations, systems of equations, and quadratic equations.
www.math.com/students/
Algebra worksheets at AGMath.com
Hundreds of free PDF worksheets for algebra 1 topics, loosely based on the 2004 Prentice Hall Algebra 1 textbook. Compiled by Jason Batterson, an 8th grade, algebra, geometry, and MathCounts teacher.
AGmath.com/1952
LessonCorner worksheets
These free worksheets include a few topics such as calculations with polynomials, factoring, and graphing lines.
www.lessoncorner.com/worksheets
Algebra-Worksheets.com
A few free PDF worksheets for pre-algbera, algebra 1, and algebra 2, including word problems.
www.algebra-worksheets.com
Algebra Fun Sheets
Worksheets that integrate algebra skills with fun activities including sudoku, word finds, riddles, color patterns, crosswords, games, matching cards, etc. A subscription is required.
www.algebrafunsheets.com
Key to Algebra Workbooks
Key to Algebra offers a unique, proven way to introduce algebra to your students. New concepts are explained in simple language, and examples are easy to follow. Word problems relate algebra to familiar situations, helping students to understand abstract concepts. Students develop understanding by solving equations and inequalities intuitively before formal solutions are introduced. Students begin their study of algebra in Books 1-4 using only integers. Books 5-7 introduce rational numbers and expressions. Books 8-10 extend coverage to the real number system.
Algebra calculator resources & software
QuickMath.com
An online calculator that solves equations and does all sorts of algebra and calculus problems instantly and automatically.
www.quickmath.com
MathWay.com
An online step-by-step automatic math problem solver from basic math & pre-algebra all through calculus.
www.mathway.com
Algebrator - free online version
This free version of Algebrator solves algebra problems online. It does not show the solution steps - for that you can purchase the full version.
softmath.com/math-solver
Algebrator
An algebra software that solves algebra problems AND shows the steps to get the answer. Price: $39.99
www.softmath.com
Free online Equation Editor
This is for teachers: compose complex math equations online, then save the image for your own use.
/worksheets/equation_editor.php
Online Equation Calculator
Solve equations, inequalities, and systems of equations, simplify or factor expressions, and much more with this free online algebra solver.
/worksheets/equation_calculator.php
Microsoft Mathematics 4.0
Software that includes a full graphing calculator, equation solver, triangle solver, unit conversion tool, linear algebra solver, and more. Price: free.
www.microsoft.com/education/ww/
Algebra.com
Automatic calculators for simplify, expand, evaluate, equations, etc. Word story problem helper has solved examples. Forum for asking questions.
www.algebra.com
Universal Math Solver (UMS)—free version
Software that will solve and explain algebra and calculus problems step-by-step, both verbally and in written form. A free and commercial versions available.
www.umsolver.com/usa/mathematics/
Tech Powered Math
Free video lessons on graphing calculators, primarily the TI-84 and TI-Nspire, plus comparison reviews of popular grpahing calculators.
www.techpoweredmath.com
Algebra word problem resources
Algebra word problems generators from Math Celebrity
This site has automated quiz and word problem generators for these types of common algebra word problems: two-number problems (sum & product known), consecutive integers, distance/time/rate, average/count, sum, markup, markdown, percent, percentage, two coins, and work word problems. You can generate just one practice problem and then see its step-by-step solution, or generate an online quiz that will be graded.
www.mathcelebrity.com/lesplan.php?key=wordprob
Word Problems for Kids
A great selection of word problems for grades 5-12. A hintand a complete solution available for each problem.
www.stfx.ca/special/
Key to Algebra Workbooks
Key to Algebra offers a unique, proven way to introduce algebra to your students. New concepts are explained in simple language, and examples are easy to follow. Word problems relate algebra to familiar situations, helping students to understand abstract concepts. Students develop understanding by solving equations and inequalities intuitively before formal solutions are introduced. Students begin their study of algebra in Books 1-4 using only integers. Books 5-7 introduce rational numbers and expressions. Books 8-10 extend coverage to the real number system.
Learn to Solve Word Problems
A collection of school algebra word problem solvers that solve your problems and help you understand the solutions. All problems are customizable, meaning that you can change all parameters.
www.algebra.com/algebra/
MathsChallenge.net
Search for number, geometry, probability etc. word problems and challenges. Includes solutions.
mathschallenge.net
Math League's Homeschool Contests
Challenge your children with the same interesting math contests used in schools. Contests for grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Algebra Course 1, and High School are available in a non-competitive format for the homeschoolers. The goal is to encourage student interest and confidence in mathematics through solving worthwhile problems and build important critical thinking skills. By subscription only.
www.mathleague.com/index.php?
Algebra games
Games Station 1 at 10ticks.co.uk
Includes algebra related games, e.g. Concentration Algebra, Pac Algebra, Noughts and Crosses Algebra.
www.10ticks.co.uk/s_games.aspx
Karappan Poochi -Algebra vs. The co*ckroaches
The co*ckroaches will move along a straight line. Your mission is to find the equation of the line in slope-intercept form, and then the co*ckroaches will be killed.
hotmath.com/hotmath_help/
Algebra Puzzle
Find the value of each of the three (or four) objects presented in the puzzle. The numbers given are the sum in each row or column.
www.mathplayground.com/algebra_puzzle.html
Algebraic Reasoning—Math Playground
Find the value of a given object based on information provided by two scales. Levels 1 and 2 contain two scales. Level 3 is more difficult and has three scales.
www.mathplayground.com/algebraic_reasoning.html
Save Our Dumb Planet
Defend Earth from deadly meteorites using missiles. A team of dumb scientists are on hand to suggest possible trajectories. Practice drawing lines, quadratic curves, and some harder curves using their equations. The game has many levels, and you can stay at the easier levels if you so wish. Don't listen to the dumb scientists' talk - they mislead you!
www.mangahigh.com/games/
Algebra books & ebooks
Elementary Algebra
Harold Jacobs algebra text combines real-life examples, carefully structured exercises, and humor to help students learn and remember.
www.amazon.com
Algebra I: Expressions, Equations, and Applications with a Home Study Companion
Read my in-depth review of this combo package, which I highly recommend! Foerster's algebra book is very comprehensive and logical, presenting concepts in a manner suitable for even self-study. The Home Study Companion makes teaching from it very doable for homeschoolers or parents.
Dr. Math Gets You Ready For Algebra and Dr. Math Explains Algebra
Algebra Unplugged
This is not a textbook, nor does it have any exercises, but instead contains verbial, often humorous explanations of algebra 1 concepts for those who would rather hear or read math explained in many words, instead of in a few symbols. Algebra Unplugged also often explains the reasons behind some peculiar mathematical notations or terminology, and in general, tells the students WHY things are done the way they are done in your "Real Algebra Book". I enjoyed reading through it (see my review).
www.amazon.com
Real World Algebra
By Edward Zaccaro - who has also written several excellent problem solving books. With his algebra book, you can understand algebra with the help of real-world examples, and realize that mathematics is more than basic facts and memorized procedures. It includes cartoons and little stories that help you remember the rules of algebra.
www.amazon.com
Real World Algebra by Edward Zaccaro
Algebra is often taught abstractly with little or no emphasis on what algebra is or how it can be used to solve real problems. Just as English can be translated into other languages, word problems can be "translated" into the math language of algebra and easily solved. Real World Algebra explains this process in an easy to understand format using cartoons and drawings. This makes self-learning easy for both the student and any teacher who never did quite understand algebra. Includes chapters on algebra and money, algebra and geometry, algebra and physics, algebra and levers and many more. Designed for children in grades 4-9 with higher math ability and interest but could be used by older students and adults as well. Contains 22 chapters with instruction and problems at three levels of difficulty.
Art of Problem Solving: Introduction to Algebra
A good textbook for the mathematically inclined students. For each topic, there are many example problems with detailed solutions and explanations, through which algebraic techniques are taught. The explanations often highlight ideas on best problem solving approaches, which is something you don't usually see in regular algebra textbooks.
www.amazon.com
AlgebraFree.com
Includes a free algebra 1 textbook called Llevada's Algebra 1, downloadable as PDF files by chapter, containing over 6,000 exercises, plus over 70 videos with lectures and solved exercises.
www.algebrafree.com
Free FlexBook® Textbooks from CK-12 Foundation
Complete free online algebra books from CK-12. Includes both English and Spanish versions.
www.ck12.org/algebra
