Need Help?

Need help finding the right class? Have a question about how classes work?

Introduction to Algebra A

Name: Introduction to Algebra A
Price: 485 USD

Summary

In this online class, students proactively engage with the fundamental concepts of algebra. Part of our introductory math series, Introduction to Algebra A builds on the foundations of both Prealgebra 1 and Prealgebra 2.

This advanced math course is offered in two formats: a live online course or a self-paced course. Both formats include instructor feedback, office hours, and a class message board for student support.

Diagnostics: Are You Ready? Do You Need This Course?

Required Text: Introduction to Algebra

Weekly Live Online Class Self-Paced Online Class

Introduction to Algebra A: 16 Weeks

Our live Introduction to Algebra A course brings together advanced problem solvers from around the world for 90-minute classes. Experienced instructors lead students to creatively problem-solve with exponents and radicals, linear equations and inequalities, ratio and proportion, systems of linear equations, factoring quadratics, complex numbers, completing the square, and the quadratic formula.

Students learn from our Introduction to Algebra textbook and videos, while honing their skills on several types of homework problems. They can also use the class message board to collaborate with their peers and reach out to instructors outside of class.

Why AoPS? Schedule Who Should Take? Topics Required Textbook

Live Online Course Features

16 live class sessions taught by one of our outstanding faculty in an interactive text- and image-based classroom designed for collaboration and motivated students

More than 100 supplementary videos by AoPS founder Richard Rusczyk.

Office hours held every day, where instructors and assistants provide live homework help, and a class message board, where students can ask questions and collaborate

Weekly homework including short-answer questions and open-response writing problems, on which students receive detailed feedback

Automated reminders for upcoming classes, reading assignments, and homework and thorough progress tracking

Why AoPS?

Live, Collaborative Instruction

Dana Paquin

Stanford PhD Budapest Semesters Invitee Stanford Math Circle Director

Brian Edwards

Northwestern PhD MOP Invitee USA Math Talent Search Director

Josh Zucker

Stanford & Berkeley MS Putnam Top 10 US Physics Team

Ashley Ahlin

UChicago PhD Westinghouse Winner MATHCOUNTS Top 3

Miles Dillon Edwards

MOP Invitee RSI Invitee Putnam Top 25

Our instructors were outstanding math students themselves. Many won major math awards and earned degrees from schools like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. They understand from experience what our students need and serve as role models and mentors.

Active Problem Solving

The class sessions are lively interactive discussions. Students drive the narrative and ask questions right as they have them, learning complex concepts by actively solving problems, not by watching others.

Schedule: Introduction to Algebra A

The current and upcoming sections of this course are listed below. All sections cover the same course material.

Wednesday Jan 29 - May 14	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Jan 29 - May 14 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Johann Edir Hernandez Ybarra	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books CLOSED
Sunday Feb 16 - Jun 8	3:30 - 5:00 PM ET – Feb 16 - Jun 8 3:30 - 5:00 PM Eastern 2:30 - 4:00 PM Central 1:30 - 3:00 PM Mountain 12:30 - 2:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Andrew Sayler	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Sunday Mar 23 - Jul 20	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Mar 23 - Jul 20 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Johann Edir Hernandez Ybarra	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Monday Apr 7 - Jul 28	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Apr 7 - Jul 28 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Brian Edwards	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Sunday May 11 - Sep 14	1:00 - 2:30 PM ET – May 11 - Sep 14 1:00 - 2:30 PM Eastern 12:00 - 1:30 PM Central 11:00 - 12:30 PM Mountain 10:00 - 11:30 AM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Annie Meyers	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Wednesday May 14 - Aug 27	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET May 14 - Aug 27 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Brian Edwards	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Friday May 30 - Sep 26	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET May 30 - Sep 26 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Thomas Zhang	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Monday Jun 2 - Sep 22	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Jun 2 - Sep 22 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Dan Kneezel	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Sunday Jun 15 - Oct 12	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Jun 15 - Oct 12 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	David Reynoso Valle	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Thursday Jun 26 - Oct 9	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Jun 26 - Oct 9 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Sharon Lee	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Tuesday Jul 15 - Oct 28	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Jul 15 - Oct 28 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Brian Edwards	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books	$485 (~$31/lesson) $552 w/books ENROLL
Fall 2025	This course will be offered in Fall 2025. Click here to join our mailing list to be notified when the course schedule is available.

Don't see a schedule option that works for you? Check out the self-paced version of this class.

AoPS Holidays

There are no classes May 24 ‐ 26, July 4 ‐ 6, August 29 ‐ September 1, October 31, November 24 ‐ November 30, and December 20, 2025 ‐ January 2, 2026.

Who Should Take This Class?

Before taking this course, students should master arithmetic with fractions, decimals, percents, negative numbers, and integer exponents.

Most students who have completed a typical Prealgebra course are ready for this course. Students finishing our Beast Academy curriculum should take Prealgebra 1 and Prealgebra 2 prior to taking this course.

To determine if you’re ready for the course, students can take the diagnostic pretest.
To determine if you need this course or can move on to the next, students can take the diagnostic post-test.

Please note: Our algebra sequence will likely not match up exactly with your school's. This course covers much of the algebra of a typical honors Algebra 1 course, some of the content of an honors Algebra 2 course, and some additional material not taught in most standard curricula. Visit our Recommendations page for help in choosing the right class.

Live vs. Self-Paced

Our live class is designed for students who wish to have a live group experience in an online classroom with instructors and peers. Students wishing to set their own schedule for their studies should should consider our self-paced version of Introduction to Algebra A.

Lessons

Show All Topics

Full Course Syllabus

Lesson 1

Follow the Rules

Rules of arithmetic
Distribution and factoring with numbers
Exponent rules

Lesson 2

Fractional Exponents, Radicals, and Variables

Fractional exponents and radicals
Variables in expressions
Simplifying expressions

Lesson 3

Variables and Expressions

Distribution and factoring with variables
Expressions with fractions
Expressions with radicals

Lesson 4

Linear Equations

Solving linear equations
Word problems

Lesson 5

More Variables

Evaluating expressions with multiple variables
Manipulating expressions

Lesson 6

Linear Equations with Multiple Variables

Basic manipulations
Substitution and Elimination
Word Problems

Lesson 7

Ratio and Percent

Ratios
Parts and wholes
Percentages and arithmetic with percents

Lesson 8

More Ratios and Proportion

Working with units
Direct and inverse proportion
Joint proportion

Lesson 9

Common Errors and Challenging Problems

Exponents do not distribute over addition
Extraneous solutions and dividing by zero
Difficult problems

Lesson 10

Graphing Lines (Part 1)

Cartesian plane
Distance between two points
Graphs of equations
Going from lines to equations

Lesson 11

Graphing Lines (Part 2) and Introduction to Inequalities

Perpendicular and parallel lines
How graphing relates to systems of equations
Inequality manipulation and interval notation

Lesson 12

Graphing Inequalities

Two variable inequalities
Graphing to solve inequalities
Optimization and linear programming

Lesson 13

Quadratic Equations (Part 1)

Distributing
Factoring

Lesson 14

Special Factorizations

Vieta’s formulas
Difference of squares
Sum and difference of cubes

Lesson 15

Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick and Complex Numbers

Completing the rectangle
Introduction to complex numbers and arithmetic

Lesson 16

Quadratic Equations (Part 2)

Completing the square
The quadratic formula

Required Textbook

Introduction to Algebra By Richard Rusczyk

A thorough introduction for students in grades 6-9 to algebra topics such as linear equations, ratios, quadratic equations, special factorizations, complex numbers, graphing linear and quadratic equations, linear and quadratic inequalities, functions, polynomials, exponents and logarithms, absolute value, sequences and series, and more!
Related courses: Introduction to Algebra A and Introduction to Algebra B

View Details ‚