Grade 9 Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 9 math in the Alberta Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Number: develop number sense, including powers, exponent laws, rational numbers, the order of operations and square roots
- Patterns and Relations: use patterns to describe the world and solve problems, including linear relations, linear equations and polynomials
- Shape and Space: use direct and indirect measurement to solve problems, describe the properties of circles, similar shapes, scale diagrams, symmetry and the surface area of 3-D objects
- Statistics and Probability: collect, display and analyze data to solve problems, and understand the role of probability in society
Easy ways to practise math at home
- Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes.
- Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student.
- Estimate first (the bill, the trip time), then check with a calculator.
- Keep a tricky-problems list and revisit it every few days instead of re-doing everything.
What each unit covers
Exponents & Powers
Evaluating powers, using the product, quotient and power laws, working with powers of products and fractions, and order of operations with exponents.
Rational Numbers
Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions and decimals that may be negative, converting between fractions and decimals, ordering rational numbers, and using BEDMAS.
Square Roots
Finding the square root of whole numbers, decimals and fractions that are perfect squares, and estimating the square root of other numbers by placing them between two perfect squares.
Polynomials
Naming polynomials by terms and degree, combining like terms, subtracting polynomials, multiplying and dividing by a constant, and substituting values for x.
Multi-Step Equations
Solving linear equations with brackets, fractions and variables on both sides, checking solutions, and turning word problems into equations.
Linear Relations
Finding slope from points and graphs, reading y = mx + b, finding intercepts, deciding whether a point is on a line, spotting parallel lines, and using rates of change in stories.
Similarity & Scale
Using scale factors to find missing sides, solving shadow and scale-drawing problems, and seeing how enlarging a shape changes its area and volume.
Circle Properties
Using the rules of circle geometry: a perpendicular from the centre bisects a chord, a central angle is twice an inscribed angle on the same arc, inscribed angles on the same arc are equal, and a tangent meets the radius at 90°.
Surface Area of Objects
Finding the surface area of a rectangular prism, of two solids joined together (taking away the faces that are hidden), and of a cylinder written in terms of π.
Statistics in Society
Telling a population from a sample, spotting bias in who is asked and how, predicting from a sample, noticing misleading graphs, and why correlation is not causation.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Alberta report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 9 child with math?
Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes. Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 9 math in Alberta?
The Alberta Curriculum Grade 9 math units include exponents & powers, rational numbers, square roots, polynomials, multi-step equations, linear relations.
Free printable Grade 9 math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.