Grade 9 Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 9 math in the Prince Edward Island Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Number. Demonstrate an understanding of powers with integral bases (excluding base 0) and whole number exponents.
- Patterns and Relations. Generalize a pattern arising from a problem-solving context using linear equations and verify by substitution.
- Shape and Space. Develop and apply the Pythagorean theorem to solve problems.
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.
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.
Multi-Step Equations
Solving linear equations with brackets, fractions and variables on both sides, checking solutions, and turning word problems into equations.
Polynomials
Naming polynomials by terms and degree, combining like terms, subtracting polynomials, multiplying and dividing by a constant, and substituting values for x.
Right Triangles & Scaling
Using the Pythagorean relationship for ladders, ramps, roofs and diagonals, deciding whether a triangle is right-angled, and seeing how doubling or tripling dimensions changes perimeter, area and volume.
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.
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.
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 PEI report card guide.
Common questions
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.
The Prince Edward Island Curriculum Grade 9 math units include exponents & powers, rational numbers, square roots, linear relations, multi-step equations, polynomials.
Free printable Grade 9 math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.