Algebraic Outbreak

A strange illness is spreading fast, and doctors are stumped!

Introduction

As top medical detectives, it’s up to you to crack the case. You’ll analyze patient data, track how the disease spreads, and calculate the perfect cure—using math as your most powerful tool. From solving equations to predicting outbreaks and calculating life-saving treatments, every discovery brings you closer to stopping the crisis. The world is counting on you—can you solve The Algebraic Outbreak before it’s too late?

The cycle 1 pre-algebra course will strengthen students’ mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills while preparing them for algebra. This cycle connects to real-world epidemiology, the study of how diseases spread, public health and how scientists work to control outbreaks. Students will explore the math behind tracking infections, analyzing data, and developing treatments.

Historically, this project ties into famous medical investigations, such as the 1854 Cholera Outbreak, the 1918 Flu Pandemic, and even the recent COVID-19 pandemic. By engaging in this project, students step into the role of real-world scientists, applying math to life-saving medical mysteries and global health challenges.

Essential Questions

• How are square roots and cube roots calculated and used in problem-solving?
• How are equations and inequalities expressed, graphed, and solved?
• In which ways can expressions, equations, and inequalities be used to represent and better understand natural and social phenomena?
• How do the parts of an expression/inequality work together to show a mathematical relationship?
• How are exponent expressions simplified and operated upon?
• What patterns emerge from applying exponent rules, and how can they simplify expressions?
• How is the scientific notation used to represent very large and very small numbers?
• In what ways does scientific notation support calculations in science and technology?

Learning Objectives

• Create and interpret graphs of equations based on real-world situations.
• Represent real-world scenarios as algebraic expressions and equations.
• Solve 2-step equations.
• Manipulate algebraic expressions and/or inequalities to solve equations.
• Simplify expressions involving square and cube roots.
• Analyze expressions and/or inequalities to show a mathematical relationship.
• Represent exponents and apply exponent rules.
• Apply exponent rules to solve real-world problems and analyze patterns.
• Perform operations on numbers in scientific notation.
• Express and compare numbers in scientific notation.