Honors Algebra 2: Linear and Quadratic Equations is the first course of a high-level algebra course designed to deepen your mathematical thinking and prepare you for advanced study in math, science, and engineering. Whether you're a high school student looking to accelerate your progress or an adult learner brushing up on foundational skills, this course offers a rich, engaging experience aligned with the Common Core State Standards.
You'll explore the essential building blocks of algebra: linear functions, quadratic functions, and systems of equations. Through interactive lessons and real-world applications, you'll develop a deep understanding of how equations model the world around us—from predicting trends to describing physical phenomena. Along the way, you'll strengthen your skills in graphing, solving equations, and interpreting mathematical relationships, with an emphasis on conceptual understanding and mathematical reasoning.
Designed with a university-level rigor but paced for online learners, this course invites you to go beyond memorization and truly engage with the power and elegance of algebra.
Throughout this specialization, we will use functions to help visualize, analyze, and interpret the relationships between variables. In this module, we will start by exploring linear functions. A linear relationship between two variables occurs when changes in one variable correspond to proportional changes in the other. Many physical situations can be modeled using linear functions. We will see examples of how to create and interpret linear functions in the sections that follow.
We will now add to our library of functions by exploring quadratic functions. Adding an extra term with x-squared to a linear function creates a quadratic function. The graphs of these functions are parabolas, which can be used to model things like the path of a projectile or the curved surface of a satellite dish. In this module, we will examine the key parts of the graphs of quadratic functions, and explore strategies to fit quadratic functions to real-world data.
We will wrap up our first course by combining our previous knowledge of systems of equations and inequalities with quadratic functions. Adding squared terms to systems of equations and inequalities, we can describe more elaborate regions in the plane. This allows us to model a wider range of scenarios.
The mission of The Johns Hopkins University is to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for life-long learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.