Alberta Math 10

When entering Grade 10, Math labels students into 1 of 2 groups: Math 10C (for those who passed Grade 9 Math) and Math 10-3 (for those who didn't). If students are intending to apply to university, they absolutely need Math 10C, as Math 10-3 only leads to college, trades or a job. There is no upgrading from 10-3 to 10C within High School, therefore students may need to retake Math 9 in order to get a passing grade (consider tutoring and online or distance learning during the summer break between Grades 9 & 10).

Math 10C

This course is rather simple, we just build on topics introduced in Junior High and it mostly relies on learning simple definition, simple rules, simple procedures, and applying them. There's 4 units:

Measurement:

We go over units, converting them, calculating areas, surface area, volume, ratios and trigonometry. Simple stuff, mostly involves sketching a problem correctly and applying simple puzzle-solving logic to it.

Numbers:

We cover prime factors, types of numbers (real, rational, irrational, integers, whole numbers and natural numbers), exponent laws (fractional exponents are my favourite!) and radicals. There's a few simple definitions to learn, most of this unit is learning "procedures" and applying them. Most students who struggle here haven't been told that all they have to do is apply "a procedure," or even that there are procedures to follow.

Functions:

We cover things students will need for the rest of High School. We talk about relations and functions (and how to tell which is which), coordinate geometry (x and y axis), line equation ( y = mx+b ), slope (rise over run!), x and y intercepts (make the other thing zero!). A few simple definitions and a few rules to follow.

Algebra:

Here, we step it up from Grade 9. We do more advanced things with polynomials (no, they're not furry little things you can visit at the Calgary Zoo), we factor more complex polynomials and we solve systems of equations. Again, there's only simple rules to follow.

Math 10-3

Since this course is intended for students who failed Math 9, things are taken down a notch. There's 4 units:

Measurement:

We go over units, converting them, calculating areas, surface area, volume, ratios and capacity. Simple stuff, mostly involves sketching a problem correctly and applying simple puzzle-solving logic to it.

Numbers:

We cover unit pricing, currency conversions, ratios, percentages and calculating your paycheck. There's a few simple definitions to learn, most of this unit is learning "procedures" and applying them. Most students who struggle here haven't been told that all they have to do is apply "a procedure," or even that there are procedures to follow.

Geometry:

We cover basic regular and irregular shapes, basic trigonometry, angles and lines. A few simple definitions and a few rules to follow.

Algebra:

Here, we do basic algebra on simple functions. Again, there's only simple rules to follow.