What Pre-Algebra covers
Pre-Algebra is the bridge between arithmetic and algebra. Students learn to work with negative numbers, to evaluate expressions in the right order, and to reason with ratios. These three skills appear in almost every algebra problem that follows.
These topics are usually taught in grades 6–7, and the exact grade depends on the school and the province or state. Each worksheet is generated fresh every time, with settings for the operation, number range or difficulty depending on the topic.
Pre-Algebra topics
Recommended order
- Integers — the sign rules for all four operations.
- Order of Operations — some answers are negative, so integers come first.
- Ratios & Proportions — can be taught at any point; it builds on equivalent fractions.
After Pre-Algebra, the Algebra level continues with mixed order of operations, like terms and equations.
Settings for each topic
- Integers: one operation per worksheet and a number range: Small (up to ±12), Medium (up to ±25) or Large (up to ±50). Every problem includes at least one negative number.
- Order of Operations: Easy, Medium or Hard, from three numbers with one multiplication up to two groups of parentheses.
- Ratios & Proportions: a single kind of problem, a proportion with one missing term, so only the number of pages changes.
Pages hold 20 problems. For a new idea, the Investigate tab beside the worksheet is a good place to start: its short questions let students notice the pattern before the rule is explained.