Mississippi Math FA.A.2

MathGrades 9–12Algebra (A) Equations and Inequalities

The Standard

Create expressions that can be modeled by a real-world context.

2025 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Mathematics

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students find the amounts that stay fixed and the amounts that change in a situation. They choose a variable, write an expression, and check it against a sample cost.
What Mastery Looks Like: For a $6 flat fee plus $4 per hour, a student writes 6 + 4h and says h is the number of hours. They check that two hours costs $14 and explain why 10h does not fit.
Common Misconceptions: Students may write 3 + x instead of 3x for items that cost $3 each. They may multiply a one-time fee by the number of items or use an equals sign when no total is given.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A gym charges $12 to join and $7 per class. Write an expression for the cost of c classes, define c, and check the cost for three classes.

Lesson moves

Give pairs play money and $3 entry and $2 ride cards; build costs for one and three rides, then write 3 + 2r.
Ask, 'For a $5 signup fee and $3 per visit, why does 5 + 3v work but 5(v + 3) fail?'
Play expression match with cards for '8 notebooks at n dollars each,' '$8 plus n dollars,' 8n, and 8 + n.
Use a grocery shelf tag marked '$3 per carton'; ask students to write the cost before tax for c cartons.

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