Year 9 Mathematics – Term 1 (WA Curriculum): Number and Algebra - Real Numbers, Indices and Linear Relationships

What this unit covers

In Term 1, Year 9 Mathematics in the WA Curriculum centres on the unit “Number and Algebra - Real Numbers, Indices and Linear Relationships”.

Students explore very large and small numbers using scientific notation, develop index laws, expand and factor algebraic expressions, solve linear equations, analyze linear relationships on the Cartesian plane, and apply mathematical skills to financial contexts.

Lesson sequence (30 lessons)

The unit breaks down into the following lesson-by-lesson sequence — each title below is a teachable lesson, in order:

1. Exploring Very Large Numbers in Real-World Contexts
2. Investigating Very Small Numbers and Their Applications
3. Comparing and Ordering Very Large and Very Small Numbers
4. Introduction to Scientific Notation for Large Numbers
5. Writing Very Small Numbers in Scientific Notation
6. Converting Between Standard Form and Scientific Notation
7. Comparing Numbers Using Scientific Notation
8. Understanding Exact vs Approximate Solutions
9. Finding Exact Solutions Using Square Roots
10. Expressing Solutions in Both Exact and Approximate Forms
11. Reviewing Index Laws with Positive Integer Indices
12. Applying the Zero Index Rule to Variable Bases
13. Extending Index Laws to Variable Expressions
14. Introduction to Negative Indices
15. Converting Negative Indices to Fractions and Decimals
16. Simplifying Expressions with Negative Indices
17. Expanding Algebraic Expressions Using the Distributive Law
18. Factoring Algebraic Expressions by Collecting Like Terms
19. Expanding Binomial Products Using the Distributive Law
20. Collecting Like Terms in Expanded Binomial Expressions
21. Solving Linear Equations with Brackets
22. Solving Linear Equations with Variables on Both Sides
23. Verifying Solutions to Linear Equations by Substitution
24. Finding Distance and Midpoint Between Two Points
25. Calculating Gradient Between Two Points on the Cartesian Plane
26. Graphing Linear Equations in ax + by = c Form
27. Understanding Gradient and y-intercept in Linear Equations
28. Solving Problems Using Direct Proportion
29. Graphing Quadratic Functions of the Form y = ax²
30. Connecting Algebraic and Graphical Solutions of ax² = k

Curriculum codes in this unit

Content codes:

Reading the codes: WA codes (the ones starting with WA) pack the year level, learning area, strand and content number into one string, while the national Australian Curriculum v9 uses a different anatomy that starts with AC9 — same content family, different labels. Our complete WA Curriculum guide decodes both, character by character.

Planning notes for Term 1

WA terms run roughly 9–11 weeks, and in 2026 Term 1 runs from Monday 2 February to Thursday 2 April — 9 weeks for WA public schools. With 30 lessons in this unit, that leaves breathing room for assessment, moderation and the weeks that disappear to carnivals, camps and public holidays — plan the assessable work to land two to three weeks before the end of term rather than in the final week.