The ninth grade mathematics TAKS Objectives and TEKS Student Expectations describe what students should know and be able to do in ninth grade. Teachers need to be aware of the big picture—an understanding of the TEKS curriculum for lower grades, Algebra I, and geometry. Awareness of this curriculum will enable teachers to more effectively help their students develop mathematics knowledge and skills. Understanding functional relationships is critical for algebra and geometry. Students need to understand that functions represent ordered pairs of numbers in which the value of one number is dependent on the value of the other. This basic idea has major significance in areas such as science, social studies, and economics. From their understanding of functions, students should be able to communicate information using models, tables, graphs, diagrams, verbal descriptions, and algebraic equations or inequalities. Making inferences and drawing conclusions from functional relationships are also important skills for students because these skills will allow students to understand how functions relate to real-life situations and how real-life situations relate to functions. Mastering the knowledge and skills in Objective 1 at ninth grade will help students master the knowledge and skills in other TAKS objectives at ninth grade.