The primary goal of this unit is to develop understanding of linear relationships or linear functions. Students learn to recognize linear functions by the constant rate of change between two variables in a verbal context, table, graph, and equation.

Students identify, represent, and interpret linear relationships. They solve linear equations and write equations for lines.

These last two ideas will be revisited, with more complexity, later in the 8th grade units (Thinking with Mathematical Models and Say It with Symbols).