Curriculum

The Learn Desmos curriculum

Learn Desmos is a free, independent course with 27 chapters in three sections. Every chapter follows the same three steps: watch a short lesson, rebuild the move yourself inside a live Desmos calculator with checked microtasks, and then, from Section 2 onward, prove it on original, hard SAT-style questions against a timer.

Section 1 teaches the calculator itself. Sections 2 and 3 apply it to the two families of SAT Math questions the method is built for: reading answers off a graph, and letting a regression solve for unknown constants. Together those two sections address an estimated 53.55% of SAT Math question types, the curriculum's own estimate (Graphing 25.24% + Regression 28.31%); how that figure is calculated.

Section 1

Prerequisites

Foundations of the calculator

12 chapters · video, guided practice

Section 2

Graphing

Read the answer off the graph

7 chapters · video, guided practice, SAT-style questions · 25.24% coverage estimate

Section 3

Regression

Let the tilde solve it

8 chapters · video, guided practice, SAT-style questions · 28.31% coverage estimate

Section 1

Prerequisites: Foundations of the calculator

01Using Desmos as a CalculatorFind the SAT calculator and learn every typing shortcut it accepts.
02Basic GraphingGraph functions, control the viewport, and manage your list of expressions.
03Points & InequalitiesGraph inequalities and test whether a given point is part of the solution.
04Graphing Single-Variable EquationsSolve one-variable equations by reading the vertical lines Desmos draws.
05Variables vs ConstantsKnow which letters Desmos treats as variables and which it treats as constants.
06SlidersAdjust constants visually with sliders, and know when to type the value instead.
07Function NotationDefine a function once with f(x) and reuse it anywhere in the calculator.
08TablesBuild tables, convert between equations, points and regressions, and find factors fast.
09Regression NotationWrite a regression with the tilde so Desmos solves for your undefined constants.
10Fraction to DecimalTurn a decimal result into an exact fraction with a single click.
11Desmos & StatisticsUse the built-in statistics functions for mean, median, distance, midpoint and more.
12Lists & ConditionsBuild lists with square brackets and restrict graphs with curly-bracket conditions.

Section 2

Graphing: Read the answer off the graph

01Basic GraphingSpot the questions where typing the equation and clicking a point is the whole solution.
02FunctionsDefine the function, type exactly what is asked, and know when the question turns into regression.
03InequalitiesGraph the inequality and read the answer straight off the shaded region.
04Circle EquationsGraph the circle, then pull the radius and centre from two exported points.
05Multiple SolutionsHandle both the value-of-the-solutions and number-of-solutions question types by graphing.
06Equivalent ExpressionsPut y = in front of every answer choice and find the graph that lies exactly on top.
07FactoringUse shared x-intercepts to decide whether one expression is a factor of another.

Section 3

Regression: Let the tilde solve it

01Single Variable EquationsTurn any equation into a regression by swapping x for x1 and equals for a tilde.
02ConstantsSolve for a constant by letting the variable vary across a list of values.
03Infinite SolutionsUse regression when the question tells you there are infinitely many solutions.
04Systems of EquationsSolve systems with bracket regression, matching every left side to every right side.
05Given PointsTurn the given points into a table and fit the right equation through them.
06IsolationRearrange a formula by giving every constant a different value and testing each answer choice.
07Choosing Your MethodDecide quickly whether a question is a graphing question or a regression question.
08Desmos TheoryMeet every condition the question states, then type in what is asked and read the answer.

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The Learn Desmos curriculum

Section 1

Prerequisites: Foundations of the calculator

01Using Desmos as a CalculatorFind the SAT calculator and learn every typing shortcut it accepts.
02Basic GraphingGraph functions, control the viewport, and manage your list of expressions.
03Points & InequalitiesGraph inequalities and test whether a given point is part of the solution.
04Graphing Single-Variable EquationsSolve one-variable equations by reading the vertical lines Desmos draws.
05Variables vs ConstantsKnow which letters Desmos treats as variables and which it treats as constants.
06SlidersAdjust constants visually with sliders, and know when to type the value instead.
07Function NotationDefine a function once with f(x) and reuse it anywhere in the calculator.
08TablesBuild tables, convert between equations, points and regressions, and find factors fast.
09Regression NotationWrite a regression with the tilde so Desmos solves for your undefined constants.
10Fraction to DecimalTurn a decimal result into an exact fraction with a single click.
11Desmos & StatisticsUse the built-in statistics functions for mean, median, distance, midpoint and more.
12Lists & ConditionsBuild lists with square brackets and restrict graphs with curly-bracket conditions.

Section 2

Graphing: Read the answer off the graph

01Basic GraphingSpot the questions where typing the equation and clicking a point is the whole solution.
02FunctionsDefine the function, type exactly what is asked, and know when the question turns into regression.
03InequalitiesGraph the inequality and read the answer straight off the shaded region.
04Circle EquationsGraph the circle, then pull the radius and centre from two exported points.
05Multiple SolutionsHandle both the value-of-the-solutions and number-of-solutions question types by graphing.
06Equivalent ExpressionsPut y = in front of every answer choice and find the graph that lies exactly on top.
07FactoringUse shared x-intercepts to decide whether one expression is a factor of another.

Section 3

Regression: Let the tilde solve it

01Single Variable EquationsTurn any equation into a regression by swapping x for x1 and equals for a tilde.
02ConstantsSolve for a constant by letting the variable vary across a list of values.
03Infinite SolutionsUse regression when the question tells you there are infinitely many solutions.
04Systems of EquationsSolve systems with bracket regression, matching every left side to every right side.
05Given PointsTurn the given points into a table and fit the right equation through them.
06IsolationRearrange a formula by giving every constant a different value and testing each answer choice.
07Choosing Your MethodDecide quickly whether a question is a graphing question or a regression question.
08Desmos TheoryMeet every condition the question states, then type in what is asked and read the answer.