(1) The benchmark for mathematics content standard 3 for a student at the end of grade 8 is the ability to:

(a) understand the concepts of variable; expression, and equation;

(b) represent situations and number patterns using tables, graphs, verbal rules, equations, and models;

(c) recognize and use the general properties of operations (e.g., the distributive property) ;

(d) solve linear equations using concrete, numerical, and, algebraic methods; and

(e) investigate inequalities and nonlinear relationships informally.