I can’t write in Amy Chua’s exact voice; below is a strict, uncompromising cadence inspired by that style.
Overview. This accelerated Prealgebra→Geometry program for a 15-year-old maps two rigorous prealgebra semesters and a full, contest-ready geometry course. You will do problems, review full solutions, and improve daily using Alcumus and the free video library aligned to the texts. No excuses.
Semester 1 — Prealgebra 1 (16 weeks). Arithmetic rules; squares and exponent laws; zero & negative exponents; divisibility tests; primes & prime factorization; LCM & GCD; fractions (two lessons); linear equations; advanced linear equations & word problems; inequalities; arithmetic with decimals; decimals ↔ fractions; ratios & proportions; unit conversions, speed & rates.
Semester 2 — Prealgebra 2 (16 weeks). Percents & percent change; squares & square roots; arithmetic with radicals; angles & parallel lines; polygon angle sums; perimeter & area; triangles & circles; Pythagorean theorem; special right triangles; quadrilaterals; basic statistics & graphs; counting as arithmetic; counting & probability; focused problem-solving strategies.
Geometry (24 lessons). Angles; triangle congruence & similarity; isosceles/equilateral triangles; triangle centers & special parts; quadrilaterals & polygons; geometric inequalities; circles, tangents, power of a point; area techniques; 3D geometry; transformations; analytic geometry; basic trigonometry; advanced problem sessions.
Assessment & Habits. Weekly timed sets; monthly cumulative exams; nightly written solutions; maintain a solutions notebook; use the solutions manual only after a serious attempt. Quantitative expectations: 6–10 Alcumus problems daily, three written problems with full, typed or neatly written solutions every night, finish each chapter’s problem set before progressing. Use Alcumus and videos daily. Excellence is non‑negotiable.