8th Grade Math Common Core Standards
Not sure what you need to know by the end of the 8th grade? The Common Core Mathematical Standards outline exactly what topics 8th graders need to know by the end of the year.
Author
Tess Loucka
Published:
March 2025
Key takeaways
- • The Common Core State Standards Initiative was created in 2010 to better prepare students for their professional futures.
- • There are five main topics in 8th grade Common Core math.
- • 8th grade Common Core math aims to teach students mathematical reasoning, data analysis, precision, and perseverance in the face of difficult problems.
In most US schools, the phrase “Common Core” comes up a lot. Whether referring to English class reading material, science projects, or end-of-the-year tests, the Common Core impacts practically every aspect of students’ lives. But what is the Common Core?
The Common Core State Standards Initiative, or Common Core for short, is a standard curriculum for every school specifically designed to better prepare students for college and the workforce, created in 2010 for grades K-12.
Not every state agrees with the Common Core, but most do. If your school is a Common Core school, exploring Common Core math concepts can prepare you for upcoming assignments and help you stay on top of the curve and top of your class.
Let’s review the key topics students are expected to know in Common Core 8th grade math:
The number system
8th graders must know the difference between whole numbers, natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, and irrational numbers.
Students must:
- Understand irrational numbers.
- Be able to compare irrational numbers using approximations, estimations, and comparisons with rational numbers.
- Know that all numbers have decimal expansions.
- Know that the decimals of rational numbers will always repeat.
Students must know the definitions of the different types of numbers and be able to identify them.
Table of contents
Expressions and Equations
8th grade Common Core math standards introduce students to radicals and integer exponents.
Students must:
- Know the properties of radicals and integer exponents.
- Be able to express and estimate large numbers using the power of 10.
- Understand and evaluate square and cube roots.
- Know that the square root of 2 is irrational!
- Be able to express and interpret numbers and operations using scientific notation.
Understand linear equations and pairs of linear equations.
8th graders will often be asked to express a given number using either the power of 10 or scientific notation. So, being comfortable with these forms of mathematical expression is key!
Students should also be able to write linear equations, analyze them, and graph them on coordinate planes.
Functions
Functions are another new concept in 8th grade Common Core standards math.
Students must:
- Be able to define, evaluate, analyze, and compare different functions.
- Know how to determine the rate of change of a function from its description.
- Know how to present functions in multiple ways, including algebraically, graphically, verbally, and in tables.
Students should be able to create functions that explain data tables, solve for missing inputs and outputs using specific functions, and create functions from word problems.
Geometry
Geometry deals with shapes, lines, and angles and the mathematics behind them.
Students must:
- Understand geometric transformations, including rotation, reflection, translation, and dilation.
- Be able to determine congruency and similarity between shapes.
- Memorize and know how to use the Pythagorean Theorem.
- Know how to find the volume and area of 2D shapes and 3D shapes.
Students should be comfortable working with basic 2D and 3D shapes. They should also understand the properties of parallel, perpendicular, and intersecting lines and their angles.
Using the Pythagorean Theorem, students should be able to find the lengths of any side of a right triangle.
Statistics and Probability
Based on Common Core 8th grade math standards, students learn to analyze data sets and make mathematical predictions based on various factors.
Students must:
- Be able to explain statistical concepts such as clustering, outliers, positive or negative association, linear association, and nonlinear association.
- Be comfortable working with and analyzing scatter plots.
- Understand how straight lines model relationships between two variables.
- Know how to calculate mean, median, and mode.
A common question type 8th graders will face is “What is the probability of…” questions. Using the information given, they must be able to determine the probability of specific outcomes.
Students should also understand scatter plots and be able to create them, analyze them, insert scatter plot data into tables, determine outliers, create lines of best fit, and more.
Mathematical Practices
8th grade Common Core math offers a serious challenge for most students but teaches irreplaceable skills they can take with them for life.
At this stage, the common core is focused on teaching students how to reason and make arguments for or against mathematical claims. Additionally, at this stage, students should develop persistence when facing difficult topics, work with precision, use various mathematical tools and techniques to find answers, and model their answers clearly.
Where to Practice Common Core Math Standards Grade 8
Whether you’re struggling to understand concepts you learned in school or just want extra practice, DreamBox’s math program is a fun, interactive way to strengthen your math skills and review important mathematical topics. You can also ask your teacher for extra credit assignments, download worksheets from the internet, read your math textbook, or play math games.
FAQs about Grade 8 Common Core Math
Based on 8th grade Common Core math standards, students learn a variety of topics in math class, ranging from intermediate algebra topics, such as linear equations and functions, to introductory geometry. Data analysis and probability are also major parts of 8th-grade mathematics as students are expected to be able to analyze data sets.
By the end of the 8th grade, students are expected to be able to do three main things:
- Analyze 2D and 3D shapes, lines, and angles using concepts such as congruence, similarity, volume, area, and the Pythagorean Theorem.
- Understand how functions work and be able to explain and analyze the relationships between data sets, such as scatter plots.
- Explain and solve variate and bivariate equations, expressions, and functions and graph them on a coordinate plane.
