Precalculus
2022-2023 Tentative Course Overview
This syllabus is subject to revision
2022-2023 Tentative Course Overview
This syllabus is subject to revision
Course Goals and Contents:
Precalculus brings a marvelous collection of topics to each student’s foundation in mathematics. The course includes inverse and
composite functions, the conic sections of circle, parabola and ellipse, a deeper investigation into trigonometry, the principles and applications of exponential and logarithmic functions, and sequences and series. This is a course in which students can make exciting mathematical discoveries using the skills developed in Algebra 2.
Prerequisite:
Students shall be proficient in the skills listed in the Algebra 2 course description.
Topic Areas:
Typical Class Session:
Review: Homework is assigned at the end of each class session. At the start of the following session the teacher provides a short
review and then offers to work through problems the students may not have been able to solve.
Homework is collected.
New Instruction: New content is presented with discussion, questions, and whiteboard examples. Students participate in solving additional problems at the whiteboard and at their desks.
Hands-On Activity: One of the following is typically done: math puzzles, training on land surveying equipment, math games,
mechanical drafting problems and other math challenges. Students may work individually or in groups.
Quiz: A very short quiz provides a quick assessment of the student’s grasp of the new material.
Homework: Homework on the new material is assigned. Students are given a few minutes to begin the assignment.
Grading:
20% for classroom participation, 20% for homework completion, and 60% for quizzes.
Required materials:
Calculator: Texas Instruments model TI-84.
Text: Houghton Mifflin’s Precalculus, by Larson and Hostetler. (Consult instructor for correct ISBN.)
Precalculus brings a marvelous collection of topics to each student’s foundation in mathematics. The course includes inverse and
composite functions, the conic sections of circle, parabola and ellipse, a deeper investigation into trigonometry, the principles and applications of exponential and logarithmic functions, and sequences and series. This is a course in which students can make exciting mathematical discoveries using the skills developed in Algebra 2.
Prerequisite:
Students shall be proficient in the skills listed in the Algebra 2 course description.
Topic Areas:
- Functions: Inverse and composite functions, tests for inverse functions, applications of composite functions; graphing functions on a graphing calculator.
- Conic sections: Circles, parabolas, ellipses, and their characteristics; transformations of conics.
- Trigonometry: The unit circle, radian measure, inverse trigonometric functions, law of sines, law of cosines.
- Exponential functions and logarithms: Properties of exponential functions, exponential growth, compounded interest; properties of common logs, natural logs, Richter scale measure, radioactive decay calculation.
- Sequences and series: Generating and solving finite (and infinite) arithmetic and geometric sequences; sigma and series notations.
Typical Class Session:
Review: Homework is assigned at the end of each class session. At the start of the following session the teacher provides a short
review and then offers to work through problems the students may not have been able to solve.
Homework is collected.
New Instruction: New content is presented with discussion, questions, and whiteboard examples. Students participate in solving additional problems at the whiteboard and at their desks.
Hands-On Activity: One of the following is typically done: math puzzles, training on land surveying equipment, math games,
mechanical drafting problems and other math challenges. Students may work individually or in groups.
Quiz: A very short quiz provides a quick assessment of the student’s grasp of the new material.
Homework: Homework on the new material is assigned. Students are given a few minutes to begin the assignment.
Grading:
20% for classroom participation, 20% for homework completion, and 60% for quizzes.
Required materials:
Calculator: Texas Instruments model TI-84.
Text: Houghton Mifflin’s Precalculus, by Larson and Hostetler. (Consult instructor for correct ISBN.)