Precalculus

Precalculus Syllabus

Mr. P. Nelson

Course Overview:

Pre-calculus unifies and extends the mathematics studied in algebra, geometry, and trigonometry and applies it to the study of polynomial, logarithmic, trigonometric, and exponential functions. Two new mathematical systems, vectors and polar coordinates, are developed in order to apply analytical methods to more complex mathematics in both two- and three-dimensional space. This course makes extensive use of the graphing calculator.

Course Objectives: The focus areas of the course are for students to be able to:

Translate among tabular, symbolic, and graphical representations of functions and relations.
Explain the meaning of the real and complex roots of quadratic functions in contextual situations.
Read information and draw conclusions from graphs, and identify properties of a graph that provide useful information about the originial problem.
Apply basic triangle and circle trigonometry to solve problems and to prove identities.

Precalculus Textbook

Precalculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic by Franklin D. Demana, Bert K. Waits, Gregory D. Foley, and Daniel Kennedy (7th Edition), Pearson, 2007 .

Description and Expectations

HOMEWORK

Homework will be assigned each class session and due at the beginning of the next class session. You will be given time to work on the assignment in class when it is assigned. You will be expected to use the class time appropriately and, if necessary, to complete the assignment at home. You will be expected to write each problem and to show your work on every homework assignment turned in. I will usually address the issue of what kind of work I expect to see. If you are not certain, ask.

Homework assignments may be graded for completion or correctness, with selected problems representative of the concepts covered in the assignment. Homework assignments will be worth 5 points. Homework quizzes may be given as well.

CALCULATORS AND GRAPHS

A graphing calculator is required for this class. I recommend a TI-83 or 84. A TI-89 or TI-Nspire is also acceptable. Although there are other graphing calculators available, these are the ones supported by my class materials.

Desmos Graphing Calculator: https://www.desmos.com/calculator

Desmos Scientific Calculator: https://www.desmos.com/scientific

Graphing is very important in this class. When you are asked to graph in an exercise, you may:

Copy the graph from your calculator screen onto a standard grid.
Copy the graph from your calculator screen onto regular paper, with the viewing window indicated.
Print a screen shot of your graph. I will gladly help you to learn to print screen shots.

TESTS

Tests will be given at the end of each unit. These tests will be announced at least 2 days in advance.

ABSENCES

It is important that you be in class everyday if at all possible. In the event that you should miss a test because of an absence, you will take a make-up test. You may take a make-up test during any week before the end of a grading period, but the longer you wait, the more you will forget. You may expect the make-up test to be different from the original test. I strongly urge you to take the test with the class.