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The Syllabus offers
a brief overview of course, including grading and classroom policies, for
the Advanced Algebra & Trigonometry course. The current version is for
the 2009-2010 school year.
The Pacing Guide is a
year-long calendar for my combined "quarter plans" I use as a course pacing
guide. While it will inevitably change as the year goes on (and I try
to update it here when it does), it might be a useful reference for the
students as well. The current file was last updated on 12/30.
My specific RHS faculty page can be found by clicking the
Homework button. It is updated
daily with assignments and any upcoming quizzes or tests.
The Textbook button is a link to the website created
by the textbook publisher Pearson / Prentice Hall. There are links to
several resources available, but most require registration and/or a fee.
Quite honestly, more practical resources are available below.
Other Information and Activities:
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Student Assessment Records.
A major
component of this course is the tracking of student understanding of
specific "learning targets" throughout each unit. Students are
responsible for maintaining a record of this in each unit, which will
also be used in preparation for the comprehensive exams. The links
below are copies of each student assessment record for each unit.
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Classroom Supplements and Enrichments.
As I am one of
those teachers who doesn't follow the textbook page-by-page, I like to
make available all additional resources and supplemental materials here.
To start off, I've included stuff here from previous course pages.
As the school year goes on, I'll adjust and "fine-tune" things.
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Solving Linear Equations Graphically
- Here are the detailed notes from the introductory lesson on solving
equations using the graphing calculator. If a little review is
needed for solving linear equations by hand, see the "Solving Linear
Equations" document in the Resources for Help and Review.
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Solving Polynomial Equations - This is a brief review of a
strategy for solving polynomial equations. This does assume that
the reader understands the Rational Root Theorem and synthetic
division.
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Solving
Systems with Matrices - There are many ways to solve systems of
equations, but using the reduced row-echelon form in the
calculator is most convenient for ones with more than two variables.
The notes here are a summary of the steps used in class.
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Optimization
with Linear Programming - Maximizing and/or minimizing functions
under certain restrictions is an important concept not only in this
course, but all of mathematics (and beyond). This document
provides an overview for the process of linear programming to solve such
an application. It includes one example. Another example can
be found on the Algebra 2 page (click
here to go straight to that document).
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Common
Parent Functions - There are several parent functions that
are used in algebra. This document highlights the more common
ones, including some of their properties.
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Graph
Analysis - This is a little summary of the basic graph analyses we
have been doing in class lately. It certainly doesn't cover every
scenario, but it should help a little.
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Function Transformations - This site from Hofstra University
provides information and practice on function transformations (don't
let the Calculus Applied to the Real World title scare you...
it's just algebra here). If you
would like to try something a little more basic to start with, PurpleMath has this
tutorial
with practice.
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Trigonometry Vocabulary
- The first several trigonometry lessons are packed with vocabulary, and
this table provides a list of many of the terms used in class.
Also, here is a copy of the
blank sheet
used in class,
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Unit Circle - This is
a completed unit circle for reference in class. If you would like
a blank one to practice with, I found this
copy from
another teacher.
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Evaluating Trigonometric Ratios
- This is an overview of the techniques we have used in class when
finding the trigonometric function values at any angle. It also
includes a few visual tips and shortcuts. While we are at it,
here is the completed table of
the common trigonometric values.
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Solving Trigonometric Equations - Here is the strategy referenced
in class for solving most of the "factorable" trigonometric equations
presented in the course. |
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Solving Triangles - Here is a little summary of the notes
presented in class on the Laws of Sines and Cosines. |
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Resources for Help and Review.
As the needs
arise, I'll try to add resources here that might offer a little
additional support.
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Calculator Basics
- Most students become familiar with the graphing calculator in
Algebra 2. If not - or you've simply forgotten a few things - this document is a step-by-step guide
for
a few of the functionalities that we use in class. In particular, this
document illustrates how to enter lists of data, create a scatter
plot, and find the line of best fit. |
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Excel
Basics - Some of the activities in class require the use of Excel
for graphing and/or finding model equations. This document walks
those unfamiliar with the software through a linear example.
Note: this is currently assuming the 2003 version of Excel...
I'll update it for 2007 eventually. |
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Solving
Linear Equations - This document outlines a strategy for solving
practically any linear equation in one variable. It includes
several examples along with a few tips at the end. |
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Factoring Review
- This document offers a strategy for factoring basic polynomials
using the major techniques from Algebra 1. If you would like
something a little more in depth, check out this
tutorial from West Texas A&M. |
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Systems of Equations in Two Variables - Here is a review
on solving basic systems of linear equations. It
includes one example of each type of system (one solution, infinitely
many solutions, and no solution) solved three different ways
(graphically, substitution, and elimination). |
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Graph Behavior Review - Several students asked me to post these
answers to review for the quiz, so here it is. It is the
assignment that reviewed the graph behavior of rational, exponential,
and logarithmic functions. |
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Special Right Triangles - Here is a page that provides quite a bit
of practice with those six trigonometric ratios. |
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Solving Triangles - Some asked for the answers to be posted to the
mixed practice involving the Laws of Sines and Cosines, so here you
go! |
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Unit 1 Review
- Here are the answers to the review problems on the unit for
equations and inequalities. If you would like a blank copy,
click here. |
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Unit 2 Review
- Here are the answers to the review problems on the unit for systems
of equations and inequalities. If you would like a blank copy,
click here. |
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1st Quarter Review - This is a list of specific learning targets
that will be revisited on the quarter test. Each objective is
followed by a list of similar questions from previous quizzes and tests.
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Unit 3 Review
- Here are the review problems and solutions on the unit for
functions. This one is a single file with the blank handout on the
first page and the answers on the following pages. |
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Unit 4 Review
- Here are the review problems and solutions on the unit for variation
and data modeling. The blank handout is the first page and the
answers follow. |
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Unit 5
Review - Here are the review problems and solutions on the unit for
sequences and series. The blank handout is the first page and the
answers are on the second page. |
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Unit 6
Review - The review problems for this unit were taken from the
textbook, so all the answers can be found in the back of the book.
Attached are the same answers, but some problems have a few extra steps
added for clarification. |
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3rd Quarter Review - This is a list of specific learning targets
that will be revisited on the quarter test. Each objective is
followed by a list of similar questions from previous quizzes and tests.
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Unit 7 Review - These are
the answers to the two review worksheets we had for this unit. |
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Unit 8 Review - The review problems for this unit were taken from
the textbook, so all the answers can be found in the back of the book.
Attached are the same answers, but the problems have a few extra steps
added for clarification. |
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2nd
Semester Exam Review - Here is the review packet for the
final exam. Answers to the problems are provided on the last
page. |
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Assessment Solutions.
I've closed
down this area over the summer, but here is where I will post solutions
to unit quizzes and tests. Students are encouraged to compare
their individual test results to these in preparation for the
comprehensive exams at the end of each quarter.
Please note
that the assessments are posted in order given throughout the year, not the
order of the textbook. Also, make-up versions of any quiz or test will
not posted.
| 1st Quarter |
2nd Quarter |
3rd
Quarter |
4th
Quarter |
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Equations and
Inequalities |
Functions |
Sequences
and Series |
Trigonometric
Functions |
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Systems of Equations
and Inequalities |
Modeling
and
Variation
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Trigonometric
Ratios and Equations |
Trigonometric
Applications |
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Additional Resources.
Here are a few
additional links that students can use for finding extra help (study
guides, practice worksheets, etc). I haven't used them much
myself, but other students have and seem to find them useful.
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Algebrahelp.com - This site
contains lessons, worksheets, and calculators listed by topic. The
calculators will work out problems step-by-step so that students can get an
idea of not only the answer, but the solution to that answer.
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Purplemath - This site acts as a
portal to other help sites, but there is a lesson index at the right that
offers help by topic (most of the topics in Algebra 1 can be found under
Beginning Algebra Topics and Intermediate Algebra Topics).
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Algebra.com - This site advertises
free help with algebra homework and has tutorials and problem solving
calculators.
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SparkNotes - This site offers
more than just math help and can be a little overwhelming with everything it
offers, so this just links you directly to the math help index.
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