Precalculus

Seeing as the WCS courses are rigidly defined by quarters, I thought it might help to structure the course pages accordingly. This is the main page for Precalculus, which includes more general information about the entire course. The navigation buttons below will take you directly to the page that contains information specific to that quarter.

Please let me know if there is anything I can add to make your experience in this course better!

Each link will open in a new window.

Course

Documents

The links below are to documents used in the planning and implementation of the course. Please note that the learning targets and assignments for each unit are posted under their respective quarter's pages.

Syllabus - In case you misplace the syllabus given out during the first week of school, you can get another copy here. It offers a brief overview of the course, including grading and classroom policies. The current version is for the 2010-2011 school year.

Pacing Guide - This is the year-long calendar I use in planning and pacing my lessons. 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.

Scope and Sequence - This is the document that WCS uses to define what and when concepts are to be presented in the course. Topics are organized by quarter.

State Curriculum - If you are interested in the State-defined "Course Level Expectations", this is the curriculum posted on the TN DOE site. Topics are organized by standards.

Useful

Resources

The links below take you to a variety of places that you might find useful.

	Homework Calendar - This is a link to my SharePoint page, which I use solely for daily homework assignments. If you are absent or need a copy of a misplaced handout, this is the place to go.
	Textbook Site - This will take you to the InterAct Math site that accompanies our textbook. If you select "Sullivan: Precalculus w/ Graphing Utilities, 5e" from the dropdown menu, you will find tons of additional practice organized by section.
	Resources Page - This is a link to the general resources page on my site. You can find extra with content and also technology there.

Home Page

This is the leftover content from the old Precalculus page. Most of it will get dispersed to the various quarter pages, but I'm leaving everything here until I complete that task.

Other Information and Activities:

Unit Review Information.

This section is where I will post each instructional unit's review information throughout the year, including the learning targets and textbook assignments. Once any quizzes or tests are completed, I'll also post those along with their solutions.

1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter
Right Triangle Trigonometry Learning Targets and Assignments	Trigonometric Equations and Identities Learning Targets and Assignments	Functions Learning Targets and Assignments	Exponential and Logarithmic Functions Learning Targets and Assignments
Trigonometric Functions Learning Targets and Assignments	Trigonometric Applications Learning Targets and Assignments	Graph Analysis Learning Targets and Assignments	Modeling and Series Learning Targets and Assignments
Final Exam Review. Here is the review packet that covers the main topics on the CCE (the final exam for this course). The solutions are included at the end. If you need additional practice on a particular concept, review that unit's review information above. You can also use the midterm (available in class) and quarter tests for yet more practice (especially for the trigonometric concepts from the first semester). If you would like an additional set of exercises to practice, try these (I do think some of these are a bit harder than the ones likely to be seen on the CCE, but the topics are definitely the same). Unlike the review packet, these additional exercises don't have solutions but I was able to at least post the answers.			Conics Learning Targets and Assignments

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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. If you would like one that includes the trigonometric graphs as well, here is another version used in calculus.

Graph Analysis - This is a summary of the basic graphical analyses needed in precalculus, and it has been updated to include end behavior, concavity, and examples for each concept. It focuses primarily on algebraic functions, so logarithmic, exponential, and trigonometric functions are minimal in the discussion. It certainly doesn't cover every scenario (especially piecewise functions), but it should help having the basics organized all in a single location.

Function Transformations - This is a handout I use for review in calculus, but thought it might make a nice summary in this class. It highlights how various constants affect a given function, namely translations, reflections, and dilations. If you would like a little more detail, check out this site from Hofstra University - it 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.

Finding Points of Inflection - Finding the location of inflection points usually requires skills not known until calculus, so the best we can do is "eyeball" them in precalculus. This document shows a way to use the calculator to find POI's graphically.

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,

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.

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.

Solving Trigonometric Equations - Here is the strategy referenced in class for solving most of the "factorable" trigonometric equations presented in the course.

Solving Triangles - Here is a little summary of the notes presented in class on the Laws of Sines and Cosines.

Resources for Help and Review.

As the needs arise, I'll try to add resources here that might offer a little additional support.

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.

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.

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.

Graphing Linear Equations - This is a brief review of a strategy for graphing linear equations.

Writing Linear Equations - Here is a graphic organizer to help with writing linear equations.

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.

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).

Polynomial Function Behavior - Here are my solutions to the review problems given in class.

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.

Special Right Triangles - Here is a page that provides quite a bit of practice with those six trigonometric ratios.

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!

Formula Sheet - Here is a formula sheet relating to the trigonometric topics from the first semester. It is the same one used on the midterm exam, but it is a helpful resources throughout the year.