Big History: An Introduction to Everything

Everything has a history: each person, plant, animal and object, our planet, and the entire universe.


Each history offers valuable insights. Together, they reveal even more. Big history weaves evidence and insights from many scientific and historical disciplines into a single, accessible origin story – one that explores who we are, how we got here, how we are connected to everything around us, and where we may be heading.

The Big History Project is dedicated to fostering a greater love and capacity for learning among high school students. Started by Bill Gates and David Christian our goal is to get big history taught to as many students around the world as possible.


(Click on the title to access the video.)

Scientific Calculator

Click on the title to access the on line scientific calculator.

Graphing Calculator For Your Pleasure

Use it, it's fun.  Emily told me so!
Click on the title for access.

AP Calculus: What the Intermediate Value Theorem Does and Does Not Say.

Click on title for link to article and on line practice.

Algebra EOC (End Of Course) Practice

interact math


Problems simulating the same computer interface you will use when taking the EOC.  Choose Algebra textbooks and explore.  Problems are reset once you close your browser.  Click on title to access the website.

Algebra -- Watch: The MATH DUDE!

In the world of virtual reality, anything can happen.  Watch The Math Dude, the award winning video series that helps middle and high school students improve their Algebra skills.

Algebra: algebasics -- show me how, now!

algE basics
Animated tutorials with narration on all algebra topics.  (Click on the title to access the tutorials.)

Precalculus Syllabus

Click on the title for the pdf document.

What Students Do To Succeed In Math

Click on the title to download this important document.

If there is any advice I will give you, it will come from this source.

Because your success is important to me.

Dear students,

I am so excited about spending this next year with you. You are the reason why I am a teacher; I care deeply about your success and well being. Each one of you has shown your willingness to listen to my instructions as well as participate during our daily discussions. Thank you so much for that.

I have requested a number of specific procedures on how to operate in the classroom and hope you understand these are to help us have a smooth transition from the time you enter the room until we say our good byes. I appreciate your cooperation and consistency.

To review some of them, please remember to:

• Arrive on time, grab a textbook and proceed to work on the warm up (do now).
• Of course all electronic devices (except calculator) must be turned off and placed out of sight.
• Have assignments ready for inspection on a separate sheet of paper with a complete header as specified on the syllabus.
• Take notes during the lecture. Write helpful hints on the back section of your binder (Tool Kit section).
• Participate in class and ask me questions: I love what ifs!
• Stay focused during class. I often review and cover other aspects of a concept as a side note to the main lesson. (Stay in the cart!)
• Write down all assignment specifics and always show all work; justify your answers.
• Use the Helpful Links on this page for further assistance. Spend time navigating and searching through them.
  
• Place textbooks back on their shelf.
• Come for after school help with specific questions and ready to work. Do not wait until the day before an assessment.
• Develop a true sense of pride and commitment as well as an honest desire to master the concepts in class.
  

§ Read and implement the document: “What Students Do to Succeed in Math.” If there is any advice I will give you, it will come from that source…I wrote it.

§ Students are required to use the blog DAILY to verify assignments for the day and to study from other essential documents I post to complement my lectures. This is fundamental to their success in class.


I truly wish you great success and ask you to please come see me in private if you ever need any advice or accommodation. We all go through rough times at some point and I will try my best to be reasonable and fair to you. I hope you do the same for me.


With warmth,
Mr. Perez

Reference Guide For All Classes

Click on the title above to download the 14-page Adobe pdf document. Please print it and insert it as a reference tool in your class binder. It will be extremely useful. Some of the topics covered are:

Functions:

• Polynomial
• Rational
• Radical
• Trigonometric
• Exponential
• Logarithmic
  

Review of Trigonometry
Solving Polynomial and Rational Inequalities
Solving Absolute Value Problems

ALL CLASSES: MindBites - Math How-To Videos

Search through these videos

Precalculus: Roots of Polynomials

Click on title for full document summarizing all concepts. 

(From Mr. James Jones, Professor of Mathematics at Richland Community College, Decatur, IL)

 

Suggested Attack to Finding Zeros of a Polynomial

1. Identify the total number of real or complex zeros (corollary to Fundamental Theorem of Algebra).
2. Identify the possible number of positive, negative, and complex zeros (Descartes' Rule of Signs).
3. List the possible rational zeros (Rational Root Theorem)
4. Try possible rational zeros until you find one that works. After each division by a positive value, check for possible upper bounds. After each division by a negative value, check for possible lower bounds (Upper and Lower Bound Theorems)
5. After you find a possible rational root that actually works, take the quotient and continue to try to factor it until it is down to a quadratic or less. Once it is a quadratic or less, there are other ways to solve it.
6. Write the linear and or linear / irreducible quadratic factorization (next section)

Really Important (and frustrating if you forget)!

Once you have found a zero using synthetic division, use the quotient as a new polynomial for all further divisions. The quotient will be one less degree than the original dividend. Each time you find a root, the quotient becomes one less in degree. Eventually, it will become a quadratic, and then you can factor, extract roots, complete the square, or use the quadratic equation to find the remaining roots.

If you continue to use the original function, you will become very frustrated and waste a lot of time.

Algebra 2 Honors Site for Your Help

Click on the title to visit "The Math Page" for further details on topics discussed in class.  We are now covering topic 37.  Link also included in Helpful Links to the right.

Precalculus Site for Your Help

Click on the title to visit "The Math Page" for further details on topics discussed in class.  We are now covering topics 10 through 14.  Link also included in Helpful Links to the right.

Fractals

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal

A Visual, Intuitive Guide to Imaginary Numbers | BetterExplained

http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-visual-intuitive-guide-to-imaginary-numbers/

Precalculus Help on Asymptotes

Click on title for help with all asymptotes.

Precalculus: MORE Videos on Limits and Continuity

Watch Them!

http://www.5min.com/Video/Finding-Limits-Graphically-169041417

http://www.5min.com/Video/Continuity-and-Discontinuity-169078931

Precalculus: Continuity of a function at a point.

Click on the image (text below) for an enlarged view.

Precalculus: Limits and Continuity

Click on the title for access to the videos shown in class.

I suggest you watch Lessons 1 through 5 with focus on Lessons 1, 2 and 5.

On your index card write the types of discontinuities with corresponding graphs.  Also write one-sided and general limit notation.

All Classes: Video on Absolute Value

Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities. From iTunes. Click on the title.

Precalculus Videos on Transformations (Part 2)

From iTunes. Click on the title.

Precalculus Videos on Transformations (Part 1)

From iTunes. Click on the title.

Precalculus/Algebra 2: Important Message on "Algebra Skills"

Click on the title to download the Adobe pdf document with problems reviewing essential skills required for Precalculus.

Precalculus: I will assume you already master these skills; you will be required to use them! Remember, this is an honors class and you must do your part to keep up with the pace. As always, I am available during tutoring hours to assist you.

Algebra 2 Honors: Many of these topics also apply to you, come see me and ask me which ones.

Precalculus: Interval Notation And Piecewise Functions Practice

Precalculus, I changed my mind! I will count this as a graded assignment. Yes, like a quiz grade. Therefore, all work must be clearly identified, labeled, and complete. I will grade for correctness! Still, you can come to me with questions. Thursday's in class assessment will be closed notes. This graded assignment is due that same day.

Click on the title to download the Adobe pdf document for further practice prior to next week's remedial assessment.

FULL FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS

QuestBridge’s National College Match scholarship.  Application is free of charge and due September 30, 2009

www.questbridge.org

Welcome Back!

The new school year 2009-2010 is here and we are going to make it the best so far. I look forward to helping you grow as individuals and as math students while having much fun as we much work.

Mr. Perez (Room U-212)

Period 1 Precalculus
Period 2 Precalculus
Period 3 Precalculus
Period 4 Planning
Period 5 Algebra 2 Honors
Period 6 Algebra 2 Honors

Precalculus and Algebra (New)

Click on Title for awesome resources for both classes. Select "Precalculus Review" or "Algebra."

When am I ever going to use this? For real?!

Click on the title to access the amazing interviews from +plus magazine:

The career interviews explore the wide range of careers open to people with a degree in maths or related sciences — and quite a few of them have ended up in the arts.
Most articles are accompanied by a podcast.

"Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus"

Just Math Tutoring

Scroll down after selecting link for tons of VIDEOS covering all topics for all classes!

Calculus For Beginnners

Click on title.

AMC Student Practice Questions

For those students participating in the American Mathematics Competitions you may download the pdf version of AMC 10 Student Practice Questions by clicking on the title above.

AP Calculus: Another Related Rates Tutorial

Here is a link for another tutorial beginning with basics.  Try it.

http://people.hofstra.edu/stefan_waner/tutorials5/unit5_5.html

AP Calculus Relate Rates Helpful Links

Problems with Solutions and Animations
http://www2.scc-fl.edu/lvosbury/calculusi_folder/relatedrateproblems.htm

Library of Math
http://www.libraryofmath.com/related-rates.html

A Gallery of Visualization DEMOS
http://mathdemos.gcsu.edu/mathdemos/relatedrates/relatedratesgallery.html

Math Will Rock Your World

Click on title above to access a Business Week article on job opportunities for Math majors.

AP Calculus VIDEO: Implicit Differentiaton/Chain Rule

Click on the title to view an explanation of the chain rule and why we use it during implicit differentiation. Please watch the entire 10-minute video, it's very helpful. (You won't see any images for the first 10 seconds of the video...be patient.) Check out more videos at Khan Academy under helpful links.

Modeling Motion of Particle Moving Along x-axis

Click on the title to view how to model the motion of a particle that moves along the x-axis using parametric equations. The motion of the particle will be illustrated using the animation feature of the TI-83.

TI-Graphing Calculators Comparison Chart

Click on the title above to view the file.
You don't need to spend on anything more than the TI-83 Plus, but that is up to you. If you get the TI-89 or TI-Inspire, you must familiarize yourself with it since I don't really know lots about them. (If you can afford the TI-Inspire then maybe you can afford buying one for me as well as a gift...)
I also heard that some courses in college might restrict the usage of anything more advanced thatn the TI-84 Silver Edition.

A Discontinuous Derivative

Click on the title to view the document about the oscillating function with a discontinuous derivative. This is what we talked about regarding the bonus problem from our test. In page 3 Dr. Talman shows the existance of the derivative at x=0 by using the definition of the derivative.

By Louis A. Talman, Ph.D. - Associate Professor - Department of Mathematics & Computer Sciences - Metropolitan State College of Denver