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

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