Pre-Calculus Home

On this page:

2. Syllabus Updated 27 December 2009

3. Current class information Updated 16 February 2012

4. Links to Resources Updated 28 July 2011

5. Grades Grades will be posted on School Loop.

6. Letter to Parents Updated 23 May 2010

Linked files in PDF format; you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader (or equivalent) to view

This animated gif illustrates de Moivre's Theorem applied to the number 1. Each successive image shows the roots of one plotted on a unit circle in the complex plane. Image credit: Root of Unity -- from Wolfram MathWorld

Pre-calculus is the study of functions and relations, linear functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, power, polynomial and rational functions, trigonometric functions, polar functions, and parametric functions as a preparation for the study of calculus. The introductory calculus topics of limits, continuity, rate of change, derivatives and integrals are presented. Activities and instruction emphasize the Rule of Four (analytic, graphical, numerical, and verbal) approach to understanding and applying the topics and techniques of this course.

Click on the link below for current class information, assignments, pictures from class activities, and selected notes from class.

Current Information Updated 16 February 2012

California has not defined standards for Pre-Calculus. Our course, however, meets the State's standards for Trigonometry, Linear Algebra, and Mathematical Analysis. Click here to see how our course is aligned with these standards.

Links to Pre-calculus Resources:

Khan Academy (These are quite good; scroll down to the pre-calculus section. There are also sections devoted to trigonometry and probability.)
The College Board
Harvey Mudd College Pre-calculus tutorials
Harvey Mudd College phone tutoring
Texas Instruments offers archives of programs for their line of graphing calculators.
Visual Calculus, a series of tutorials and examples from the Mathematics Department at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Instructor is Tom James. E-mail your comments:

If you are interested, here is a short bio about Mr. James.

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