Course
Content: Honors PreCalculs
During the year we will cover the following topic areas:
Binomial expansions
Complex numbers
Conic sections
Curve sketching
Derivatives
Functions
Inequalities
Limits
Logarithmic and exponential functions
Parametric equations and graphs
Partial fractions
Permutations and combinations
Polar graphs
Polynomial graphs and functions
Probability
Rational functions
Series
Statistics
Trigonometry
Vectors
Instructions:
Honors PreCalculus
1. I will give you a test every
two weeks or so, and your grades will largely be an average
of your scores in these tests, although from time to time I
might give you a short quiz or written assignment.
2. In at least half of the tests you will not be allowed to
use a calculator.
3. Make sure that you show all your work in the tests so
that if your answer is wrong you can gain partial credit.
Enough work must be shown for me to know that a valid
method has been used. In
particular, a correct answer with no work will very often
get zero.
4. Mental arithmetic tests (approximately four each
quarter) will account for 5% of your overall grade.
5. Doing your homework properly is a key to success in this
course. This means clearly writing out your solutions, and
devoting thought and time to your work. Homework will
generally not be graded, but I shall check random
assignments throughout the year to make sure that everyone
is writing his mathematics correctly.
6. If at any time I feel that there is slackness taking
place over homework from any student, I shall impose a
system for all students in the class whereby a point is
taken off your quarter average for every lapsed homework
beyond the first two lapses in that quarter.
7. Going through homework in class is of limited use and
wastes time for the majority who don’t need it. See me well
before class if there is a question you, can’t do, or after
class if you get an answer wrong.
8 You may not store useful programs in your calculator for
tests or exams.