Level: Form IV (10th–12th grades)
Subject(s): Math
Description:
For 2023–24, Precalculus will be offered as a hybrid onsite/online class; students can participate either in-person or online for the entire year (or alternate between both options). Online students participate live via Zoom & Owl Labs technology.
Regarding the textbook: “A nationally recognized author team developed this program around The Rule of Four: concepts are presented through a balance of algebraic, numerical, graphical, and verbal methods. Students learn to solve problems by one method and then support or confirm their solutions by another method.” —Pearson
This course provides a study of fundamental topics needed for calculus. Topics include applications of algebra and trigonometry, elementary functions and their graphs, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions, solutions to equations and inequalities, trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, analytic trigonometry, and polar coordinates. To continue kindling wonder and creative thinking, Mrs. Panam supplements the traditional textbook approach by adding in substantial amounts of curated supplemental material for enrichment and extension, along with practice standardized test problems. These challenging problem-solving activities are integrated to help students hone their mathematical and critical thinking skills and apply concepts across a wide range of situations and scenarios.
You can read more about our new BLOOM initiative for online and hybrid online-onsite Math classes here. To begin the process for online-only Precalculus enrollment, complete the free BLOOM online application here.
Materials:
Families should purchase the following supplies:
- Precalculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic, 9th Edition, By Franklin D. Demana, Bert K. Waits, Gregory D. Foley, Daniel Kennedy (ISBN 13: 9781269614382; ISBN 10: 126961438X)—New or used is fine, but it must be the correct ISBN. Mrs. Panam recommends purchasing the teacher’s edition:
- AP Precalculus Premium, 2024: 3 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice (Barron’s AP) (ISBN-10: 1506288634; ISBN 13: 978-1506288635). Not needed until November.
- Pencils & Erasers
- 1 black/blue and 1 red non-erasable pen
- 1 ruler (a small one is fine)
- Index cards (about 100) and an index card holder/case
- A few colored pencils or colored erasable pens (optional, 3 colors other than black)
- Graphing Calculator*
- A three-ring binder with lined/graph paper and dividers—or—a notebook (graphing or lined) with a 1.5″ binder (with lined/graph paper and dividers)
- Index cards (about 100) and an index card holder/case
*Since graphing calculators are allowed and recommended for most standardized tests, it is advisable to invest in one. It is important for students to feel comfortable using one, especially on a timed exam. Recommended calculators can be found on the college board site here. Mrs. Panam prefers TI-89 and up (with CAS).
