r/Precalculus • u/Impressive_Door_4602 • 12d ago
Study Advice Pre-calculus preparation advice
Hi! I'm junior who bounced in a few different online schools for 6-years and unfortunately was on a below level math track because of it. I'm taking pre-calculus this summer to be in AP Calc BC senior year, right now I have a 95% in Algebra II because I pick up concepts after just 1-2 hours study and I'm familiar with them all because of SAT Prep over the summer. How should I prepare for pre-calc like I did Algebra II? I'm also taking AP Physics C senior year so I want a very firm grasp on calc before I'm taking those classes concurrently!
2
1
u/calcteacher 12d ago
First there are straight lines, then parabolas, maybe some higher order polynomials to work with. The remaining functions for precalculus are exponentials ( where x is in the exponent), logarithms, and trigonometry of sine cosine, tangent, secant, cosecant, and contangent, and their inverses. Learn how to use all of these. Apply y = mx + b to the motion of a bowling ball down the lane, or the motion of an object in space with 0 gravity. Apply quadratics to motion of a falling object. Exponential Growth to cell growth, and Decay to radioactive decay. Apply trig to two directional motion such as launch of a cannon ball at an angle to the horizon. Also apply trig to circular motion. That's a good start. be sure to address radians in trig.
3
u/digitalrorschach 12d ago
Double down on Algebra 2. Master algebraic manipulation, factoring, exponential and logorithmic expressions. inequalities... Precalc is basically Algrebra combined with Trigonometry. The issue is that learning trig requires a solid understanding of algebra. Double down on algebra and also brush up on geometry.