Philosophy
God created humans with a rational and inquiring mind. He blessed them with the ability to count, tell time and make change. In Mathematics we will explore and develop this God given gift systematically. As the Bible says “precept upon precept, line upon line …” (Isaiah 28:10), students will systematically build up their knowledge of Mathematics. As they learn the different disciplines of Mathematics students will recognize the logic and order God imbued in the world and by implication that God is a god of logic and order. They will develop a greater understanding and appreciation of God through their study of mathematics.

Course Objectives
In PreCalculus students will go deeper into ideas of functions, limits, trigonometry and other Algebraic topics to lay the framework of preparation for college calculus. (ESLR: ET) Students will learn how to express their ideas and answers using appropriate mathematical notation. (ESLR: DC) Students will be exploring the inherent order the Lord has instilled in the universe by using mathematics to model and understand various problems.(ESLR: RUC) We will also include the historical background of ideas so that students can understand the richness and diversity of mathematics and that ideas have arise from around the world. (ESLR: SCW) There is an emphasis on problem solving, ideas and computational skills above mathematical Theory. This course will lead on to Calculus, but will also give students a strong mathematical foundation on which to draw for the rest of their lives. (ESLR: NLL)

Textbooks
Precalculus: Functions and Graphs (Fifth Edition), Barnett, Ziegler and Byleen, McGraw-Hill ©2001

Materials and Equipment
Textbook
Calculators (Graphing Calculator is recommended)

Time Allotment
50 minutes per day, 5 days a week

Course Content

  1. Equations and Inequalities
  2. Graphs and Functions
  3. Polynomial and Rational Functions
  4. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
  5. Trigonometric Functions
  6. Trigonometric Identities and Conditional Equations
  7. Additional Topics in Trigonometry
  8. Systems of Equations and Inequalities
  9. Matrices and Determinants
  10. Sequences and Series
  11. Additional Topics in Analytic Geometry

Evaluation
Homework/Group Projects – 50%
Quizzes/Tests/Exams – 50%