Answering Questions about Precalculus & Trig

[Orson]

Is this precalculus minus trig?

 

[symbolipoint]

Is this precalculus minus trig?

Yes.

 

[Dr. Courtney]

This can vary by implementation. In College Algebra courses I have seen, they tend to be closer to a high school Algebra 2 than high school Pre-Calc minus trig. The big differences are: inclusion of more complex numbers, more on matrices and systems of equations (3x3's), and more on the fundamental theorem of algrbra and polynomials. In contrast, most Pre-Calc courses have less of those things to make room not only for trig, but for exponentials, logs, and limits.

 

[symbolipoint]

This can vary buy implementation. In College Algebra courses I have seen, they tend to be closer to a high school Algebra 2 than high school Pre-Calc minus trig. The big differences are: inclusion of more complex numbers, more on matrices and systems of equations (3x3's), and more on the fundamental theorem of algrbra and polynomials. In contrast, most Pre-Calc courses have less of those things to make room not only for trig, but for exponentials, logs, and limits.

Maybe things have changed. All I have to refer to is my own having had studied course many years ago (Pre-Calculus = College Algebra + Trigonometry = Elementary Functions), course descriptions in the college catalogs, some reference textbooks that I've picked up over the years. I studied the full deal, and it was tough going. The course skimped on a few things about linear algebra and a bit on Binomial Theorem but had everything else.