Most Important Precalculus Topics

[mathdad]

In your opinion, what are the most important topics in precalculus needed before entering calculus 1? What must a student know well after taking precalculus?

 

[Ackbach]

Definitely need to know your trig really well. See http://mathhelpboards.com/trigonometry-12/trigonometry-memorize-trigonometry-derive-35.html for some help on that. You need to know basic geometric facts like areas of squares, rectangles, triangles, and trapezoids. You need analytic geometry - so you're very familiar with going between the equation defining a function and its graph. You also need a significant mastery of basic algebra: finding roots of polynomials, solving equations including linear and quadratic. If you look at Stewart's Calculus book, he has a Diagnostic Exam in the beginning that should help you understand very well what the most important things to know are.

 

[mathdad]

Definitely need to know your trig really well. See http://mathhelpboards.com/trigonometry-12/trigonometry-memorize-trigonometry-derive-35.html for some help on that. You need to know basic geometric facts like areas of squares, rectangles, triangles, and trapezoids. You need analytic geometry - so you're very familiar with going between the equation defining a function and its graph. You also need a significant mastery of basic algebra: finding roots of polynomials, solving equations including linear and quadratic. If you look at Stewart's Calculus book, he has a Diagnostic Exam in the beginning that should help you understand very well what the most important things to know are.

Thanks but I was looking for a list. I am now waiting for my James Stewart textbook to arrive in the mail. I think precalculus is super cool. It covers so many interesting topics that most students need to master.

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By the way, the great calculus professor, James Stewart, passed away in December 2014.