FOR MATH 2215 SPRING 2011 MATH 1100/Simon Quint Fall 2010

NOTE TO MATH 2215, Spring 2011. The following is a sheet that I gave to the
students in my PreCalculus course last semester. For our Calculus course, I have put an asterisk
next to each topic that we will be reviewing briefly in the first week of our course and that we
need for the Diagnostic Exam (DE) at the end of that review. Eventually we will need all of the
topics.

(PRECALCULUS) COURSE TOPICS

Heading toward the end of our course, I thought that it might be a good idea to put the
course/topics into perspective. We have only just a few topics left.
Note: Step #1 in all problem solving: “I have a chance of doing it.” Mathematics is
not speed.

VERY BASIC ALGEBRA

* 4 basic operations, with numbers and expressions * solving equations
* exponents, nth roots * solving inequalities
* absolute value and distance
* factoring
GEOMETRIC FIGURES
* lines (and slope), and their equations
* circles, and their equations; complete the square
parabolas; complete the square
max/min word situations

BASICS ON FUNCTIONS
* definition * difference quotient
* domain, range * composition of functions
graphs (and shifting of them) inverse function

TYPES of FUNCTIONS
linear exponential
quadratic (complete the square) logarithmic
polynomials properties of logarithms
rational functions - (asymptotes) log equations
even/odd; increasing/decreasing logs with calculators

TRIGONOMETRY
* angles: degrees and radians graphs
* sine and cosine on the unit circle, and triangles identities
the 4 other trig functions inverse trig

(For PRECALCULUS CLASS) Even if you were reasonably familiar with a particular topic a few
weeks ago, look it over again. In mathematics (as in many other areas), if you don’t use the
material for a while, then you tend to lose proficiency. For example, if you mastered
completing the square a few weeks ago, then go over that material again. Rereading the
material is not enough. Use pencil and paper.