ALGEBRA  2 with Trig

instructor: Matt Willmott
email: matt@newschoolva.com
website: www.schoolrack.com/mattw

Please note my e-mail and feel free to contact me at any time!

Course Overview
Welcome to Algebra 2 with Trigonometry! This course will continue the skills you gained in Algebra 1, going deeper and further into the world of Algebra.

The course divides roughly into four sections.
In the first, we will be working with linear equations and their applications.
In the second, we will be working with quadratic equations.
In the third, we will be working with higher concepts including exponential functions and polynomials.
In the fourth, we will be working further with higher concepts, in preparation for Precalculus. This section will include our study of Trigonometry.

Materials
This course requires a TI-83+ or higher graphing calculator. Only TI’s are recommended. Students who have tried using other brands have found themselves bogged down in compatability issues (and I am only familiar with the TI’s!)

You’ll also need to have with you, daily:
- sharpened pencils with good erasers
- a spiral notebook which is used for this class only, or a dedicated section of a multi-section notebook.
- a pad of graph paper


Grading

The grading system is comprised of tests, projects, daily assignments, and class participation.
TESTS will be 50% of your grade. As you can see from the schedule below, there will be tests periodically, roughly corresponding to the end of each chapter of learning. There will also be a cumulative mid-term at the end of second quarter and a final exam. There will be a review day before each test and several days of review before cumulative exams.

Approximately once each quarter, you will have a small PROJECT to complete which will be suitable for including in your portfolio. More will be said about these  projects as the time approaches. Projects will account for 15% of your quarterly grade.

Completion of DAILY ASSIGNMENTS will comprise another 25% of your grade. These will be collected at the beginning of each class, and will be graded on a five-point scale for neatness, completeness and accuracy. Late work will be accepted, but one point will be deducted for each day late. Homework must have your name, the date and, where appropriate, the page number and problem numbers of the assignment to be accepted.

CLASS PARTICIPATION. Each day at the start of class you will be expected to have your completed homework, sharpened pencil with eraser, notebook, textbook and calculator with you. Additionally, students will be assessed each quarter for their conduct in the classroom. These two measures combine for you classroom participation grade which is 10% of your total grade.

The purpose of the classroom participation expectations is to promote a fun and productive environment. The more we respect one another and the task at hand (learning algebra) the more we can enjoy ourselves in class!

INTERIMS
Please note that we are doing interim comments this year. This means that in the middle of each quarter you will be assessed, a comment will be written, and a grade will be submitted. This grade cannot be changed. That means any outstanding work must be turned in prior to interims.

Attendance
If you are absent or late, it is your responsibility to make up any missed homework or tests. Tests can be made up during lunch. Missed homework will be expected the day following your return.

The lessons in this course are cumulative. That means, attendance is extremely important! If you miss even one day, you could miss an important concept that will affect later lessons. If you do miss a day please see me so we can make an appointment to go over the lesson during lunch.

Be sure to approach me at any time, if you’ve missed a class, or if you feel like you need help in any way. I will be your main resource in this class.

Texts
The textbook for this course is The University of Chicago School of Mathematics Project Advanced Algebra, from Prentice Hall.
Additional material comes from Algebra, by I. M. Gelfand and A. Shen, but this is not a required text for the course.
Students seeking additional help may want to look at Bob Miller’s Algebra for the Clueless, from McGraw-Hill, but this is also not required.

Focus Skills
The main focus skills covered in this class are solving problems and making connections and being aware of contexts.

Course Schedule
Chapter 1
1-1    The Language of Algebra
1-2    What is a Function?
1-3    Function Notations
1-4    Graphing of Functions
1-5    Solving Equations
1-6    Rewriting Formulas
TEST

Chapter 2
2-1    Direct Variation
2-2    Inverse Variation
2-7    Fitting a Model to Data I
2-8    Fitting a Model to Data II
TEST

Chapter 3
3-1    Constant-Increase or Constant-Decrease Situations
3-2    The Graph of y = mx + b
3-3    Linear Combination Situations
3-4    The Graph of Ax + By = C
3-5    Finding the Equation of a Line
3-6     Fitting a Line to Data
3-9    Step (Greatest Integer) Functions
TEST

Chapter 5
5-1    Inequalities and Compound Sentences
5-2    Solving Systems Using Tables or Graphs
5-3    Solving Systems by Substitution
5-4    Solving Systems Using Linear Combinations
5-7    Graphing Inequalities in the Coordinate Plane
5-8    Systems of Inequalities
5-9     Linear Programming I
5-10    Linear Programming II
TEST

Cumulative Quarter TEST

Chapter 4
4-1    Storing Data in Matrices
4-2    Matrix Addition
4-3    Matrix Multiplication
TEST

Chapter 6
6-1    Quadratic Expressions, Rectangles, and Squares
6-2    Absolute Value, Square Roots and Quadratic Equations
6-3    The Graph-Translation Theorem
6-4    Graphing y = ax^2 + bx + c
6-5    Completing the Square
6-6    Fitting a Quadratic Model to Data
6-7    The Quadratic Formula
6-8    Imaginary Numbers
6-9    Complex Numbers
6-10    Analyzing Solutions to Quadratic Equations
TEST

Chapter 7
7-1    Power Functions
7-2    Properties of Powers
7-3    Negative Integer Exponents
7-4    Compound Interest
7-5    Geometric Sequences
7-6    nth Roots
7-7    Positive Rational Exponents
7-8    Negative Rational Exponents
TEST

REVIEW
Cumulative MID-TERM

Chapter 8
8-1    Composition of Functions
8-2    Inverses of Relations
8-3    Properties of Inverse Functions
8-4    Radical Notation for nth Roots
8-5    Products with Radicals
8-6    Quotients with Radicals
8-7    Powers and Roots of Negative Numbers
8-8    Solving Equations with Radicals
TEST

Chapter 10
10-1    Three Trigonometric Functions
10-2    More Right-Triangle Trigonometry
10-3    Properties of Trigonometric Ratios
10-4    Trigonometry and the Unit Circle
10-5    Cosines and Sines in Quadrants II-IV
10-6    The Law of Cosines
10-7    The Law of Sines
TEST

Cumulative Quarter TEST

Chapter 11
11-1    Introduction to Polynomials
11-2    Polynomials and Geometry
11-3    Factoring Special Cases
11-4    Estimating Solutions to Polynomial Equations
11-5    The Factor Theorem
11-6    Factoring Quadratic Trinomials and Related Polynomials
11-7    The Rational-Zero Theorem
11-8    Solving All Polynomial Equations
11-10    Modeling Data With Polynomials
TEST

Chapter 13
13-1    Arithmetic Series
13-2    Geometric Series
13-3    ∑ and ! Symbols
TEST

Cumulative FINAL