MATH-1300-HBL2
Welcome to the permanent home page
for Section HBL2 of MATH-1300 (Precalculus)
at Southeast Community College
in the Spring semester of 2026.
I am Toby Bartels, your instructor.
Course administration
Contact information
Feel free to send a message at any time,
even nights and weekends (although I'll be slower to respond then).
Readings
The official textbook for the course
is the 12th Edition of Precalculus
written by Sullivan and published by Prentice-Hall (Pearson).
You automatically get an online version of this textbook through Canvas,
although you can use a print version instead if you like.
This comes with access to Pearson MyLab, integrated into Canvas,
on which many of the assignments appear.
Try to read this introduction before the first day of class:
- Objectives:
- Understand what to expect from this course;
- Know how to submit assignments.
- Reading:
- Problem set from the textbook
due on January 14 Wednesday or ASAP thereafter
(submit these through MyLab):
O.1.1, O.1.2, O.1.3, O.1.4, O.1.5, O.1.6,
O.1.7, O.1.8, O.1.10, O.1.11, O.1.12.
Graphs and functions
- General review:
A review of algebra that you should already know.
- Objectives:
- Review the real and complex number systems;
- Review exponentiation with rational exponents;
- Review evaluating and simplifying algebraic expressions;
- Review testing and solving algebraic equations;
- Solve and graph linear inequalities in one variable.
- Reading:
Skim Appendix A (except Section A.4) from the textbook,
and review anything that you don't remember well.
- Reading homework due on January 14 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Which of the following are equations?
(Say Yes or No for each.)
- 2x + y;
- 2x + y = 0;
- z = 2x + y.
- You probably don't know how to solve
the equation x5 + 2x = 14,
but show what numerical calculation you make
to check whether x = 2 is a solution.
- Write the set {x | x < 3} in interval notation
and draw a graph of the set.
- Suppose that
ax2 + bx + c = 0
but a ≠ 0;
write down a formula for x.
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 15 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
A.6.25, A.6.43, A.6.75, A.6.99, A.7.63,
A.9.71, A.9.75, A.8.33, A.8.47.
- Graphing review:
Geometry in the coordinate plane.
- Objectives:
- Review the rectangular coordinate system;
- Graph equations with tables of values;
- Find intercepts of graphs;
- Test equations and graphs for symmetry.
- Reading:
- Review
Section 1.1 through "Rectangular Coordinates" (pages 2&3)
from the textbook;
- Read Section 1.2 (pages 9–17) from the textbook
(this should be review at the start but might be new material by the end);
- My online notes
on symmetry and intercepts.
- Reading homework due on January 15 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in each blank with a vocabulary word:
The two number lines
that mark the coordinates in a rectangular coordinate system
are the coordinate _____,
and the point where they intersect is the _____.
- Fill in the blank with a vocabulary word:
Given a graph in a coordinate plane,
a point on the graph that lies on at least one coordinate axis
is a(n) _____ of that graph.
- Fill in the blank:
If for each point (x, y) on a graph,
the point (−x, y) is also on the graph,
then the graph is symmetric with respect to the _____.
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 16 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
1.1.15, 1.1.17, 1.2.13, 1.2.17, 1.2.23, 1.2.29, 1.2.31,
1.2.33, 1.2.35, 1.2.41, 1.2.43, 1.2.45, 1.2.47, 1.2.53,
1.2.55, 1.2.61, 1.2.67, 1.2.71, 1.2.77.
- Graphing lines: Lines in the coordinate plane.
- Objectives:
- Calculate the run, rise, and slope from one point to another;
- Calculate the distance and midpoint between two points;
- Find an equation of a line given graphical information about it;
- Find graphical properties of a line given an equation;
- Identify when two lines are parallel or perpendicular;
- Find the slope of a line given a parallel or perpendicular line;
- Handle vertical lines.
- Reading:
- The rest of Section 1.1 (pages 3–6) from the textbook;
- My online notes on lines and line segments;
- Section 1.3 (pages 20–30) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on January 16 Friday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blanks with algebraic expressions:
The distance between the points
(x1, y1)
and (x2, y2)
is _____,
and the midpoint between them is (___, ___).
- Write an equation
for the line in the (x, y)-plane
with slope m and y-intercept (0, b).
- Fill in the blanks with words or numbers:
The slope of a vertical line is _____,
and the slope of a horizontal line is _____.
- Fill in the blanks with numbers:
Suppose that a line L has slope 2.
The slope of any line parallel to L is ___,
and the slope of any line perpendicular to L is ___.
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 20 Tuesday
(submit this through MyLab):
1.1.19, 1.1.33, 1.1.39, 1.1.47, 1.3.2, 1.3.7, 1.3.8, 1.3.13, 1.3.15,
1.3.17, 1.3.19, 1.3.21, 1.3.23, 1.3.25, 1.3.27, 1.3.29, 1.3.31,
1.3.45, 1.3.51, 1.3.53, 1.3.57, 1.3.63, 1.3.67, 1.3.73, 1.3.75,
1.3.79, 1.3.85, 1.3.91, 1.3.93, 1.3.111, 1.3.113.
- Systems of equations:
Systems of two or three linear equations in the same number of variables.
- Objectives:
- Test solutions of systems of equations;
- Solve simple systems of linear equations by graphing;
- Solve systems of linear equations in two or three variables;
- Compare two methods for solving systems of linear equations;
- Classify systems of linear equations
(with the same number of equations as variables)
as consistent or inconsistent, and dependent or independent.
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on January 20 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Answer Yes or No:
Suppose that you have
a system of equations and a point that might be a solution.
If the point
is a solution to one equation in the system
but not a solution to another equation in the system,
then is that point a solution to the system of equations?
- Given a system of two equations
in the two variables x and y,
if the graphs of the two equations
intersect at (and only at) the point (3, 5),
then what is the solution of the system?
(Give explicitly the value of x and the value of y.)
- Consider the system of equations
consisting of x + 3y = 4 (equation 1)
and 2x + 3y = 5 (equation 2).
- If I solve equation (1) for x
to get x = 4 − 3y
and apply this to equation (2)
to get 2(4 − 3y) + 3y = 5
(and continue from there),
then what method am I using to solve this system?
- If instead I multiply equation (1) by −2
to get −2x − 6y = −8
and combine this with equation (2)
to get −3y = −3
(and continue from there),
then what method am I using to solve this system?
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 21 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
11.1.3, 11.1.4, 11.1.6, 11.1.11, 11.1.13, 11.1.15, 11.1.17, 11.1.19, 11.1.21,
11.1.27, 11.1.31, 11.1.45, 11.1.47, 11.1.65, 11.1.73.
- Systems of inequalities:
Systems of two linear inequalities in two variables.
- Objectives:
- Compare weak and strict inequalities;
- Graph linear inequalities in two variables;
- Graph systems of linear inequalities in two variables.
- Reading:
Section 11.7 (pages 800–805) from the textbook
except Examples 3 and 8.
- Reading homework due on January 21 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blank:
If a system of equations or inequalities has no solutions,
then the system is _____.
- Suppose you are graphing a contingent linear inequality in two variables.
- If the inequality is strict (with < or >),
then should the boundary line be solid or dashed?
- If the inequality is weak (with ≤ or ≥),
then should the boundary line be solid or dashed?
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 22 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
11.7.13, 11.7.15, 11.7.23, 11.7.25, 11.7.27, 11.7.29, 11.7.31.
- Functions: The heart of the course.
- Objectives:
- Become familiar with
the concept of a function between real numbers;
- Evaluate a function using a formula for it;
- Represent a function as a relation;
- Determine whether an equation defines a function;
- Identify the domain and range of a function;
- Calculate the domain from a formula for a function;
- Apply arithmetic operations to functions.
- Reading:
- Section 2.1 (pages 46–58) from the textbook;
- My online notes on functions.
- Reading homework due on January 22 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blank with a mathematical expression:
If g(x) = 2x + 3 for all x,
then g(___) = 2(5) + 3 = 13.
- Fill in the blank with an equation, inequality, or other statement:
If a function f is thought of as a relation,
then it's the relation {x, y | _____}.
- Fill in the blanks with vocabulary words:
If f(3) = 5,
then 3 belongs to the _____ of the function f,
and 5 belongs to its _____.
- Fill in the blank with an arithmetic operation:
If f(x) = 2x for all x,
and g(x) = 3x for all x,
then (f ___ g)(x) = 5x
for all x.
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 23 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.10, 2.1.31, 2.1.33, 2.1.35, 2.1.37,
2.1.43, 2.1.49, 2.1.51, 2.1.53, 2.1.55, 2.1.59, 2.1.63,
2.1.71, 2.1.79, 2.1.81, 2.1.103, 2.1.117.
- Graphs of functions:
Functions can be thought of geometrically,
as particular sorts of graphs in the coordinate plane.
- Objectives:
- Graph a function from a formula using a table of values;
- Use the Vertical-Line Test
to decide whether a graph is the graph of a function;
- Evaluate a function using points on its graph;
- Find the domain and range of a function from its graph.
- Reading: Section 2.2 (pages 62–66) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on January 23 Friday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blanks with mathematical expressions:
If (2, 4) is a point on the graph of a function f,
then f(___) = ___.
- Fill in the blank with a geometric word:
The graph of a relation is the graph of a function
if and only if every _____ line goes through the graph at most once.
- Which of these is true, and which of these is false?
(Answer True or False for each.)
- The graph of a function
can have any number of x-intercepts;
- The graph of a function
can have any number of y-intercepts.
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 26 Monday
(submit this through MyLab):
2.2.7, 2.2.9, 2.2.11, 2.2.13, 2.2.16, 2.2.17, 2.2.19, 2.2.21, 2.2.27,
2.2.29, 2.2.31, 2.2.33, 2.2.39, 2.2.43, 2.2.47.
Quiz 1, covering the material in Problem Sets 1–7,
is available on January 30 Friday and due on February 2 Monday.
Some of the dates below are wrong!
Properties and types of functions
- Properties of functions:
Thinking of a function as a thing in its own right,
it can have various properties and characteristics.
- Objectives:
- Use a formula to determine whether a function is even or odd;
- Use a graph to determine whether a function is even or odd;
- Use a formula to find the intercepts of the graph of a function;
- Calculate the rate of change of a function on an interval;
- Determine from a graph
where a function is increasing, decreasing, or constant;
- Find local maxima and minima from a graph;
- Find absolute maxima and minima from a graph.
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on January 26 Monday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Fill in the blanks with vocabulary words:
- Suppose that f is a function
and, whenever f(x) exists,
then f(−x) also exists and equals f(x).
Then f is _____.
- If c is a number and f is a function,
and if f(c) = 0,
then c is a(n) _____ of f.
(This one is not in the textbook until Chapter 5,
but it is in my notes for this lesson.)
- Suppose that a function f
is defined on (at least) a nontrivial interval I
and that,
whenever a ∈ I and b ∈ I,
if a < b,
then f(a) < f(b).
Then f is (strictly) _____ on I.
- Suppose that
f(x) = M for at least one value of x,
and f(x) ≤ M for every value of x.
Then M is the absolute _____ of f.
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 27 Tuesday
(submit this through MyLab):
2.3.2, 2.3.3, 2.3.5, 2.3.13, 2.3.15, 2.3.17, 2.3.19, 2.3.21,
2.3.23, 2.3.26, 2.3.27, 2.3.29, 2.3.31, 2.3.37, 2.3.39,
2.3.41, 2.3.43, 2.3.45, 2.3.49, 2.3.51.
- Word problems with functions:
Using functions to solve systems of equations with too many variables.
- Objectives:
- Set up algebraic equations to describe word problems;
- Solve systems of equations with too few variables
to express quantities as a function of one of the variables.
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on January 27 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Suppose that you have a problem with three quantities,
A, B, and C;
and suppose that you have two equations,
equation (1) involving A and B,
and equation (2) involving B and C.
If you wish to find A as a function of C,
then which equation should you solve first,
and which variable should you solve it for?
(Although there is a single best answer in my opinion,
there is more than one answer that will progress the solution,
and I'll accept either of them.)
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 28 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
2.6.5, 2.6.13, 2.6.15, 2.6.21, 2.6.23.
- Linear functions:
A particularly simple kind of function with a consistent rate of change.
- Objectives:
- Identify a linear function from a formula or a graph;
- Determine if a table of values could come from a linear function;
- Graph linear functions;
- Find the rate of change and initial value of a linear function;
- Solve word problems using linear functions;
- Compare linear functions using their graphs.
- Reading: Section 3.1 (pages 124–130) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on January 28 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Suppose that y is a linear function of x.
If the rate of change of the function is m
and the initial value of the function is b,
then write an equation relating x and y.
- Suppose that f is a linear function.
If you know f(x1) and f(x2)
for two distinct real numbers x1 and x2,
then give a formula for the slope of the graph of f
using x1, x2,
f(x1),
and/or f(x2).
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 29 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
3.1.2, 3.1.13, 3.1.15, 3.1.17, 3.1.19, 3.1.21, 3.1.23, 3.1.25,
3.1.27, 3.1.37, 3.1.43, 3.1.45, 3.1.47, 3.1.49.
- Examples of functions:
Examples of simple and complicated functions.
- Objectives:
- Become familiar with the identity function;
- Become familiar with the square function;
- Become familiar with the cube function;
- Become familiar with the principal square-root function;
- Become familiar with the cube-root function;
- Become familiar with the reciprocal function;
- Become familiar with the absolute-value function;
- Define a partially-defined function with a formula and a condition;
- Define a piecewise-defined function
with multiple formulas and conditions;
- Evaluate a piecewise-defined function;
- Graph a piecewise-defined function;
- Find inputs of a piecewise-defined function.
- Reading:
- Section 2.4 through Objective 1 (pages 85–89)
from the textbook;
- My online notes and video
on partially-defined functions;
- The rest of Section 2.4 (pages 90–92)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on January 29 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Fill in each blank with one or two words:
- In the _____ function,
the output is always defined and equal to the input.
- If you reflect the graph of the cube function
across the diagonal line where y = x,
then you get the graph of the _____ function.
- A _____-defined function
is defined by a formula together with a condition restricting its inputs.
- A _____-defined function
is defined by more than one formula,
each with a condition restricting its inputs.
- Problem set from the textbook due on January 30 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
2.4.9, 2.4.10, 2.4.11, 2.4.13, 2.4.14, 2.4.15, 2.4.16, 2.4.17, 2.4.18,
2.4.19, 2.4.20, 2.4.21, 2.4.22, 2.4.23, 2.4.24, 2.4.25, 2.4.26, 2.4.27,
2.4.29, 2.4.31, 2.4.33, 2.4.35, 2.4.43, 2.4.45, 2.4.51.
- Composite functions:
Taking the output of one function and using it as the input to another.
- Objectives:
- Evaluate a composite function;
- Find a formula for a composite function;
- Find the domain of a composite function.
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on February 3 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blanks
with a vocabulary word and a mathematical expression:
If f and g are functions,
then their _____ function, denoted f ∘ g,
is defined by
(f ∘ g)(x) = _____.
- Fill in the blanks with mathematical expressions:
A number x is in the domain of f ∘ g
if and only if ___ belongs to the domain of g
and ___ belongs to the domain of f.
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 4 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
5.1.2, 5.1.9, 5.1.11, 5.1.15, 5.1.19, 5.1.25,
5.1.27, 5.1.29, 5.1.33, 5.1.55.
- Inverse functions:
Can we run a function backwards?
- Objectives:
- Determine from its graph whether a function is one-to-one;
- Find a formula for the inverse of a one-to-one function;
- Graph the inverse of a one-to-one function;
- Find the range of a one-to-one function.
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on February 4 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blank with a geometric word:
A function is one-to-one
if and only if every _____ line goes through its graph at most once.
- Fill in the blank with a vocabulary word:
If f is a one-to-one function,
then its _____ function, denoted f−1, exists.
- Fill in the blank with an ordered pair:
If f is one-to-one and (2, −3) is on the graph of f,
then ___
is on the graph of f−1.
- Fill in the blanks with vocabulary words:
If f is one-to-one,
then the domain of f−1 is the _____ of f,
and the range of f−1
is the _____ of f.
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 5 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
5.2.4, 5.2.5, 5.2.7, 5.2.8, 5.2.9, 5.2.12, 5.2.21, 5.2.23, 5.2.25,
5.2.35, 5.2.37, 5.2.39, 5.2.43, 5.2.45, 5.2.49, 5.2.51, 5.2.53, 5.2.63,
5.2.65, 5.2.67, 5.2.69, 5.2.83, 5.2.85, 5.2.87, 5.2.95.
- Linear coordinate transformations:
We can easily graph composites with linear functions.
- Objectives:
- Graph an outside translation of a function
by shifting it up or down;
- Graph an outside scaling of a function
by stretching or compressing it up and down;
- Graph an outside reflection of a function by flipping it up and down;
- Graph an inside translation of a function
by shifting it left or right;
- Graph an inside scaling of a function
by stretching or compressing it left and right;
- Graph an inside reflection of a function
by flipping it left and right;
- Graph a function
with a combination of these transformations.
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on February 5 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Assume that the axes are oriented in the usual way
(positive x-axis to the right, then positive y-axis upwards).
- Fill in the blank with a direction:
To change the graph of y = f(x)
into the graph of y = f(x − 1),
shift the graph to the ___ by 1 unit.
- To change the graph of y = f(x)
into the graph of y = −f(x),
do you reflect the graph left and right or up and down?
- To change the graph of y = f(x)
into the graph of y = f(2x),
do you compress or stretch the graph
left and right by a factor of 2?
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 6 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
2.5.5, 2.5.6, 2.5.7, 2.5.9, 2.5.11, 2.5.13, 2.5.15, 2.5.17, 2.5.19, 2.5.21,
2.5.23, 2.5.25, 2.5.29, 2.5.30, 2.5.33, 2.5.35, 2.5.37, 2.5.41, 2.5.43,
2.5.45, 2.5.47, 2.5.53, 2.5.61, 2.5.63, 2.5.73, 2.5.89.
Quiz 2, covering the material in Problem Sets 8–14,
is available on February 13 Friday and due on February 16 Monday.
Polynomial and rational functions
- Quadratic functions:
One step more complicated than linear functions,
we can still graph these precisely.
- Objectives:
- Convert the formulas for a quadratic function
between standard and general forms;
- Find the properties of a quadratic function;
- Graph a quadratic function.
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on February 6 Friday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blank with a vocabulary word:
The shape of the graph of a nonlinear quadratic function is a(n) _____.
- Fill in the blanks with algebraic expressions:
Given a ≠ 0
and f(x) =
ax2 + bx + c
for all x,
the vertex of the graph of f is (___, ___).
- Given a ≠ 0,
b2 − 4ac > 0,
and f(x) =
ax2 + bx + c
for all x,
how many x-intercepts
does the graph of y = f(x) have?
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 9 Monday
(submit this through MyLab):
3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.15, 3.3.17, 3.3.19, 3.3.21, 3.3.31, 3.3.33,
3.3.43, 3.3.49, 3.3.53, 3.3.57, 3.3.61, 3.3.63, 3.3.67, 3.3.69.
- Applications of quadratic functions:
Word problems with quadratic functions, especially finding extreme values,
including an application to economics.
- Objectives:
- Find the maximum or minimum of a quantity
by expressing it as a quadratic function of another quantity;
- Given a demand equation,
express revenue as a quadratic function of price or quantity demanded,
and maximize it;
- Given a demand equation and a cost equation,
express profit as a quadratic function of price or quantity demanded,
and maximize it.
- Reading:
- Section 3.4 through Objective 1 (pages 155–158)
from the textbook;
- My online notes
on economic applications.
- Reading homework due on February 9 Monday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Suppose that x and y are variables,
x can take any value,
and y =
ax2 + bx + c
for some constants a, b, and c.
- Fill in the blank with an algebraic equation or inequality:
y has a maximum value if _____;
- Fill in the blank with an algebraic expression:
In this case, y has its maximum when x = ___.
- If the width of a rectangle is w metres
and its length is l metres,
then what is its area (in square metres)?
- If you make and sell x items per year
at a price of p dollars per item,
then what is your revenue (in dollars per year)?
- If a business's revenue is R dollars per year
and its costs are C dollars per year,
then what is its profit (in dollars per year)?
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 10 Tuesday
(submit this through MyLab):
3.3.87, 3.3.89, 3.3.91, 3.3.93, 3.3.95, 3.4.3, 3.4.5,
3.4.7, 3.4.9, 3.4.11, 3.4.13, 3.4.15.
- Polynomial functions:
- Reading:
- My online notes on power functions;
- Section 4.1 (pages 174–185) from the textbook;
- My online notes on graphing polynomials
(but the last paragraph is optional);
- Section 4.2 through Objective 1 (pages 189–191)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on February 10 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Give the coordinates of:
- A point on the graph of every power function.
- Another point (different from the answer to part A)
on the graph of every power function with a positive exponent.
- Another point
on the graph of every power function with an even exponent.
- Another point
on the graph of every power function with an odd exponent.
- If a root (aka zero) of a polynomial function has odd multiplicity,
then does the graph cross (go through) or only touch (bounce off)
the horizontal axis at the intercept given by that root?
Which does the graph do if the root has even multiplicity?
- If the leading coefficient of a polynomial function is positive,
then does the graph's end behaviour go up on the far right, or down?
Which does the graph do if the leading coefficient is negative?
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 11 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
4.1.2, 4.1.15, 4.1.17, 4.1.19, 4.1.21, 4.1.27, 4.1.29, 4.1.33, 4.1.1,
4.1.11, 4.1.41, 4.1.43, 4.1.47, 4.1.49, 4.1.59, 4.1.61, 4.1.69,
4.1.71, 4.1.73, 4.1.75, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.5, 4.2.11.
- Advanced factoring:
- Reading:
- Section A.4 (page 933) from the textbook;
- Section 4.6 through Objective 1 (pages 230–233)
from the textbook;
- Section 4.6 Objectives 3–5 (pages 234–238)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on February 12 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Suppose that f is a polynomial function
and c is a number.
If you divide f(x) by x − c,
then what will the remainder be?
- Suppose that f is a polynomial function with rational coefficients
and c is an integer.
If x − c is a factor of f(x),
then what is f(c)?
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 13 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
4.6.2, 4.6.3, 4.6.4, 4.6.11, 4.6.15, 4.6.19, 4.6.33,
4.6.35, 4.6.37, 4.6.45, 4.6.51, 4.6.53, 4.6.57, 4.6.59,
4.6.65, 4.6.67, 4.6.93, 4.6.99, 4.6.101.
- Imaginary roots:
- Reading: Section 4.7 (pages 244–249) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on February 17 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Suppose that f is a polynomial function with real coefficients,
a and b are real numbers with b ≠ 0,
and the imaginary complex number a + bi
is a root (or zero) of f.
- What other complex number must be a root of f?
- What non-constant polynomial in x (with real coefficients)
must be a factor of f(x)?
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 18 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.7.9, 4.7.11, 4.7.13, 4.7.15, 4.7.17, 4.7.19,
4.7.21, 4.7.23, 4.7.25, 4.7.29, 4.7.35, 4.7.39.
- Rational functions:
- Reading:
- Section 4.3 (pages 197–204) from the textbook;
- Section 4.4 (pages 208–218) from the textbook;
- My online notes
on rational functions.
- Reading homework due on February 18 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- If a graph gets arbitrarily close to a line
(without necessarily reaching it) in some direction,
then the line is a(n) _____ of the graph.
- If the reduced form of a rational function
is defined somewhere where the original (unreduced) form is not,
then the graph of the original function has a(n) _____ there.
- Suppose that when you divide
R(x) = P(x)/Q(x),
you get a linear quotient q(x)
and a linear remainder r(x).
- Write an equation in x and y
for the non-vertical linear asymptote of the graph of R.
- Write an equation in x
that you might solve
to find where the graph of R meets this asymptote.
(Warning:
Don't mix up lowercase and uppercase letters in your answer!)
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 19 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4, 4.3.15, 4.3.17, 4.3.19, 4.3.23, 4.3.27,
4.3.29, 4.3.31, 4.3.35, 4.3.45, 4.3.47, 4.3.49, 4.3.51, 4.4.1,
4.4.5, 4.4.7, 4.4.9, 4.4.11, 4.4.17, 4.4.19, 4.4.21, 4.4.23,
4.4.31, 4.4.33, 4.4.35, 4.4.51, 4.4.53.
- Inequalities:
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on February 19 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Suppose that you have
a rational inequality in the variable x that you wish to solve.
You investigate the inequality and discover the following facts about it:
- the left-hand side is always defined;
- the right-hand side
is undefined when x is 2 but is otherwise defined;
- the two sides are equal when x is −3/2 and only then;
- the original inequality
is true when x is −3/2 or 3
but false when x is −2, 0, or 2.
What are the solutions to the inequality?
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 20 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
4.5.1, 4.5.5, 4.5.7, 4.5.9, 4.5.13, 4.5.15, 4.5.19, 4.5.21, 4.5.23, 4.5.27,
4.5.29, 4.5.35, 4.5.39, 4.5.41, 4.5.43, 4.5.47.
Quiz 3, covering the material in Problem Sets 15–22,
is available on February 27 Friday and due on March 2 Monday.
Exponential and logarithmic functions
- Exponential functions:
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on February 20 Friday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Let f(x) be Cbx for all x.
- What is f(x + 1)/f(x)?
- What are f(−1), f(0), and f(1)?
(Write your answers using b and C,
and simplify them as much as possible.)
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 23 Monday
(submit this through MyLab):
5.3.1, 5.3.15, 5.3.16, 5.3.21, 5.3.23, 5.3.25, 5.3.27, 5.3.29, 5.3.31,
5.3.33, 5.3.35, 5.3.37–44, 5.3.45, 5.3.47, 5.3.51, 5.3.53,
5.3.57, 5.3.59, 5.3.61, 5.3.65, 5.3.67, 5.3.71, 5.3.73, 5.3.76,
5.3.77, 5.3.79, 5.3.83, 5.3.85, 5.3.91, 5.3.93.
- Logarithmic functions:
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on February 23 Monday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Suppose that b > 0 and b ≠ 1.
- Rewrite logb M = r
as an equation involving exponentiation.
- What are logb b,
logb 1,
and logb(1/b)?
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 24 Tuesday
(submit this through MyLab):
5.4.11, 5.4.13, 5.4.15, 5.4.17, 5.4.19, 5.4.21, 5.4.23, 5.4.25, 5.4.27,
5.4.29, 5.4.31, 5.4.33, 5.4.35, 5.4.37, 5.4.39, 5.4.43, 5.4.51, 5.4.53,
5.4.55, 5.4.57, 5.4.65–72, 5.4.73, 5.4.79, 5.4.83, 5.4.85, 5.4.89,
5.4.91, 5.4.93, 5.4.95, 5.4.97, 5.4.99, 5.4.101, 5.4.103, 5.4.105,
5.4.107, 5.4.109, 5.4.111, 5.4.119, 5.4.129, 5.4.131.
- Properties of logarithms:
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on February 24 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blanks
to break down these expressions using properties of logarithms.
(Assume that b, u, and v are all positive
and that b ≠ 1.)
- logb(uv) = ___;
- logb(u/v) = ___;
- logb(ux) =
___.
- Given b > 0, b ≠ 1, and u > 0,
write logb u in these two ways:
- Using only common logarithms (logarithms base 10);
- Using only natural logarithms (logarithms base e).
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 25 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
5.5.7, 5.5.11, 5.5.13, 5.5.15, 5.5.17, 5.5.19, 5.5.21, 5.5.23, 5.5.25,
5.5.27, 5.5.37, 5.5.39, 5.5.41, 5.5.43, 5.5.45, 5.5.47, 5.5.49, 5.5.51,
5.5.53, 5.5.55, 5.5.57, 5.5.61, 5.5.63, 5.5.65, 5.5.67, 5.5.69,
5.5.71, 5.5.73, 5.5.75, 5.5.78, 5.5.87, 5.5.91, 5.5.97.
- Logarithmic equations:
- Reading:
Section 5.6 through Objective 2 (pages 320–321) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on February 25 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
In solving which of the following equations
would it be useful to have a step
in which you take logarithms of both sides of the equation?
(Say Yes or No for each one.)
- log2(x + 3) = 5;
- (x + 3)2 = 5;
- 2x + 3 = 5.
- Problem set from the textbook due on Feruary 26 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
5.6.1, 5.6.2, 5.6.5, 5.6.7, 5.6.9, 5.6.15, 5.6.19,
5.6.21, 5.6.23, 5.6.25, 5.6.27, 5.6.29, 5.6.31, 5.6.39,
5.6.43, 5.6.45, 5.6.49, 5.6.57, 5.6.61.
- Compound interest:
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on February 26 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- The original amount of money that earns interest is the _____.
- If you borrow P dollars
at 100r% annual interest compounded n times per year,
then how much will you owe after t years
(if you make no payments)?
- Problem set from the textbook due on February 27 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
5.7.1, 5.7.2, 5.7.7, 5.7.11, 5.7.13, 5.7.15, 5.7.21,
5.7.31, 5.7.33, 5.7.41, 5.7.43.
- Applications of logarithms:
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on March 3 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Suppose that a quantity A undergoes exponential growth
with a relative growth rate of k
and an initial value of A0 at time t = 0.
Write down a formula for the value of A
as a function of the time t.
- Suppose that a quantity A undergoes exponential decay
with a halflife of h
and an initial value of A0 at time t = 0.
Write down a formula for the value of A
as a function of the time t.
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 4 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
5.8.1, 5.8.3, 5.8.5, 5.8.7, 5.8.9, 5.8.11, 5.8.13,
5.8.15, 5.8.17, 5.8.19, 5.8.21, 5.8.23.
Quiz 4, covering the material in Problem Sets 23–28,
is available on March 6 Friday and due on March 9 Monday,
and again available on March 13 Friday and due on March 16 Monday.
(You may take it during either period.)
Trigonometric operations
- Circles:
- Reading: Section 1.4 (pages 35–38) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 4 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blank:
The distance from the centre (or center) of a circle to any point on the circle
is the _____ of the circle.
- Write down an equation in the variables x and y
for a circle
whose centre is (h, k) and whose radius is r.
(This will be an equation
in which x, y, h, k, and r all appear.)
- If
x2 + y2 = r2
is the equation of a circle in x and y,
then what are the coordinates of the centre of the circle?
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 5 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
1.4.5, 1.4.9, 1.4.11, 1.4.13, 1.4.15, 1.4.17,
1.4.21, 1.4.23, 1.4.25, 1.4.27.
- Angles:
- Reading: Section 6.1 through Objective 4 (pages 362–368)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 5 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- If a central angle in a circle
subtends an arc whose length equals the circle's radius,
then what is the measure of that angle?
- How many radians is 360°?
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 6 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
6.1.11, 6.1.13, 6.1.15, 6.1.17, 6.1.19, 6.1.21,
6.1.23, 6.1.26, 6.1.35, 6.1.37.
- Length and area with radians:
- Reading:
The rest of Section 6.1 (pages 368–370) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 17 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Fill in the blanks with algebraic expressions:
- In a circle of radius r,
a central angle whose measure is θ radians
subtends an arc whose length is s = ___.
- In a circle of radius r,
a central angle whose measure is θ
forms a sector whose area is A = ___.
- Around a circle of radius r,
an object with an angular speed of ω
has a linear speed of v = ___.
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 18 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
6.1.71, 6.1.73, 6.1.79, 6.1.81, 6.1.87, 6.1.91, 6.1.95, 6.1.99.
- The trigonometric operations:
- Reading:
- Section 6.2 through Objective 2 (pages 375–380)
from the textbook;
- Section 6.2 Objectives 6&7 (pages 385–387)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 18 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Suppose that you start at the point (1, 0)
in a rectangular coordinate system
and move in the direction towards (0, 1) along the unit circle,
for a total distance t.
(This is the usual thing, not a trick question.)
If you end at the point (x, y),
express sin t, cos t, tan t,
cot t, sec t, and csc t
using only x and y.
- Now instead of moving along the unit circle (with radius 1),
move along a circle of radius r (but still centred at the origin).
That is, start at (r, 0)
and move along the circle in the direction of (0, r)
for a total distance of s,
and let θ be s/r.
(This is again the usual thing for a non-unit radius.)
Now if you end at the point (x, y),
express sin θ, cos θ,
tan θ, cot θ,
sec θ, and csc θ
using only x, y, and r.
- If you want to calculate the secant of 50 degrees
on a calculator with buttons only for sine, cosine, and tangent,
then what do you enter on the calculator?
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 19 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
6.2.13, 6.2.15, 6.2.17, 6.2.19, 6.2.65, 6.2.67,
6.2.69, 6.2.71, 6.2.77, 6.2.79.
- Right triangles:
- Reading:
Section 8.1 through Objective 2 (pages 522–524) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 19 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- If θ is the measure of an acute angle in a right triangle,
then express the six basic trigonometric functions of θ
as ratios of the lengths
of the adjacent leg, the opposite leg, and the hypotenuse.
- Fill in the blank:
The sine of the complement of θ
is the _____ of θ.
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 20 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
8.1.9, 8.1.11, 8.1.13, 8.1.19, 8.1.21, 8.1.23.
- Special angles:
- Reading:
The rest of Section 6.2 (pages 380–385) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 20 Friday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Write down the exact values
of the sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, and cosecant
of 0, π/6, π/4, π/3, and π/2.
(This is 30 values to write down in all,
which you might put into a handy table.
One way or another, be sure to label which value is which.)
- For each of Quadrants I, II, III, and IV,
which of the six fundamental trigonometric functions of θ
are positive and which are negative
when θ terminates in that quadrant?
(This is 24 positive/negative answers in all,
which you might also put into a table.)
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 23 Monday
(submit this through MyLab):
6.2.31, 6.2.33, 6.2.35, 6.2.41, 6.2.43, 6.2.45, 6.2.47, 6.2.49,
6.2.51, 6.2.53, 6.2.55, 6.3.11, 6.3.19, 6.3.31.
Quiz 5, covering the material in Problem Sets 29–34,
is available on March 27 Friday and due on March 30 Monday.
Trigonometric functions
- The trigonometric functions:
- Reading: Section 6.3 (pages 392–403) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 23 Monday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Most of the six trigonometric functions have a period of 2π;
which two have a period of π instead?
- Consider the numbers 2 and 1/2.
Which is in the range of the sine function,
and which is in the range of the cosecant function?
- Out of 0, π/2, π, and 2π,
which is not
in the domain of the tangent function?
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 24 Tuesday
(submit this through MyLab):
6.4.3, 6.3.35, 6.3.37, 6.3.43, 6.3.45, 6.3.53,
6.3.55, 6.3.89, 6.3.115.
- Basic sinusoidal graphs:
- Reading:
- Section 6.4 through the box before Example 1 (pages 407&408)
from the textbook;
- Section 6.4 Objective 2 through the box before Example 3
(pages 409&410)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 24 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- List at least five consecutive horizontal intercepts
of the graph of the sine function.
- Give the vertical intercept of the graph of the sine function.
- List at least five consecutive turning points
of the graph of the sine function.
- List at least five consecutive horizontal intercepts
of the graph of the cosine function.
- Give the vertical intercept of the graph of the cosine function.
- List at least five consecutive turning points
of the graph of the cosine function.
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 25 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
6.4.6, 6.4.8, 6.4.11, 6.4.13.
- More basic graphs:
- Reading:
- Section 6.5
through
"The Graph of the Cotangent Function y = cot x"
(pages 422–424)
from the textbook;
- Section 6.5 Objective 3 (pages 425&426)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 25 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- List at least five consecutive horizontal intercepts
of the graph of the tangent function.
- List at least five consecutive linear asymptotes
of the graph of the tangent function.
- List at least five consecutive horizontal intercepts
of the graph of the cotangent function.
- List at least five consecutive linear asymptotes
of the graph of the cotangent function.
- List at least five consecutive linear asymptotes
of the graph of the secant function.
- List at least five consecutive linear asymptotes
of the graph of the cosecant function.
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 26 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
6.5.3, 6.5.6, 6.5.7, 6.5.10, 6.5.11, 6.5.12, 6.5.13, 6.5.16.
- Transformations of trigonometric functions:
- Reading:
- Section 6.4 Objective 1 Examples 1&2 (pages 408&409)
from the textbook;
- Section 6.4 Objective 2 Example 3 (page 410) from the textbook;
- Section 6.5 Objective 2 (pages 424&425) from the textbook;
- Section 6.5 Objective 4 (pages 426&427)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 26 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Suppose that f is a periodic function with period T.
(For example, f might be the sine function,
so that T would be 2π,
or f might be the tangent function, so that T would be π.
But answer the questions in general, referring to T.)
- What is the period (in x)
of f(x + 2)?
- What is the period of f(2x)?
- What is the period of 2f(x)?
- Problem set from the textbook due on March 27 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
6.4.23–32, 6.5.17, 6.5.21, 6.5.23, 6.5.25, 6.5.29, 6.5.31.
- Sinusoidal functions:
- Reading:
- My handout on sinusoidal functions
(DjVu TBA);
- The rest of Section 6.4 (pages 410–416) from the textbook;
- Section 6.6 Objective 1 (pages 429–433)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on March 31 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- If f(x) =
A sin(ωx)
for all x,
with A > 0 and ω > 0,
then what are the amplitude and period of f?
- If f(x) = A sin x + B
for all x,
with A > 0,
then what are the maximum and minimum values of f?
- If f(x) =
sin(ωx − φ)
for all x,
with ω > 0 and 0 ≤ φ < 2π,
then what is the phase shift of f?
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 1 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
6.4.35, 6.4.39, 6.4.51, 6.4.57, 6.4.61, 6.4.87,
6.6.9, 6.6.11, 6.6.17, 6.6.19.
- Inverse trigonometric operations:
- Reading:
- Section 7.1 through Objective 7 (pages 450–458)
from the textbook;
- Section 7.2 through Objective 2 (pages 463–465)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 1 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Fill in all of these blanks with algebraic expressions (or constants).
Work only in the real number system.
- That y = sin−1 x
means that x = ___ and ___ ≤ y ≤ ___.
- cos−1 x exists
if and only if ___ ≤ x ≤ ___.
- cos−1 cos θ =
θ
if and only if ___ ≤ θ ≤ ___.
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 2 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
7.1.19, 7.1.21, 7.2.11, 7.2.13, 7.2.19, 7.1.39, 7.1.41,
7.1.43, 7.1.45, 7.1.51, 7.1.53, 7.1.55, 7.1.57.
- More inverse trigonometric operations:
- Reading:
- The rest of Section 7.1 (pages 458&459) from the textbook;
- The rest of Section 7.2 (pages 465&466) from the textbook;
- My handout on inverse trigonometric operations
(DjVu).
- Reading homework due on April 2 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blank with an algebraic expression:
cos sin−1 x = ___
(if either side exists in the real number system).
- If f is the function given by
f(x) = sin−1 x,
then what is its inverse function f −1?
(Write down a formula
that involves one or more of the six basic trigonometric operations
and that includes all necessary conditions.)
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 3 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
7.2.33, 7.2.35, 7.2.47, 7.2.49, 7.1.59,
7.1.61, 7.2.61, 7.2.63, 7.2.65.
- Sum-angle formulas:
- Reading:
- Section 7.5 through Objective 3 (pages 487–494)
from the textbook;
- Section 7.6
through the paragraph with the footnote following Example 2 in Objective 2
(pages 500–502)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 3 Friday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Fill in the blanks
with trigonometric expressions
in which each trigonometric operation that appears
is only applied directly to α or β.
- sin(α + β) = ___.
- cos(α + β) = ___.
- sin(α − β) = ___.
- tan(α + β) = ___
(write this so that the only operation that appears is the tangent).
- sin(2α) = ___.
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 6 Monday
(submit this through MyLab):
7.5.15, 7.5.17, 7.5.19, 7.5.21, 7.5.35, 7.5.37, 7.5.39,
7.5.41, 7.5.77, 7.6.83, 7.6.85, 7.6.87.
Quiz 6, covering the material in Problem Sets 35–42,
is available on April 10 Friday due on April 13 Monday.
Analytic trigonometry
- Sum-product formulas:
- Reading:
- The rest of Section 7.6 Objective 2 through Example 3
(pages 502&503)
from the textbook;
- Section 7.7 (pages 511–513) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 6 Monday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Express sin2 α
using sin(2α) and/or cos(2α).
- Express sin α sin β
using sin(α + β),
sin(α − β),
cos(α + β),
and/or cos(α − β).
- Factor sin α + sin β
so that each factor has at most one trigonometric operation.
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 7 Tuesday
(submit this through MyLab):
7.7.7, 7.7.9, 7.7.11, 7.7.13, 7.7.15, 7.7.17,
7.7.19, 7.7.21, 7.7.23.
- Half-angle formulas:
- Reading:
Section 7.6 Objective 3 (pages 504–506) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 7 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
Fill in the blanks
with trigonometric expressions
in which each trigonometric operation that appears
is only applied directly to α.
Make sure that each expression
has at most one value for each value of α;
in other words, do not use ±.
- sin2(α/2) = ___.
- cos2(α/2) = ___.
- tan(α/2) = ___
(notice not squared).
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 8 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
7.6.25, 7.6.29, 7.6.23, 7.6.27, 7.6.9, 7.6.11,
7.6.13, 7.6.15, 7.6.17, 7.6.19.
- Simplifying trigonometric expressions:
- Reading:
- Reading homework due on April 8 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blank with an expression
in which sin θ is the only trigonometric quantity:
cos2 θ = ___.
- Factor without using any trigonometric identities:
sin2 θ − 1 = (___)(___).
- If you regard a cosine as a square root,
then what expression is conjugate
to 1 − cos θ?
(Hint:
If you were to multiply these conjugate expressions together,
then θ
would appear only as cos2 θ.)
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 9 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
7.4.1, 7.4.2, 7.4.6, 7.4.8, 7.4.11, 7.4.15, 7.4.17,
7.4.29, 7.4.55, 7.4.71, 7.4.95.
- Trigonometric equations:
- Reading: Section 7.3 (pages 469–474) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 9 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Write a general form
for the solutions of tan x = b
using tan−1 b
and an arbitrary integer k.
- Similarly,
give the general solution of sin x = b.
(This one is more complicated than the last one.)
- To obtain θ ∈ [0, 2π)
(that is, 0 ≤ θ < 2π),
what interval should 3θ belong to?
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 10 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
7.3.13, 7.3.23, 7.3.25, 7.3.27, 7.3.37, 7.3.39, 7.3.115.
- Tricky trigonometric equations:
- Reading:
- Section 7.5 Objective 4 (pages 494–496) from the textbook;
- Section 7.6 Objective 2 Examples 4&5 (pages 503&504)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 14 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Since you can factor x + xy
as x(1 + y),
how can you factor
cos θ +
sin θ cos θ?
- To solve
a sin θ +
b cos θ =
c
with the help of a sum-angle formula,
what should you multiply both sides of the equation by?
- To solve
sin(aθ) + sin(bθ) = 0,
how can you factor the left-hand side?
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 15 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
7.3.61, 7.3.73, 7.5.93, 7.5.97, 7.6.75, 7.6.77, 7.7.47.
- Polar coordinates:
- Reading: Section 9.1 through Objective 3
(pages 576–582) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 15 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blanks with expressions:
Given a point with polar coordinates (r, θ),
its rectangular coordinates are
(x, y) = (___, ___).
- True or false:
For each point P in the coordinate plane,
for each pair (r, θ) of real numbers
that gives P in polar coordinates,
r ≥ 0 and 0 ≤ θ < 2π.
- True or false:
For each point P in the coordinate plane,
for some pair (r, θ) of real numbers
that gives P in polar coordinates,
r ≥ 0
and 0 ≤ θ < 2π.
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 16 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
9.1.13–20, 9.1.21, 9.1.23, 9.1.25, 9.1.27, 9.1.31, 9.1.33, 9.1.35,
9.1.45, 9.1.47, 9.1.49, 9.1.51, 9.1.53, 9.1.59, 9.1.63.
- Graphing in polar coordinates:
- Reading:
- The rest of Section 9.1 (pages 582&583) from the textbook;
- Section 9.2 (pages 585–597) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 16 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Let x and y be rectangular coordinates,
and let r and θ be the corresponding polar coordinates.
- Express the following quantities
using only x and y:
r2 = _____, tan θ = _____.
- Express the following quantities using x, y, and/or r:
sin θ = _____,
cos θ = _____.
- Let a be a positive number,
and consider the circle
given in polar coordinates by
r = 2a sin θ.
The radius of this circle is ___,
and its centre is (___, ___) in rectangular coordinates.
- Let n be a positive integer,
and consider the rose curve
given in polar coordinates by r = sin(nθ).
If n is even, then this rose has ___ petals;
if n is odd, then it has ___ petals.
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 17 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
9.1.77, 9.1.79, 9.1.83, 9.1.85, 9.2.15, 9.2.17, 9.2.19, 9.2.21, 9.2.23,
9.2.31–38, 9.2.39, 9.2.43, 9.2.47, 9.2.51, 9.2.55, 9.2.59.
Quiz 7, covering the material in Problem Sets 43–49,
is available on April 24 Friday and due on April 27 Monday.
Applications of trigonometry
- Solving right triangles:
- Reading:
Section 8.1 Objective 3 (pages 524&525) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 17 Friday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Answer this in degrees, and also answer it in radians:
If A and B are the two acute angles in a right triangle,
then A + B = ___.
- True or false:
Knowing any two of the three sides of a right triangle
is enough information to solve the triangle completely.
- True or false:
Knowing any two of the three angles of a right triangle
is enough information to solve the triangle completely.
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 20 Monday
(submit this through MyLab):
8.1.2, 8.1.29, 8.1.31, 8.1.33, 8.1.35, 8.1.37, 8.1.39, 8.1.41.
- The Law of Sines:
- Reading:
Section 8.2 through Objective 2 (pages 535–539) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 20 Monday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
In each of the following forms of the Law of Sines,
fill in the blank to get a true theorem
(where a, b and c
are the lengths of the three sides of a triangle
and A, B, and C
are the measures of the respective opposite angles).
- a ÷ sin A =
b ÷ ___.
- b ÷ c =
sin B ÷ ___.
- sin A ÷ a =
sin C ÷ ___.
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 21 Tuesday
(submit this through MyLab):
8.2.9, 8.2.11, 8.2.13, 8.2.15, 8.2.18, 8.2.27,
8.2.29, 8.2.33, 8.2.35, 8.2.37.
- The Law of Cosines:
- Reading:
- Section 8.3 through Objective 2 (pages 546–548)
from the textbook;
- My handout on solving triangles
(DjVu).
- Reading homework due on April 21 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Which law do you use to solve a triangle,
if you are given two angles and one of the sides?
- Which law do you use if you are given the three sides?
- What do you do if you are given only the angles?
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 22 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
8.3.9, 8.3.11, 8.3.13, 8.3.15, 8.3.35, 8.3.37, 8.3.41, 8.3.43.
- Area of triangles:
- Reading: Section 8.4 (pages 553–555) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 22 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- If two sides of a triangle have lengths a and b
and the angle between them has measure C,
then what is the area of the triangle?
- If a triangle's sides have lengths a, b, and c,
then what is the area of the triangle?
(Express this using only a, b, c,
and non-trigonometric operations.
You may use the perimeter or semiperimeter as well, if you find it convenient,
but then you must state what that is
using only a, b, and/or c.)
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 23 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
8.4.9, 8.4.11, 8.4.13, 8.4.15, 8.4.17, 8.4.19,
8.4.21, 8.4.25, 8.4.27, 8.4.37.
- Applications of solving triangles:
- Reading:
- Section 8.1 Objective 4 (pages 524–529) from the textbook;
- Section 8.2 Objective 3 (pages 539–541) from the textbook;
- Section 8.3 Objective 3 (pages 548&549)
from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 23 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- If you know
the horizontal distance to the base of an object
and the angle of elevation to the top of the object
and you want to find the height of the object,
then would you use
the sine, the cosine, or the tangent of the angle of elevation?
- If a bearing is N30°E,
then what is the angle that this direction makes with due north,
and what angle does it make with due east?
- If you divide a polygon with n sides into triangles,
then how many triangles will you need?
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 24 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
8.1.43, 8.1.45, 8.1.47, 8.1.51, 8.1.63, 8.2.39,
8.2.49, 8.3.45, 8.3.57, 8.4.46, 8.4.53.
- Harmonic motion:
- Reading: Section 8.5 (pages 559–565) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 28 Tuesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Fill in the blank with more than one word:
If the position of an object is a sinusoidal function of time,
then the object is undergoing _________ motion.
- If the sinusoidal function is modified
so that the amplitude is an exponential function with a negative growth rate
(instead of a constant),
then the object is undergoing _________ motion.
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 29 Wednesday
(submit this through MyLab):
8.5.7, 8.5.9, 8.5.11, 8.5.13, 8.5.15, 8.5.17, 8.5.19,
8.5.21, 8.5.23, 8.5.25, 7.3.109.
- Vectors:
- Reading: Section 9.4 (pages 609–619) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 29 Wednesday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- Give a formula
for the vector
from the initial point (x1, y1)
to the terminal point (x2, y2).
- Give a formula for the magnitude (or norm, or length)
of the vector 〈a, b〉.
- Problem set from the textbook due on April 30 Thursday
(submit this through MyLab):
9.4.11, 9.4.13, 9.4.15, 9.4.17, 9.4.27, 9.4.29, 9.4.37,
9.4.39, 9.4.43, 9.4.45, 9.4.49, 9.4.51.
- Vectors and angles:
- Reading: Section 9.5 (pages 624–629) from the textbook.
- Reading homework due on April 30 Thursday
(submit this on Canvas or in class):
- State a formula for
the dot product u ⋅ v of two vectors
using only their lengths |u| and |v|,
the angle θ = ∠(u, v) between them,
and real-number operations.
- State a formula
for the dot product
of 〈a, b〉
and 〈c, d〉
using only real-number operations
and the rectangular components
a, b, c, and d.
- Problem set from the textbook due on May 1 Friday
(submit this through MyLab):
9.4.61, 9.4.63, 9.4.65, 9.4.67, 9.4.69, 9.5.9, 9.5.11, 9.5.13,
9.5.15, 9.5.17, 9.5.19, 9.5.21, 9.5.23, 9.5.25.
Quiz 8, covering the material in Problem Sets 50–57,
is available on May 1 Friday and due on May 4 Monday.
Quizzes
- Graphs and functions:
- Date available: January 30 Friday.
- Date due: February 2 Monday.
- Corresponding problem sets: 1–7.
- Help allowed: Your notes, a self-contained calculator.
- NOT allowed:
The textbook, my notes, other people, websites, etc.
- Work to show:
Submit a picture of your work on Canvas,
at least one intermediate step for each result
except for those in #9.
- Properties and types of functions:
- Date available: February 13 Friday.
- Date due: February 16 Monday.
- Corresponding problem sets: 8–14.
- Help allowed: Your notes, a self-contained calculator.
- NOT allowed: The textbook, my notes, other people, websites, etc.
- Work to show:
Submit a picture of your work on Canvas,
at least one intermediate step for each result
except for those in #2, #4, and #8.
- Polynomial and rational functions:
- Date available: February 27 Friday.
- Date due: March 2 Monday.
- Corresponding problem sets: 15–22.
- Help allowed: Your notes, a self-contained calculator.
- NOT allowed: The textbook, my notes, other people, websites, etc.
- Work to show:
Submit a picture of your work on Canvas,
at least one intermediate step for each result
except for those in #3 and #4.
- Exponential and logarithmic functions:
- Date available: March 6 Friday or March 13 Friday.
- Date due: March 9 Monday or March 16 Monday.
- Corresponding problem sets: 23–28.
- Help allowed: Your notes, a self-contained calculator.
- NOT allowed: The textbook, my notes, other people, websites, etc.
- Work to show:
Submit a picture of your work on Canvas,
at least one intermediate step for each result
except for those in #2.
- Trigonometric operations:
- Date available: March 27 Friday.
- Date due: March 30 Monday.
- Corresponding problem sets: 29–34.
- Help allowed: Your notes, a self-contained calculator.
- NOT allowed:
The textbook, my notes, other people, websites, etc.
- Work to show:
Submit a picture of your work on Canvas,
at least one intermediate step for each result
except for those in #1 and #2.
- Trigonometric functions:
- Date available: April 10 Friday.
- Date due: April 13 Monday.
- Corresponding problem sets: 35–42.
- Help allowed: Your notes, a self-contained calculator.
- NOT allowed:
The textbook, my notes, other people, websites, etc.
- Work to show:
Submit a picture of your work on Canvas,
at least one intermediate step for each result in #5 and #6.
- Analytic trigonometry:
- Date available: April 24 Friday.
- Date due: April 27 Monday.
- Corresponding problem sets: 43–49.
- Help allowed: Your notes, a self-contained calculator.
- NOT allowed:
The textbook, my notes, other people, websites, etc.
- Work to show:
Submit a picture of your work on Canvas,
at least one intermediate step for each result
except for that in #7.
- Applications of trigonometry:
- Date available: May 1 Friday.
- Date due: May 4 Monday.
- Corresponding problem sets: 50–57.
- Help allowed: Your notes, a self-contained calculator.
- NOT allowed:
The textbook, my notes, other people, websites, etc.
- Work to show:
Submit a picture of your work on Canvas,
at least one intermediate step for each result.
Final exam
There is a comprehensive final exam on May 5 Tuesday,
in our normal classroom at the normal time but lasting until 11:10.
(You can also arrange to take it at a different time May 4–8.)
To speed up grading at the end of the semester,
the exam is multiple choice and filling in blanks, with no partial credit.
For the exam, you may use one sheet of notes that you wrote yourself,
but you may not use your book or anything else not written by you.
You certainly should not talk to other people!
Calculators are allowed (although you shouldn't really need one),
but not communication devices (like cell phones).
The exam consists of questions
similar in style and content
to those in the practice exam (DjVu).
This web page and the files linked from it
(except for the official SCC documents)
were written by Toby Bartels, last edited on 2026 February 1.
Toby reserves no legal rights to them.
The permanent URI of this web page
is
https://tobybartels.name/MATH-1300/2026SP/.