<p>Hi guys, so I’m a sophomore this year planning on taking Honors Pre-Calculus next year…so what should I expect in general? About how much homework a night (I’m not lazy, I just have other AP’s)? Concepts? How about the speed in which the class will be taught? Oh, and what should I know going into the class, specifics please (don’t say geometry and algebra 2). I want to self-study A LOT before the school year ends and this summer, what books do you guys recommend?! I’m even going to ask my current Honors Algebra 2 teacher (maybe even a pre-cal teacher at my school too) for early help. I need to know A.S.A.P. Thank you to all!</p>
<p>You’re overthinking this. Structurally it’s not much different from Algebra II, but the stuff you learn is more advanced.</p>
<p><em>Generally:</em>
So my class is known for being incredibly difficult: tests are basically made so you can barely finish. The average grade is probably a low B. I tend to get grades all over the place, but averaging a B for this semester. Four or so kids have dropped out of my period alone (they have non-honors options scheduled the same period to catch the drops). If a different teacher was teaching, I think grades would be significantly higher, to be honest.
However, the material is not difficult. I’m taking it as a sophomore this year, and believe me, if you’re intelligent and able to apply problem solving skills, you will be fine. However, if you have had issues with proofs, you might find you’ll have some trouble (there is at least one chapter on verifications, which are basically proofs). I’m using the Blitzer book, which is very good and clear.
<em>As for specifics:</em>
There are a lot of trigonometric properties regarding sines, cosines, tangents, cotangents, secants, and cosecants that you will probably be expected to memorize and apply. Google Unit Circle, you’ll probably be expected to memorize that. There a lot of applications of Algebra II in problem solving. Also, we’ll be doing matrices and conics.
<em>Speed and homework:</em>
We are on chapter five right now, which makes out to be a little more than a chapter a month. We did, however, skip chapter P, and the non-honors is finishing up ch three or starting four right now.
Homework is every night, on average about 15-30 problems. Sometimes more, sometimes less. We don’t do every one in the book, normally, though for the first lesson on verifying, we did. Oh, and verifying is when you are given an equation with two different sides and you are asked to make on side match the other using properties and what not.
Some lessons take two days, while others don’t take up a whole period. Takes me anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the lesson. Again, verifying can take ages (sorry there are so many mentions, that’s the hardest and longest thing so far, and that’s what we’re doing now XD).
I think this covers everything. If you have any other questions, you can PM me.</p>
<p>Hmmmm… “verifying” or whatever wasn’t even in my precal book. Precal is really easy, its basically advanced algebra 2 + advanced trig. You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Thank you Louie412, that was extremely helpful! Thank you everyone for commenting.</p>
<p>All Honors math classes are pretty much the same - they just build upon one another. It isn’t as though Algebra II Honors has more homework than Geometry or vice versa - so just anticipate a similar experience to that which you had in your prior honors math course. </p>
<p>Okay, good to know. In total honesty I do like math; it’s just my brain works differently and when I solve a problem I can get the right answers but sometimes not in the manner in which the teacher taught us, or I just don’t even know how to explain it. I learn math better by myself and/or in quiet environments, which is why I like honors (usually close to what i like). </p>
<p>The honors precalc class at my school was basically a blowoff. I took it as a junior and got 99% or 100% every single quarter without bonus.</p>
<p>Well my teacher recommended me for regulars because i have bad test anxiety and my grades for tests haven’t been all that good. Also since she knows math is not my “favorite” class. How much should I take her recommendation into consideration? BTW: She was out for 2 and a 1/2 weeks straight because of a medical emergency, so yeah…what do you guys think?</p>
<p>I am a junior taking PreCalc H and I love it! I think it would depend heavily on your teacher though.</p>
<p>Obviously the workload would depend on your teacher. Pre-Calc is just more algebra along with trig and some other stuff. You should really watch out for trig though. That stuff can get kind of crazy.</p>
<p>I took this class in one semester and got an A-. Probably could have gotten an A+ if my teacher was competent but alas she is not. Main point don’t worry about it. </p>