High School Block:

Pre-Calculus 110

Pre-calculus provides foundations for calculus and includes algebra, trigonometry, and functions. Learners will model rational expressions and equations; solve quadratics and systems of equations; apply the understanding of angles to solve problems; analyze graphs of functions. Learners will enact and apply prior knowledge of algebra and geometry, and Pre-Calculus 110 directly builds on concepts in Foundations 110. This course develops preparatory skills for calculus.

Topics include absolute value functions; radical expressions and equations; rational expressions and equations; angles and trigonometric ratios (0°–360°); polynomial factoring; systems of equations; quadratic functions and equations; and linear and quadratic inequalities.

Foundations of Mathematics 110 is recommended prior to enrolling in, or while also enrolled in, Pre-Calculus 110.

CONTEXTS AND CONCEPTS

Synthesis

Strategies

  • Using algorithms, mental procedures, technology/tools, and other strategies
  • Determining appropriate units of measure and precision
  • Using the most efficient strategies
  • Determining the reasonableness of the answer and explaining thinking
  • Verifying solutions with substitution
  • Simplifying
  • Comparing

Processes

  • Deriving mathematical rules and algorithms
  • Using calculators
  • Modeling and using simulations
  • Extrapolation and interpolation
  • Principal square roots, extraneous square roots, numerical and variable radicands
  • Rationalizing denominators
  • CAST rule
  • Working with domain and range
  • Working with linear-quadratic and quadratic equations
  • Working with test points and critical values

Fluency

  • Conversion between formats, representations, and equivalents of numbers
  • Ways to present information/data
  • Similarity
  • Scale
  • Absolute value
  • Conjugates
  • Vertical stretch, horizontal and vertical translation

Communication

  • Using variable terms and constant terms
  • Using coefficients, exponents, powers, and bases
  • Rational expressions
  • Working with inequalities
  • Polynomial expressions
  • Using degrees of terms and degrees of polynomials
  • Using titles, labels for axis, values
  • Non-permissible values
  • Using terms rotation angle, initial and terminal arm, standard position, reference angle, quadrant
  • Introducing terms piecewise function and invariant point, solution region
GRADE 11

Strand: Number

Big Idea: Algebra

Skill Descriptor: Apply understanding of the absolute value of real numbers.

Global Competencies: CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Relate the distance of two real numbers in the form ± 𝑎, 𝑎 ∈ 𝑅 to the absolute value of a (|a|)
  • Determine the absolute values of positive and negative real numbers
  • Solve numerical expressions by determining absolute value
  • Order the absolute values of real numbers in given sets

Skill Descriptor: Solve problems that involve operations on radicals and radical expressions with numerical and variable radicands.

Global Competencies: CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Order radical expressions with numerical radicands in given sets
  • Convert between entire radicals and mixed radicals
  • Simplify radical expressions with numerical or variable radicands (maximum index of 2)
  • Rationalize the denominator of rational expressions with monomial or binomial denominators
  • Relate the conjugate to the difference of squares by demonstrating products as rationalized
  • Identify the values of the variable for which given radical expressions are defined, using equalities and inequalities

Skill Descriptor: Solve radical equations.

Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE

Achievement Indicators:

  • Determine any restrictions on values for the variable in radical equations
  • Determine the roots of radical equations algebraically and verify using technology
  • Verify the values determined in solving radical equations
  • Demonstrate roots that are extraneous by solving radical equations algebraically
  • Model situations using radical equations

Skill Descriptor: Determine equivalent forms of rational expressions.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Demonstrate the non-permissible value(s) for given rational expressions
  • Identify all non-permissible values, including those not found in given simplified expressions, and explain why they still exist
  • Simplify rational expressions
  • Identify and correct errors in simplifications of rational expressions

Skill Descriptor: Perform operations with rational expressions and express in simplified form.

Global Competencies: CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Determine the non-permissible values when performing operations on rational expressions
  • Determine the sum or difference of rational expressions with the same and with different denominators
  • Determine the product or quotient with rational expressions
  • Determine the simplified form of expressions that involve two or more operations

Skill Descriptor: Solve rational equations.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Determine the non-permissible values for the variable in rational equations
  • Determine the solution to rational equations algebraically
  • Explain why values obtained in solving rational equations may not be solutions of the equations
  • Model situations using rational equations

Strand: Shape and Space

Big Idea: Trigonometry

Skill Descriptor: Apply understanding of angles from 0° to 360° in standard position.

Global Competencies: CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Sketch angles in standard position, given the measure of the angles
  • Determine the reference angle for angles in standard position
  • Determine the angles from 0° to 360° that have the same reference angle as given angles
  • Determine the quadrant in which given angles in standard position terminate
  • Draw angles in standard position given any point P (𝑥, 𝑦) on the terminal arm of the angles

Skill Descriptor: Solve problems for angles from 0° to 360° in standard position using the three primary trigonometric ratios.

Global Competencies: CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Determine the distance from the origin to a point 𝑃 (𝑥, 𝑦) on the terminal arm of angles
  • Determine the value of sin 𝜃, cos 𝜃, tan 𝜃, given any point 𝑃 (𝑥, 𝑦) on the terminal arm of angle 𝜃
  • Determine the values of sin 𝜃, cos 𝜃, and tan 𝜃 when they exist and without the use of technology, where 𝜃 = 0°, 90°, 180°, 270° 𝑜𝑟 360°
  • Determine the exact value of the sine, cosine, or tangent of given angles with reference angles 30°, 45° 𝑜𝑟 60°
  • Find the sign of given trigonometric ratios for given angles without the use of technology
  • Solve equations of the form 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑎, 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = 𝑎, tan 𝜃 = 𝑎 for all values of 𝜃, where 𝑎 is a real number
  • Represent trigonometric problems by sketching diagrams
  • Model situations using trigonometric ratios

Strand: Relations and Functions

Big Idea: Algebraic and Graphical Reasoning

Skill Descriptor: Factor polynomial expressions.

Global Competencies: CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Factor given polynomial expressions that require the identification of common factors
  • Determine whether given binomials are factors for given polynomial expressions
  • Factor given quadratic polynomial expressions, including in the forms:

𝑎𝑥2 +𝑏𝑥+𝑐,𝑎≠0

𝑎2𝑥2 −𝑏2𝑦2,𝑎≠0,𝑏≠0

  • Factor given polynomial expressions that have a quadratic pattern, including:

𝑎(𝑓(𝑥))2 +𝑏(𝑓(𝑥))+𝑐,𝑎≠0

𝑎2 (𝑓(𝑥))2 –𝑏2 (𝑔(𝑦))2 ,𝑎≠0,𝑏≠0

Skill Descriptor: Graph and analyze absolute value functions.

Global Competencies: CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Create tables of values for y = |𝑓 (𝑥)|, given tables of values for 𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥)
  • Generalize a rule for writing absolute value functions as piecewise functions
  • Sketch the graph of y = | 𝑓 (𝑥)| showing the process and stating the intercepts, domain, and range
  • Model problems that involve an absolute value function

Skill Descriptor: Solve absolute value equations.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Solve absolute value equations graphically
  • Solve equations with a single absolute value algebraically and verify the solutions
  • Explain why the absolute value equation |𝑓 (𝑥)| < 0 has no solution
  • Determine and correct errors in solutions to absolute value equations

Skill Descriptor: Analyze quadratic functions.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Explain why functions given in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑝)2 + 𝑞 are quadratic functions
  • Compare graphs of sets of functions to generalize a rule about the effect of the parameters 𝑎, 𝑝, and 𝑞
  • Determine the coordinates of the vertex for quadratic functions of the form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥−𝑝)2 +𝑞
  • State the vertex for quadratic functions of the form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑝)2 + 𝑞 as coordinate point (𝑝, 𝑞)
  • Sketch the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑝)2 + 𝑞, and state the vertex, domain and range, direction of opening, axis of symmetry and 𝑥- and 𝑦- intercepts
  • Explain how the values of 𝑎 and 𝑞 may be used to determine whether a quadratic function has zero, one or two 𝑥-intercepts
  • Write quadratic functions in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑝)2 + 𝑞 for given graphs or given sets of characteristics of graphs

Skill Descriptor: Analyze quadratic functions to identify characteristics of the corresponding graph to solve problems.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Explain the process of completing the square and its application
  • Demonstrate the relationship between completing the square and the quadratic formula by deriving the formula
  • Write quadratic functions given in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥−𝑝)2 +𝑞
  • Identify and explain errors in examples of completing the square
  • Sketch the graph and determine the characteristics of quadratic functions, given in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, by changing to vertex form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥−𝑝)2 +𝑞
  • Verify that a quadratic function in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 represents the same function as a given quadratic function in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥−𝑝)2 +𝑞
  • Model given situations with quadratic functions, explaining any assumptions made, to solve problems
  • Solve problems by analyzing given quadratic functions

Skill Descriptor: Solve problems that involve quadratic equations.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Explain the relationship among the roots of a quadratic equation, the zeros of the corresponding quadratic function and the x- intercepts of the graph of the quadratic function by using examples
  • Solve quadratic equations of the form 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 by using strategies that include: determining square roots; factoring; completing the square; applying the quadratic formula; graphing its corresponding function
  • Select methods for solving quadratic equations and justify the choices
  • Explain how the discriminant may be used to determine whether a quadratic equation has two real and distinct roots; two real and equal roots; no real roots
  • Relate the number of zeros to the graph of corresponding quadratic functions
  • Identify and explain errors in solutions to quadratic equations
  • Model problems with quadratic equations

Skill Descriptor: Solve problems that involve systems of linear-quadratic and quadratic equations in two variables.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS, ICE

Achievement Indicators:

  • Model situations using systems of linear-quadratic or quadratic-quadratic equations
  • Determine the solutions of systems of linear-quadratic or quadratic equations graphically with technology
  • Determine and verify the solutions of systems of linear-quadratic or quadratic equations algebraically
  • Explain the contextual meaning of the point(s) of intersection of systems of linear-quadratic or quadratic equations within problems
  • Explain why systems of linear-quadratic or quadratic equations may have zero, one, two or an infinite number of solutions

Skill Descriptor: Solve problems that involve linear and quadratic inequalities in two variables.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Explain how test points can be used to determine the solution region that satisfies an inequality
  • Determine when a solid or dashed line should be used in solutions for inequalities
  • Sketch the graphs of quadratic inequalities
  • Model problems that involve quadratic inequalities

Skill Descriptor: Solve problems that involve quadratic inequalities in one variable.

Global Competencies: CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Determine the solutions and show the process of quadratic inequalities in one variable
  • Model quadratic inequalities in one variable
  • Interpret the solutions within the context of problems that involve quadratic inequalities in one variable