Blue Springs School
Room #:
District
Pre-AP Calculus
1 credit
2014-2015
Teacher: Laura A Stiles
Plan: 1st hr., 7:25-8:13
School Phone Number:
816.229.3459 EXT 50092
Email: lstiles@bssd.net
Remind: Text - (573)768-8977,
message: @stilespc
Course Description
This course is designed for those students with a strong background in Algebra II and
Geometry. This rapidly paced course will prepare students for the rigors of AP Calculus. It is
designed to go into algebraic and trigonometric concepts in the detail needed for AP Calculus.
One honor point may be earned for successful completion of this full-year course at the end of
the year.
Textbook
Larson, Ron, and Robert P. Hostetler. Precalculus. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
Required Course Materials
 Pencil/Paper
 Notebook dedicated to notes/homework
 Graphing Calculator (TI-83, TI-84, or equivalent)
Grade Scale
A
90% - 100%
B
80% - 89%
C
70% - 79%
D
60% - 69%
F
0% - 59%
Weighted Grading Scale
Grades are calculated using a weighted scale and will adhere to the following categories and
percentages. Percentages are based on overall portion of the final semester grade.
15% - Homework
85% - Tests
Assignments - 15%
Homework will be assigned on a daily basis. It will consist of worksheets and problems assigned out
of the textbook. Worksheet assignments will be due at the beginning of class the next day. Problems
out of the textbook will be kept in a notebook in chronological order and are due at the completion of
each section unless otherwise stated by the teacher. All assignments will be done in pencil on
lined notebook paper. If a student is having trouble keeping up with the assigned work, they will be
required to attend Wildcat Hour until they are back on track.
Late Work: Late work will not be accepted
Make-Up Work: The school/district make-up work policy will be followed.
Tests - 85%
Tests & Quizzes - 75%: Tests and quizzes will be given about every 2 weeks and be worth 50 to
100 points each. 1 retest per semester will be allowed. There will be one or two days of review where
the students will be given time to work on teacher made reviews before the test. Students will have the
entire class period to work on the review and ask questions.
Common Assessments - 10%: One common assessment will be given at the end of each
semester. These common assessments will be our semester final. They will be cumulative,
covering every unit up to that point in the semester.
Honor Point
One honor point will be given at the end of the year with the second semester grade.
ACT
The ACT will be administered on the following dates to all juniors at the expense of the
district.
Administration: Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Make-Up:
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Tutoring:
Students are encouraged to come in at any time during
tutoring hours, 7:00—7:20 am and 2:20—2:45 pm. I will be available
earlier or stay later upon request.
I am looking forward to working with your student in my class. Feel
free to contact me anytime during the year either by e-mail or calling
the school at 816-229-3459, ext 50092.
Teacher Expectations:
 Show respect for your teacher, others around you, and yourself.
 Be on time and bring your supplies/materials daily.
 Work on the assignment in pencil during class once it is assigned up to two minutes
before the bell. I dismiss the class not the bell.
 Students are responsible for getting make-up work and scheduling tests, according to
district policy.
 No food, hats/head coverings, head phones, etc.
 All drink containers must have a lid.
 Cell phones must be turned off and not in use during class.
 All district policies and BSHS guidelines in the student handbook will be adhered to.
Student Expectations:
 Each student should expect the teacher to be prepared to teach by the beginning of
each class.
 Each student may expect the teacher to facilitate success in the class. This includes
lectures that cover each given topic and an honest and timely response to each
student’s questions.
 Each student can expect the teacher to be willing to give as much of her time as is
reasonably necessary—in class or before/after school—to facilitate effective
learning.
 Each student can expect the teacher to behave in a professional manner.
Course Outline/Objectives
 Appendix: Review of Fundamental Concepts of
Algebra
o A1: Real Numbers and Their Properties
o A2: Exponents and Radicals
o A3: Polynomials and Factoring
o A4: Rational Expressions
o Test
o A5: Solving Equations
o A6: Solving Inequalities
o Test
 Unit 1: Functions and Their Graphs
o 1.1: Graphs of Equations
o 1.2: Linear Equations in Two Variables
o 1.3: Functions
o 1.4: Analyzing Graphs of Functions
o Test
o 1.5: A Library of Functions
o 1.6: Shifting, Reflecting, and Stretching
Graphs
o 1.7: Combinations of Functions
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o 1.8: Inverse Functions
o 1.9: Mathematical Modeling
o Test
Unit 2: Polynomial and Rational Functions
o 2.1: Quadratic Functions
o 2.2: Polynomial Functions of Higher
Degree
o 2.3: Polynomial and Synthetic Division
o 2.4: Complex Numbers
o Test
o 2.5: Zeros of Polynomial Functions
o 2.6: Rational Functions
o Test
Unit 3: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
o 3.1: Exponential Functions and Their
Graphs
o 3.2: Logarithmic Functions and Their
Graphs
o 3.3: Properties of Logarithms
o 3.4: Exponential and Logarithmic
Equations
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o 3.5: Exponential and Logarithmic Models
o Test
Unit 4: Trigonometry
o 4.1: Radian and Degree Measure
o 4.2: Trigonometric Functions: The Unit
Circle
o 4.3: Right Triangle Trigonometry
o 4.4: Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle
o Test
Semester 1 Final
o 4.5: Graphs of Sine and Cosine Functions
o 4.6: Graphs of Other Trigonometric
Functions
o 4.7: Inverse Trigonometric Functions
o 4.8: Applications and Models
o Test
Unit 5: Analytic Trigonometry
o 5.1: Using the Fundamental Identities
o 5.2: Verifying Trigonometric Identities
o 5.3: Solving Trigonometric Equations
o Test
o 5.4: Sum and Difference Formulas
o 5.5: Multiple-Angle and Product-to-Sum
Formulas
o Test
Unit 6: Additional Topics in Trigonometry
o 6.1: Law of Sines
o 6.2: Law of Cosines
o Test
o 6.3: Vectors in the Plane
o 6.4: Vectors and Dot Products
o 6.5: Trigonometric Form of a Complex
Number
o Test
Unit 10: Topics in Analytic Geometry
o 10.7: Polar Coordinates
o 10.8: Graphs of Polar Equations
o Test
Unit 9: Sequences, Series, and Probability
o 9.1: Sequences and Series
o 9.2: Arithmetic Sequences and Partial
Sums
o 9.3: Geometric Sequences and Series
o 9.5: The Binomial Theorem
o Test
Limits and an Introduction to Calculus
o Intro to Limits
o Techniques for Evaluating Limits
o The Tangent Line
o Limits at Infinity and Limits of Sequences
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o Area Under a Curve
o Test
Derivatives
o The Derivative and Tangent Line
o Basic Differentiation Rules and Rates of
Change
o Product and Quotient Rules and HigherOrder Derivatives
o The Chain Rule
o Implicit Differentiation
o Test
Semester 2 Final