The School for the Talented and Gifted
Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center
Dallas Independent School District
Dallas, Texas
Fast Track Math
COURSE SYLLABUS
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Fast Track Math is an accelerated mathematics course that completes both
PreAP Algebra II and PreAP Precalculus in one academic year. The course is
designed to meet the needs of students who desire to accelerate their mathematics
schedule in order to complete an additional advanced mathematics course in their
senior year. The class meets daily.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
Courses: Algebra 1 and Geometry
Skills: Basic computer (keyboard and mouse)
Microsoft Office products
Graphing calculator
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Eric Strong
ROOM NUMBER: 306
PHONE NUMBER (Cell): 972.238.8911
EMAIL: erstrong@dallasisd.org
OFFICE HOURS: 8:25am – 9:10am, Monday to Friday
(Tutoring hours) 4:25pm – 5:10pm Monday, show up by 4:30pm
Other hours available by arrangement.
COURSE OUTLINE
This course consists of the major units listed below. The course topic list in
Appendix A provides a further breakout of this course outline.
PreAP ALGEBRA II (First Semester)
Unit 1: First-Degree Equations and Inequalities
Unit 2: Quadratic, Polynomial, and Radical Equations and Inequalities
Unit 3: Advanced Functions and Relations
Unit 4: Discrete Mathematics
PreAP PRECALCULUS (Second Semester)
Unit 1: Preparing for Precalculus
Unit 2: Functions from a Calculus Perspective
Unit 3: Power, Polynomial, and Rational Functions
Unit 4: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Unit 5: Trigonometric Functions
Unit 6: Trigonometric Identities and Equations
Unit 7: Systems of Equations and Matrices
Unit 8: Conic Sections and Parametric Equations
Unit 9: Vectors
Unit 10: Polar Coordinates and Complex Numbers
Unit 11: Sequences and Series
Unit 12: Limits and Derivatives
Note: This order of topics is not necessary the order as presented in class
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REQUIRED MATERIALS
TEXTBOOKS (provided by Dallas ISD):
Holiday, Luchin, Cuevas, et. al. Texas Algebra 2. Copyright 2007,
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. ISBN-10 0-07-873831-8.
Carter, Cuevas, Day, Malloy, et. al. Texas Precalculus. Copyright 2016, McGrawHill Education, ISBN: 978-0-02-140250-2
SUPPLIES:
 One (1) spiral bound notebook for class notes.
 One (1) standard height, three inch wide, three ring binder, any color
 One (1) black or blue pen
 One (1) red pen
 Two (2) pencils with erasers or one (1) mechanical pencil
 One (1) USB drive
 One (1) Graphing calculator (TI-83/84 is preferred). Calculator will be
provided by the Dallas ISD if requested.
CLASSROOM PHILOSOPHY
The course will be delivered in a learning community environment. While the
instructor primarily guides the direction of the learning, we all learn together. Students
are encouraged to:

Work together as often as practical in class.

Question the teacher and each other.

Consult with their classmates when they have an idea or answer to a problem.

To seek help from other and/or from the teacher during tutorial sessions.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Students are required to participate in class, take notes, complete in-class and outof-class assignments, develop, conduct, and report on projects, take quizzes and
tests, and complete final examinations. Students must submit assignments by the
assignment due date/time, unless the student has an excused absence on the due
date. Assignments will not be accepted after the due date for a “late” grade.
Assignments and project reports must conform to the guidelines specified by the
instructor.
METHOD OF PRESENTATION:
The material in this class is presented using lectures, individual and group activities,
demonstrations, web-based learning experiences, and group discussions. Student
participation and interaction with others is expected.
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ATTENDANCE POLICY
The organization of this class assumes the student will attend all class sessions.
New subject material is introduced each class session and is immediately testable.
If the student is absent for a class session, the student remains responsible for the
material covered during the absence and for making arrangements to turn-in any
assignments due and to receive copies of any assignments passed out.
An excused absence does not excuse the student from completing required
assignments nor excuse the student from learning material presented during the
absence.
METHOD OF EVALUATION
The method of evaluation includes notebook checks, classroom participation, inclass, out-of-class, and web-based assignments, hands-on laboratory investigations,
quizzes, tests, projects, and semester final examinations. The spring final
examination is course comprehensive, covering material from both the fall and
spring semesters. The semester final examination counts for 15% of the
semester grade. The remaining 85% of the semester grade is determined by the
average of the three six-week grades. Each six-week grade is composed of three
evaluation components in the following indicated percentages.
Formative Assessments ......................................... 25%
Projects .................................................................. 15%
Formal Evaluations (Tests, quizzes) ....................... 60%
Course evaluation is based upon all assigned work. If you do not submit an
assignment, you will earn a zero for that assignment.
Students must submit assignments by the assignment due date/time. Assignments
will not be accepted after the due date. Assignments not submitted by the due
date/time receive a zero grade. Adjustment to the due date for specific assignments
and for individual students will be made in certain excused absence circumstances.
Excused absence
If your absence is from a class session is excused, the due date is extended by the
number of excused absence days you received between the assignment made and
assignment due dates. Any missed tests or quizzes must be taken before the
extended assignment due date.
Unexcused absences
If your absence is unexcused, you will receive a zero for unsubmitted assignments
and untaken examinations, including any unannounced (pop) quizzes, due or given
during your absence.
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Test and quiz make-up
Make-up examinations are conducted at one sitting during posted office hours, either
before or after school. If you wish to take a test when there is less time remaining in
the posted office hours than time allowed for the test, you will only have the reduced
posted office hours to complete the examination.
If you are absent for any reason, you remain responsible for all material presented
during your absence.
GRADED ASSIGNMENT RETENTION
The student is strongly encouraged to keep all graded materials until they have
verified their final class grade. All requests for correction of an incorrectly recorded
grade must be supported by the presentation of the graded original material.
CLASSROOM RULES, EXPECTATIONS, AND GUIDELINES POLICY
The following are the classroom rules:

The physical, mental, and emotional safety of all students shall not be
compromised.

Students are not permitted to interfere with the learning.

Students must respect themselves and the other students.

A “Professional Workplace” environment is maintained

Food and drink, including bottled water, are not permitted.
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INSTITUTION INFORMATION
TAG MISSION
The mission of The School for the Talented and Gifted is to provide an environment
in which the unique worth, dignity, and abilities of each individual are not only
recognized but cultivated and celebrated as well. We wish to provide an educational
experience that empowers highly capable students to interact with their intellectual
peers in academic, creative, aesthetic, and social endeavors in order to meet the
challenges of today and tomorrow and to become life-long learners, responsible
citizens, and contributors to the betterment of society as a whole in an everchanging world. Our mission is also to take our students and provide them with the
skills and cultivate their talents so they can be accepted to the colleges/universities
of their choice with the money to go there and to be successful at those institutions
of higher learning.
TAG CURRICULUM GOALS
Our curriculum goals adhere to the four categories of gifted education: content,
process, product, and affective development. The four categories are defined as
follows:
 Content: Present content that is related to broad-based issues, themes, or
problems in an interdisciplinary format

Process: Develop critical and higher-level thinking skills in both cognitive and
affective areas.

Product: Develop products that redefine or challenge existing ideas, incorporate
new and innovative ideas, and utilize techniques, materials, forms, and a body of
knowledge in an innovative way.

Affective: Encourage the development of sound relationships, including
tolerance of human differences, respect for the needs and rights of others, and
recognition of the contributions of others.
SYLLABUS CHANGES
The instructor reserves the right to amend this syllabus at any time
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Appendix A: COURSE TOPIC LIST
PreAP ALGEBRA II (First Semester)
Unit 1: First-Degree Equations and Inequalities
A. Equations and Inequalities
B. Linear Relations and Functions
C. Systems of Equations and Inequalities
D. Matrices
Unit 2: Quadratic, Polynomial, and Radical Equations and Inequalities
A. Quadratic Functions and Inequalities
B. Polynomial Functions
C. Radical Equations and Inequalities
Unit 3: Advanced Functions and Relations
A. Rational Expressions and Equations
B. Exponential and Logarithmic Relations
C. Conic Sections
Unit 4: Discrete Mathematics
A. Sequences and Series
B. Probability and Statistics
PreAP PRECALCULUS (Second Semester)
Unit 1: Preparing for Precalculus
A. Sets
B. Operations with Complex Numbers
C. Quadratic Functions and Equations
D. Nth Roots and Real Exponents
E. Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities
F. Matrix Operations
G. Probability with Permutations and Combinations
H. Statistics
Unit 2: Functions from a Calculus Perspective
A. Functions
B. Analyzing Graphs of Functions and Relations
C. Continuity, End Behavior, and Limits
D. Extrema and Average Rates of Change
E. Parent Functions and Transformations
F. Function Operations and Composition of Functions
G. Inverse Relations and Functions
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Unit 3: Power, Polynomial, and Rational Functions
A. Power and Radical Functions
B. Polynomial Functions
C. The Remainder and Factor Theorems
D. Zeros of Polynomial Functions
E. Rational Functions
F. Nonlinear Inequalities
Unit 4: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
A. Exponential Functions
B. Logarithmic Functions
C. Properties of Logarithms
D. Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
E. Modeling with Nonlinear Regression
Unit 5: Trigonometric Functions
A. Right Angle Trigonometry
B. Degrees and Radians
C. Trigonometric Functions on the Unit Circle
D. Graphing Sine and Cosine Functions
E. Graphing Other Trigonometric Functions
F. Inverse Trigonometric Functions
G. The Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines
Unit 6: Trigonometry Identities and Equations
A. Trigonometric Identities
B. Verifying Trigonometric Identities
C. Solving Trigonometric Equations
D. Sum and Difference Identities
E. Multiple-Angle and Product-to-Sum Identities
Unit 7: System of Equations and Matrices
A. Multivariable Linear Systems and Row Operations
B. Matrix Multiplication, Inverses, and Determinants
C. Solving Linear Systems Using Inverses and Cramer’s Rule
D. Partial Fractions
E. Linear Optimization
Unit 8: Conic Sections and Parametric Equations
A. Parabolas
B. Ellipses and Circles
C. Hyperbolas
D. Rotations of Conic Sections
E. Parametric Equations
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Unit 9: Vectors
A. Introduction to Vectors
B. Vectors in the Coordinate Plane
C. Dot Products and Vector Projections
D. Vectors in Three-Dimensional Space
Unit 10: Polar Coordinates and Complex Numbers
A. Polar Coordinates
B. Graphs of Polar Equations
C. Polar and Rectangular Forms of Equations
D. Polar Forms of Conic Sections
E. Complex Numbers and DeMoivre’s Theorem
Unit 11: Sequences and Series
A. Sequences, Series and Sigma Notation
B. Arithmetic Sequences and Series
C. Geometric Sequences and Series
D. Mathematical Inductions
E. The Binomial Theorem
F. Functions as Infinite Series
Unit 12: Limits and Derivatives
A. Estimating Limits Graphically
B. Evaluating Limits Algebraically
C. Tangent Lines and Velocity
D. Derivatives
E. Area Under a Curve and Integration
F. The Fundamental theorem of Calculus
Note: This order of topics is not necessary the order as presented in class.
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