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Get ahead in pre-calculus

Pre-calculus courses have become increasingly popular with 35 percent of students in the U.S. taking the course in middle or high school. Often, completion of such a course is a prerequisite for calculus and other upper level mathematics courses.

Pre-Calculus For Dummies is an invaluable resource for students enrolled in pre-calculus courses. By presenting the essential topics in a clear and concise manner, the book helps students improve their understanding of pre-calculus and become prepared for upper level math courses.
Provides fundamental information in an approachable manner
Includes fresh example problems
Practical explanations mirror today´s teaching methods
Offers relevant cultural references

Whether used as a classroom aid or as a refresher in preparation for an introductory calculus course, this book is one you´ll want to have on hand to perform your very best.

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Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Pre-Calculus 5

Chapter 1: Pre-Pre-Calculus 7

Chapter 2: Playing with Real Numbers 19

Chapter 3: The Building Blocks of Pre-Calculus Functions 31

Chapter 4: Operating on Functions 49

Chapter 5: Digging Out and Using Roots to Graph Polynomial Functions 69

Chapter 6: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 97

Part 2: The Essentials of Trigonometry 117

Chapter 7: Circling in on Angles 119

Chapter 8: Simplifying the Graphing and Transformation of Trig Functions 149

Chapter 9: Identifying with Trig Identities: The Basics 181

Chapter 10: Advanced Identities: Your Keys to Success 201

Chapter 11: Taking Charge of Oblique Triangles with the Laws of Sines and Cosines 223

Part 3: Analytic Geometry and System Solving 243

Chapter 12: Plane Thinking: Complex Numbers and Polar Coordinates 245

Chapter 13: Creating Conics by Slicing Cones 263

Chapter 14: Streamlining Systems, Managing Variables 295

Chapter 15: Sequences, Series, and Expanding Binomials for the Real World 327

Chapter 16: Onward to Calculus 351

Part 4: The Part of Tens 367

Chapter 17: Ten Polar Graphs 369

Chapter 18: Ten Habits to Adjust before Calculus 375

Index 383

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Mary Jane Sterling aught algebra, business calculus, geometry, and finite mathematics at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois for more than 30 years. She is the author of several For Dummies books, including Algebra Workbook For Dummies, Algebra II For Dummies, and Algebra II Workbook For Dummies.

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