Pre-Calculus/Calculus: Pre-Calculus Concepts

You should be very comfortable with concepts from Algebra and Algebra II, such as the following:

• Properties of real numbers, exponents, and radicals
• Factoring
• Finding distance and midpoint
• Symmetry
• Properties of even and odd functions
• Slope and equation of lines
• Transformations of graphs
• Quadratic formula and equations
• Complex numbers
• Conic sections (circles, ellipses, hyperbolas, parabolas)
• Matrices
• Systems of equations and inequalities
• Exponential and logarithmic functions
• Trigonometric functions and inverse trigonometric functions

If you aren't comfortable with these concepts, note that tutorials are available in the Algebra and Algebra II sections of this site.

You should also be comfortable with the following concepts:

Rational functions and functions involving radicals

• Asymptotes: horizontal, vertical, slant
• Graphing techniques for rational functions

Vectors, parametric equations, and polar coordinates

• Components of a vector:
  x-component = rcos(theta)
  y-component = rsin(theta)
• Rectangular <--> polar conversion equations
  x = rcos(theta)
  y = rsin(theta)
  r^2 = x^2 + y^2
  tan(theta) = y/x

Sequences, series, and probability

• Sigma notation
• Arithmetic sequences
• Geometric sequences
• Permutations & combinations