Questions for the quiz MONDAY

Hi Caitlyn,

I've posted replies to each of your questions below... 

Hey so for the review sheet for the quiz on monday,
For #7 on the answer key, why would it be negative 4 and not positive 4? You do 9 squared + b squared = 5 squared
Remember, your negative/positive indicates direction.  Any time you are moving left or down from the origin, it is a negative number to indicate direction.  Moving up or to the right would indicate a positive direction.
 
For #9, it says cot = -3. When you are labeling your triangle does it mater if its -3 and 1 or -1 and 3? I have my 3 sides as -3, 1, and square root of 10 so my answers are a little different from the answer key.
Remember your first step in any of these problems is to decide what quadrant you will be drawing your bow-tie angle in.  If cot is negative, and cos is positive, you know it has to be in quadrant IV.  Because we're moving to the Right, it has to be a positive 3.  Because we are moving Down, it has to be a negative 1.  Remember, you can always check your positive/negative chart (see the front of homework 4-2) for the signs of your final answers.

#10, Im having trouble finding what the numbers are for the sides of the triangle. I know its going to be in quadrant 2 but thats all I can figure out
Ok, so let's walk through this one.  You are right in that it is in Quadrant II.  That narrows it down to three angles (check your unit circle).  So how do we figure out which one it is?  Sec is the partner to cosine, so if the secent of theta is -2, then cosine is the reciprocal (-1/2).  Remember that cosine equates to your x-value, so which angle has an x-coordinate of -1/2?  That will identify your angle, and now you can use your knowledge of sin = y, cos = x, tan = y/x, and so on. 

#'s 11 and 12 I don't know how to go about solving them, they look very confusing
These two problems are just like we did on Friday in class (and similar to #10).  The only difference is it's telling you that your angle has to be somewhere between pi/2 (90 degrees) and 3pi/2 (270 degrees).  So where is there an angle whose cotangent is undefined (read: zero in the denominator) somewhere between 90 degrees and 270 degrees?  Remember cotangent is x/y!

#14, why would -4 be over 5? 5 is the hypotenuse and tangent is opposite over adjacent
Yes, you are right.  Tangent is opposite over adjacent.  So that gives you the 4/5.  But, it tells you it's in Quadrant IV, and in Quadrant IV, we know that tangent has to be negative!  Remember you need to be able to recreate that pos/neg chart from the front of homework 4-2.
 
and #'s 17-19 I need a short refresher on how to do those kinds of problems.
Ok, again these are just like the problems before, and the ones we did in class on Friday.  Use your unit circle to find an angle whose cotangent is 0.  Remember, cotangent is x/y, so if x/y = zero, that means you have zero in the numerator.  Where do you have angles who have zero as an x-coordinate?  There should be two!  You'll write the angles in degrees in the top blank, and in radians in the bottom blank.
 
THANKS!! :)
Hope that helps!

Studying?

How's the studying going for tomorrow's test?  Any questions can be posted here as a comment, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!  Also, if you have the answer to someone else's question, feel free to post!

Quiz Grades

Quiz grades have been posted in the gradebook.  Have a look and see how you did.  All in all, they look pretty great!  I am very happy with the number of A's and B's in the class!  We will go over the review sheet in class on Wednesday, in preparation for Thursday's test. 

Way to go, and keep it up!

Review Sheet for Tuesday's Quiz

Good Sunday morning, Pre-Calculus classes!  The answer key to the Review Sheet has been uploaded to the Walton pre-calc blog at http://waltonhigh.typepad.com/precalc/.  Be sure to check your answers and if you have questions, post them HERE!!!  Tuesday's quiz will be 50% binomial expansion (make sure you review your homework!) and 50% combinations/permutations...have a great weekend!

Homework for Friday - p.631 - 632

Hi everyone.  Was just working through the homework from Friday night, and see that #33 is not something we've covered in class.  For now, just skip it and go on to the next one!

See you in class on Monday...have you memorized your formulas yet?  Five in all to know!  2nd period, you've only got four to memorize over the weekend, as you'll get #5 in class tomorrow!

Studying?

Alright, guys...how's the studying coming along?  Have you reviewed your last quiz?  ALL of it?  You will see it all again, so make sure you're comfortable with each type of problem!  Do you know how to find the domain of a function?  Do you know how to factor a sum/difference of cubes (SOP and SMS)?  Can you factor a difference of squares?

And how about the geometry...can you find missing angles/side lengths in a triangle?  Are you comfortable with the rules of angle pairs (corresponding, vertical, alternate exterior, etc) and how they relate (congruent, supplementary, etc)?  Can you find missing side lengths in special right triangles (30-60-90 and 45-45-90)?

And then there's the polygons...do you remember how to use your formula sheet to find volume and area?  Do you remember the special rules for each of your quadrilaterals (trapezoids, parallelograms, squares, rhombi)?  And finally, can you recognize the transformations we reviewed (translations, rotations, reflections, etc)?

Good luck with the studying, and I'll see you all tomorrow!

Homework worksheet #2

On #31 is it a 30,60,90 triangle?
We aren't given that it's a 30-60-90 triangle.  Only that it's a right triangle (see the little box in the angle?).  
 
Also how do you set it up?
If you are given two sides of a right triangle and are asked to find the third, what fabulous formula can you use?
 
And homework worksheet #3 #'s 51,52, and 53 what formula do you use to start these problems?  You are asked to find the DISTANCE between points A and B.  You can use that formula, or you could draw on the graph a triangle using AB as the hypotenuse...then you could use our favorite formula from #31 above!  Give it a shot and see how you do!

questions from worksheet#2

What makes an angle an acute scalene, right scalene or if its isosceles? (1-8 on worksheet#2)
There are two classification methods of triangles: by # of congruent sides (scalene = none, isosceles = 2, and equilateral = 3) AND by angle measures (acute = all under 90, right  = 1 angle is 90, or obtuse = 1 is greater than 90).  You need to look at classifying each triangle by both methods!

worksheet#2 problem 5 - how do you find x? I know that the side next to 122 is 58 and equals 180 but what about to solve for the x variable?
Yep you're on the right track.  If you've already found 58, and you know the bottom right angle (what's that symbol mean again?)...can't you find the third angle of the triangle?  HINT:  the sum of all angles in a triangle always has to be _______.

Dont understand how to do #14 (worksheet#2)
Okay, so you have a missing mark here...one of your class posted about this the night before this was due.  You should have three sides marked congruent (two sides in the left triangle are visible, but the bottom side on the right-hand triangle didn't photocopy too well.  See if that gives you a start.  You'll need to find the missing angle measures first, then remember what you learned about the sides opposite base angles.  Give it a go and see how it turns out. 

#20-21 on worksheet 2 why can't you use y2 - y1 over x2 - x1?
Because we're not asking you to find slope.  We're asking if it's possible to make a triangle with those points.  Well, you know how to determine if a triangle is possible if you are given the side lengths.  The only difference here is that you're give the points, but not the lengths.  That's why you need to find the length of the sides first (use the distance formula) and then the problems become just like 17-19 above.
 

#25, #27, #30, #32 and #45 dont understand how to do

#25 and #27 are talking about SIMILAR triangles.  Remember in similar triangles, the side lengths will be in the same proportions (ratios) in each triangle.  So, in #25, the left side to the vertical side (written 25/18) must equal the left side to the vertical side in the right triangle as well (written 16/x).  Set them equal to each other and solve for x.  It's all about setting up proportions and solving for x.

#30 is a right triangle...you're given two sides and are asked to find the third.  This one should be pretty straight forward from there!

#32...DRAW A PICTURE!  In a square, if you draw in a diagonal, you've just formed two right triangles.  Again, if you have two sides of the triangle, how do you find the third?

#45...DRAW A PICTURE!!!  You are given the lengths of all three sides AND the perimeter of the triangle.  Set up an equation, and solve for x.  Give it a go and see how you do.

--all from worksheet #2-- sorry if this is really long. Thank you!
Good questions...keep them coming, and don't forget about tutoring on Monday morning for any last-minute help!

Homework Questions (8/15)

I haven't really done any geometry since freshman year, so I'm having a little bit of trouble with tonight's work. If anyone could help out, that would be really appreciated!

• Question 14 doesn't seem to have enough information for me to answer it. Did something get copied out or is there some way of solving it that I'm not aware of?
• For the triangle inequality questions (#17-19 and #22-24), does it matter which two numbers you add together? For example, in #18, could I add 1 and 3 together, or am I constrained to just the first two numbers listed?
• I'm not really sure how to go about solving 25 and 26. I think ratios are involved, but I have no idea how to set it up.
• I have no idea how to go about solving 27. Are the sides that touch assumed to be congruent? If so, could I assume that the sides labelled "18" and "x-5" are also congruent, since those two angles are marked as being congruent? If that's the case, I can work the problem just fine, but otherwise I don't even know where to start. 

Thanks!

So, did we get the homework in class today? Cause I can't find the worksheet. Or can I come in tomorrow and get it?

summer review packet questions

I dont understand number 52 and 53 on the summer review packet

Weekend studying?

Good Sunday morning, everyone! Just checking in to see how the studying is going for tomorrow's quiz. The blog has been very quiet, so I'm assuming that means there aren't any questions? If you are stuck on a problem, let us know by posting on the blog! Those of you who are already members, you can answer your classmate's questions in addition to posting your own! \ If you're not a member of the blog yet, send Ms. West an e-mail (Jennifer.West@cobbk12.org) so she can send you an invitation. Also, as tomorrow is our first quiz of the year, if you are in Ms. West's 3rd or 5th period classes and are eligible for accommodations via an IEP, 504 or RTI, please be sure to confirm that with Ms. West either via e-mail or in person Monday morning. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll see you all on Monday!

In-Class Review on Friday

Make sure to be in class on time and ready to roll for Friday's in-class review session.  You should have already circled the problems you're having trouble with in your homework.  Make sure to do this BEFORE you come to class, so that we can maximize our review period!  See you on Friday!

Welcome to Ms. West's Pre-Calculus class!

Hi everyone.  I hope you are as excited as I am to kick off a new year at Walton High School!  This year is sure to be exciting as we dive into the world of Pre-Calculus!  Remember to get your Student Information Sheets signed and returned to Ms. West no later than Monday, August 12th.  You will get these in class on Wednesday (8/7).

If you want to sign up for the text message blast system, simply text "@westprecalc" to 678-905-8082. This will ensure you receive important updates for our class!

In addition, to see all the assignments and official documents for our course, please visit the Walton Pre-Calc blog at waltonhigh.typepad.com/precalc.

In the meantime, if you would like to subscribe to this blog, send an e-mail to Ms. West at Jennifer.West@cobbk12.org.  She will send you an official invitation so that you can make postings, and share with the class! 

Welcome Back!

Welcome to Ms. West's Pre-Calculus classes at Walton High School!  Make sure to bookmark this site and check back often!