What is a standard precalculus syllabus?

manpreet Best Answer 3 years ago

I'm about to start teaching a calculus I class next week and I was wondering what I can expect from my students. I'm a Brit teaching in the US so I am unfamiliar with the system.

I am hoping that they can:

1) Factor simple quadratic (cubic?) polynomials, complete the square, use the quadratic formula and know the difference between squares factorization.

2) Know the basic trig functions and their elementary definition (e.g. sin = opposite/hypotenuse)

3) Have some grasp of the notion of a function.

Is this a reasonable collection of expectations?

Oh and I plan to use this to construct a self-diagnostic review quiz to give the kids.

Later additions:

4) Laws of logarithms and of exponentials.