Precalculus Recovery

The Five Core Tips

• Be Confident (and don’t overthink)

• When starting a problem, write what you know

• Move in and out of problems if you get stuck

• Make new problems when studying

  • Variations of study problems, how could this problem change?

• Study all board problems, write down the concepts they reveal

  • Ask questions

Concept thinking

Recognize when and how a simple problem is manipulated (If I already have this side length, which is x, then I can just plug and solve)

Interpret and understand all equations and their components (for example, c being the y-int in a quadratic)

What do you do when reading a problem

annotate both the graph and the words! Associate values with the visuals!

When reading word problems with different variables given than usual…

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter if he gives you the x when he usually gives the length and etc, as long as you write what you know (In this case, the equation), you can just sub in any variables you have and figure out what you’re solving from there!

• Recognize when you have to use certain equations!

• For complicated problems, write first steps how you normally would and then apply the problem

Remember to…

Show work! Vertex, systems (but not matrices), and etc. only use calc for baby steps!

UNDERLINE WORD PROBLEM KEY TERMS, KNOW WHAT SOLVING FOR!

Also look for non-included values, ESPECIALLY during fencing problems! There could be the side of a river, etc.

After you’ve found the vertex…

ensure you’re interpreting both correctly!

(think both the margins incident and other problems where x needs to be plugged in to solve)