Wolfram Library Archive


Courseware Demos MathSource Technical Notes
All Collections Articles Books Conference Proceedings
Title

Precalculus: Anticipating Calculus Using Mathematica Labs
Authors

Barry Cherkas
Organization: Hunter College, City University of New York
Daniel S. Chess
Organization: Hunter College, City University of New York
Book information

Publisher: Euler Press
Copyright year: 2002
ISBN: 0971634718
Pages: 162
Buy this book
Book cover image
Contents

An Introduction to Mathematica | Solving Linear Equations and Graphing Inequalities in 1D | Solving Polynomial Equations and Inequalities in 1D | Plotting Straight Lines and Circles and Defining Functions | Lines, Parabolas, and Cubics | Plotting and Graphing in 2D | Further Plotting and Graphing in 2D | Finding Turning Points of Polynomials; Optimization Problems | Tangent and Normal Lines to Polynomial Curves | Graphing Rational Functions | Graphing Exponential and Logarithmic Functions | Graphing Basic Trigonometric Functions | Behind the Scenes of the Plot Command | Plotting in the Complex Plane | Index | Appendix
Description

This laboratory manual/textbook complements the topics found in a traditional precalculus course by introducing topics that are generally bypassed in these courses but are effective in anticipating calculus. Topics--such as finding the turning points for polynomials of any degree, finding equations of tangent lines to polynomials, and solving elementary optimization problems--that are generally reserved for treatment in calculus are explored from a precalculus viewpoint. The textbook presumes access to Mathematica and introduces students to a set of Mathematica commands. The Graphing add-on package used with the textbook includes several commands to create mathematically enhanced graphs for functions with singularities and helps clarify for students the location and behavior of functions at points of singularity.
Subject

*Mathematics > Calculus and Analysis > Calculus
Keywords

calculus, precalculus