Week {17} – Precalculus 11 – {sin law}

My biggest mistake of the week was not using the right side of sin law because i would forget to flip it around when i was loonking for a or Sin A. Once i fixed this mistake I had no problems with Sin Law. The steps to complete Sin law are the following:

Step 1: name each side of the triangle by finding the opposite side of each angle and naming it the lower case version of itself.

Step 2: fill in the blank for the Sin Law formula: Sin A/a=Sin B/b=Sin C/c

Step 3: with the two equations that have information on them, solve for A, B or C

Ex:

Week {14} – Precalculus 11 – {Solving rational equations}

My biggest problem this week in solving rational equations was not making both denominators equal the same thing so that i could get rid of the denominator. Once i started doing this it made solving equations so much easier to understand. The steps to solve rational equations are the following:

Step 1: Make both sides have the same denominators by cross multiplying or using a different method of choice. Once you have done this the denominator can be removed.

Step 2: Solve for x (If the expression is a trinomial then you need to factor)

Ex:

 

Week {12} – Precalculus 11 – {Simplifying Rational Expressions}

My biggest mistake this week with Simplifying Rational Expressions was thinking that i could simplify it by dividing like terms without factoring the expression. Once i learned that you need to factor the expression before simplifying it made it a lot easier. the steps to Simplifying Rational Expressions are the following:

Step 1: Factor both sides of the expression to the most that you can

Step 2: The factors that are the same cancel out and you are left with a final answer

step 3: find the non permissable values

note: If the factors are different in terms of addition or subtraction (x-1/1-x) then you can not cancel them out yet.

ex:

Week {11} – Precalculus 11 – {Inequalities}

My biggest mistake of the week was thinking that inequalities show the equation on the graph instead of the range for things, one i realised how to actually do it it was a lot easier. the steps for how to find the inqeualities are the following

  • Step 1: simplify the inequality so that it is in vertex form
  • Step 2: choose a test point and determine whether is will be true or false
  • Step 3: insert this test point into the original equation and determine whether it is true or false
  • step 4: depending on whether it is true or false, shade the inside or the outside of the parabola

ex:

Week {10} – Precalculus 11 – {How to find the vertex}

One of the biggest mistakes i made this week was trying to find the vertex by counting the places on a graph. After i realised the correct way to do it it was a lot easier. the steps to find the vertex are the following:

step1: Find the zeros in the equation

Step 2: Find the average between these two zeros, this will be your x value

Step 3: with this X factor, input it into the original equation to find the Y factor

you can also do this by completing the square and the values are directly present

ex:

Week {9} – Precalculus 11 – {substitution}

As we were doing corrctions for our unit 3 test this week I had a lightbulb moment on how to proprly use substitution. Before when i used substitution i would factor it and then when it came time to put the original part back, i did not input it correctly. These are the following steps to make sure I do it properly:

Step 1: Substitute the term for X whenever you see the term in the equation

Step 2: Factor this with the substitute

Step 3: substitute the original term back in to get the final answer

Ex:

Week {7} – Precalculus 11 – {Factoring by using the box}

My biggest mistake this week was not using the box to factor things with bigger coefficients. Once i started using the box correctly i understood a lot more of the questions.

The steps to factor by the box are the following:

Step 1: Place the first term in the top left box (2×2) and the last term in the bottom (13)

Step 2: Find the product of the two numbers

Step 3: Find two numbers that multiply to the product but add to the middle term of the original equation (15x) and add them to the missing spots in the box

Step 4: Fill in the outside numbers on the box

Ex:

Week {6} – Precalculus 11 – {factoring}

My biggest mistake this week in factoring was not using the factor 123 method to help me remember how to factor. Once I realised that i needed to use factor 123 my questions started making a lot more sense

Factor 123 is the following

  1. Is there one this in common? if there is divide it out
  2. Are there two terms? Are there difference of squares?
  3. are there three terms?
  • does it have the pattern x2-x-#
  • check the product and sum

ex:

Week {5} – Precalculus 11 – {Solving radical Equations for division}

One mistake I made this week with solving radical equations is that at the end I did not simplify my equation so I kept getting my answers wrong. Once I finally realised i needed to simplify at the end, all my answers started making more sense

The steps are the following for solving radical equations for division:

Step 1: Find the conjugate for the denominator

Step 2: Multiply this conjugate to the denominator and the numerator

Step 3: Simplify where nessisary

 

Week {4} – Precalculus 11 – {adding radicals}

My biggest mistake of the week was thinking that you could add radicals by just adding the radicand and coefficient. My tutor was the one that taught me that you had to find a common radicand to coefficients. The steps to do this are the following

Step 1: Simplify the radical to find a common radicand (If there is one)

Step 2: with all radicals with a common radicand, Add all the coefficients and leave the radicands how they are.

Step 3: Put your answer together

Ex: