One of the most memorable things I learned this year from precalc11 was the importance of going to class. I attended the course every day, except for a four day period at the beginning while I was on vacation. Those four missed days really put the emphasis on showing up, in part because the course moves pretty quickly, and so even missing one or two lessons can keep you behind.
The previous one ties into this one as well, as I found that equal in importance to showing up is asking questions. When unsure, ASK QUESTIONS. Asking questions in class is important because it helps clarify doubts, deepens understanding, makes sure you’re actively learning, and can bring up class discussions that benefit everyone. And also, unless the question is something the teacher has already explained, it really can’t hurt to ask a question.
Third is the quadratic formula, I mean it’s just so versatile and useful. The quadratic formula is useful because it gives a straightforward way to solve any quadratic equation, regardless of whether it can be factored easily. It works universally, handling cases where other methods like factoring or completing the square may be annoyingly complicated or I guess even impossible. This method is way more comprehensive, and also simplifies the entirety of solving quadratics. Overall, the quadratic formula is a powerful tool in algebra, making it really important for us to learn, as I’m sure we’ll hear all about again next year in math.
A personal favourite of mine this year was algebraic fractional expressions and equations. Something about all the numbers and variables just made sense in my head. I found that for the equations, cross multiplication was really helpful. I also found the idea of finding a common denominator really straightforward, and it clicked in my head pretty early one so I didn’t have to much trouble with this unit which was really nice.
Finally, one that I can’t say was a personal favourite, but was still INCREDIBLY important was trig. I couldn’t leave trig out in part because it’s just so important. Trigonometry introduces you to trigonometric functions, which are critical for understanding more complex mathematical concepts and their applications. Trig will come back to haunt you no matter what if you decide to move forward in math. Trig will be everywhere and so understanding it is entirely crucial to your success.