Precalculus

Precalculus
Preparation for the Universidad Tecnológica Paraguay-Taiwan
Cursillo SAE GAONA

My Profile: Gustavo Espínola
• Electronics Engineer, FIUNA, 2019
• +10-year Experience in Mathematics Education
• In SAE since 2013
• Mentoring at OMAPA (Mathematical Olympiads)

Reference Text
Stewart, Redlin, Watson,

“Precalculus – Mathematics for
Calculus”
Syllabus
Ch 01: Fundamentals (Algebra, xy-Plane Geometry basics)

Ch 02: Functions
Ch 03: Polynomial and Rational Functions
Ch 04: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Ch 04.5: Plane Geometry [NEW]
Ch 05: Trigonometric Functions – Unit Circle Approach
Ch 06: Trigonometric Functions – Right Triangle Approach
Ch 07: Analytic Trigonometry (Formulas, Equations)
My Profile
Ch 08 Polar Coordinates and Parametric Functions

Ch 08.5 Intro to 3D Geometry [NEW]
Ch 09 Vectors in 2D and 3D
Ch 10 Systems of Equations and Inequalities (Matrices)
Ch 11 Conic Sections (Parabola, Hyperbola, Ellipse)
Ch 12 Sequences and Series (Arithmetic, Geometric)
Ch 13 Limits: A Preview on Calculus
Evaluation Process
• Part A: Multiple-Choice Questions, without Calculator

40 problems, 120 minutes
• Part B: Oral Interview

A Glimpse to the Exam
Interview Questions – Real-life Applications
Precalculus
Chapter 1 - Fundamentals
Gustavo Espinola
1.1 Real Numbers
• The different types of real numbers were invented to meet specific needs. ℕ = {1, 2, 3,4, 5 … }
Natural numbers are needed for counting, negative numbers for describing ℤ = {… , −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, … }
debt or below-zero temperatures (giving place to the integer (whole)
numbers – positive numbers, negative numbers and the zero), rational (the ellipsis “…” represents “infiniteness, following a pattern”)
numbers for portioning (e.g., half a liter of milk) and irrational numbers for
measuring certain distances, like the diagonal of a square. (Z means “zahlen”, numbers in German)
• Complex numbers (e.g., the imaginary unit i ) are discussed in advance

𝒂
(Chap. 1.6, 8.3) ℚ= 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℤ ^ 𝑏 ≠ 0}
𝒃
• Order (“the rational numbers are the set of Quotients (ratios) of integers,
provided that division by zero is always ruled out (avoided,
• 𝑎 < 𝑏 means “𝑎 is less than 𝑏”
prohibited)”)
• 𝑎 > 𝑏 means “𝑎 is greater than 𝑏”
• 𝑎 ≤ 𝑏 means "𝑎 is less or equal than 𝑏”
• 𝑎 ≥ 𝑏 means “𝑎 is greater or equal than 𝑏”
• 𝑎 ≠ 𝑏 means “𝑎 is NOT equal to 𝑏”

1.1 Real Numbers
NATURAL NUMBERS: also called integer positive numbers
*Divisors and multiples of a number
*Prime numbers
*Composite numbers
*Greatest Common Divisor (GCD)
*Least Common Multiple (LCM)

1.1 Real Numbers
1.1 Real Numbers
1.1 Real Numbers
1.1 Real Numbers
1.1 Real Numbers - Sets
1.1 Real Numbers - Intervals
The symbol ∞ does not stand for a
number. The notation (𝑎; +∞), for
instance, simply indicates that the
interval has no endpoint on the right
but extends infinitely far in the
positive direction.
𝑎≤𝑥≤𝑏
means “x is between the endpoints 𝑎

and 𝑏, which belongs to the set”
𝑎<𝑥<𝑏
means “x is between the endpoints 𝑎

and 𝑏, which DON’T belong to the
set”
1.1 Real Numbers – Open Intervals
𝑎<𝑥<𝑏
means “x is between the endpoints 𝑎 and 𝑏, which DON’T belong to

the set”.
Example: The open interval (0; 1) contains no smallest or largest

number.
We can always find a number closer than zero: 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001,
…
Similarly, we can always find a number closer than one: 0.99, 0.999,
0.9999, …
It depends on how many precision digits we want to use.

1.1 Real Numbers – Absolute value
The absolute value of a number 𝑎,

(denoted / abbreviated by two
vertical bars: |𝑎|) is the distance
from 𝑎 to zero on the real number
line. Distance is always positive or
zero.
1.2 Exponents and Radicals
1.3 Algebraic Expressions
1.4 Rational Expressions
• The domain of an algebraic expression, is

the set of real numbers that the variable is
permitted to have.
• Note the usage of the non-equal (≠)
symbol.
𝑥 = 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 3 puts denominator to zero

(which is forbidden in Mathematics)
THEN
𝑥 ≠ 2 𝐴𝑁𝐷 𝑥 ≠ 3 for the denominator being

non-zero
1.5 Equations
• An equation is a statement that two

mathematical expressions are equal for
some values attributed to the unknowns.
• The values of the unknown that make the
equation true are called solutions or roots
of the equations.
• The process of finding the solutions is called
solving the equation.
• Two equations with exactly the same
solutions are called equivalent equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
Which formula we use and when?
• Discriminant 𝐷 = 𝐵2 − 4𝐴𝐶, to know whether there exists real solutions (D>0), a unique real
solution (D=0) or non-real (imaginary, complex) solutions (D<0).
−𝐵± 𝐵2 −4𝐴𝐶
• Quadratic formula 𝑥 = , to know the exact solutions, regardless of those being
2𝐴
real or complex.
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.5 Equations
1.6 Complex numbers
1.6 Complex numbers
1.6 Complex numbers
1.6 Complex numbers
1.6 Complex numbers
1.6 Complex numbers: Real-Life Application
1.6 Complex numbers
1.6 Complex numbers
1.6 Complex numbers
1.7 Modeling with Equations
• Problems about interest

• Problems about length / area / volume.
• Problems about similar triangles
• Problems about mixtures
• Problems about the time needed to do a job
• Problems about distance / time / rate (speed)
• Problems about mixtures
• If an amount 𝑥 of a substance is dissolved in a solution with final volumen 𝑉, then the concentration
𝑥
𝐶 of the substance is given by 𝐶 = 𝑉
10𝑔
• If 10 g of sugar is disolved in 5 L of wáter, then the sugar concentration is 𝐶 = = 2 𝑔/𝐿.
5𝐿
• Solving a mixture problem usually requires us to analyze the amount 𝑥 of the substance: 𝑥 = 𝐶 ∙ 𝑉
• Note that in many mixture problems the concentration C is exposed as a percentage.

1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
Example: Go to page 84
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
1.8 Inequalities
• Modeling with inequalities
• Find a range (mínimum/maximum) of values…
1.8 Inequalities
1.9 The Coordinate Plane
CAUTION:
1.10 Lines
1.10 Lines
1.10 Lines
1.10 Lines
1.10 Lines
1.11 Solving Equations and Inequalities Graphically
1.12 Modeling Variation
• Distance is directly proportional to speed.
• Time is inversely proportional to speed.
• The energy of a particle is directly proportional to its mass and

to the square of its velocity.
• Pressure is directly proportional to force and inversely

proportional to area.
• The current through a conductor between two points is

directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, and
inversely proportional to the electrical resistance.

Precalculus - Chapter 1 - 2022

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Precalculus - Chapter 1 - 2022

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Preparation for the Universidad Tecnológica Paraguay-Taiwan

Cursillo SAE GAONA

• Electronics Engineer, FIUNA, 2019

• +10-year Experience in Mathematics Education

• In SAE since 2013

• Mentoring at OMAPA (Mathematical Olympiads)

Stewart, Redlin, Watson,

Ch 01: Fundamentals (Algebra, xy-Plane Geometry basics)

Ch 08 Polar Coordinates and Parametric Functions

• Part A: Multiple-Choice Questions, without Calculator

• Part B: Oral Interview

• Complex numbers (e.g., the imaginary unit i ) are discussed in advance

• 𝑎 ≤ 𝑏 means "𝑎 is less or equal than 𝑏”

• 𝑎 ≥ 𝑏 means “𝑎 is greater or equal than 𝑏”

• 𝑎 ≠ 𝑏 means “𝑎 is NOT equal to 𝑏”

NATURAL NUMBERS: also called integer positive numbers

*Divisors and multiples of a number

*Greatest Common Divisor (GCD)

*Least Common Multiple (LCM)

means “x is between the endpoints 𝑎

means “x is between the endpoints 𝑎

means “x is between the endpoints 𝑎 and 𝑏, which DON’T belong to

Example: The open interval (0; 1) contains no smallest or largest

It depends on how many precision digits we want to use.

The absolute value of a number 𝑎,

• The domain of an algebraic expression, is

𝑥 = 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 3 puts denominator to zero

𝑥 ≠ 2 𝐴𝑁𝐷 𝑥 ≠ 3 for the denominator being

• An equation is a statement that two

Which formula we use and when?

• Problems about interest

• Problems about mixtures

• Note that in many mixture problems the concentration C is exposed as a percentage.

• Distance is directly proportional to speed.

• Time is inversely proportional to speed.

• The energy of a particle is directly proportional to its mass and

• Pressure is directly proportional to force and inversely

• The current through a conductor between two points is

You might also like