I have studied Algebra 1, 2, and Geometry. I recognize ALL the topics in them still except for two: exponential decay/growth and conic sections. The others need a bit of refreshing (because of the summer).
I’m a freshman and have always been in advanced classes for math and science and my school offers a transition class called Advanced Math- advanced algebra and geometry. I don’t want to waste my time on it if I don’t need exponential decay in precalculus or something. If those are the only things that I don’t know, am I qualified to take precalculus? I mean, I could always learn those topics… Right? I have studied logarithms, limits, and all the topics in algebra one and two. There is the fact that I’ve forgotten everything over the summer, but I’m pretty sure I just need a bit of refreshing.
Sorry if this is redundant. It’s one in the morning and I need to make my course choices ASAP.
It should be fine. At my school, if you get a B- or higher for your final grade in Alg. 2 or Alg. 2 Honors, you’re automatically moved up to Pre-Calc or Pre-Calc Honors. However, because you’re a freshmen, if you’re really unconformable, it should be fine to redo Alg. 2 because you’ll still be going much faster than the average high school student.
I’m currently in honors precalc and I have no idea what conic sections are lol. Did you actually take Geometry, Algebra I and Algebra II classes? Or just self-study them? If you took the classes and didn’t struggle a ton, move on to pre calc!
@Qipsoma they are the possible curves obtained when you intersect a plane with a cone (resulting in either an ellipse or circle, parabola, or hyperbola).
@pointlessness You’ll probably want a refresher, but you should be ready to take pre-calc. Many pre-calc classes I’ve seen are pretty much algebra II with a few more advanced topics (such as polar/spherical coordinates, vectors, matrices and determinants). A few miscellaneous topics shouldn’t be too difficult to catch up on.
If you haven’t already, see if your school requires anything before you take pre-calculus (either having taken algebra I/II or geometry, or a placement test).
@MITer94 Thanks! I think I saw something about conics on my syllabus for this year. None of my classes have ever talked about them before.
And I’ll second what MITer94 said about precalc being a lot like Algebra II. From what I’ve heard/experienced so far, Precalc is largely a review of Algebra II
Ultimately it’s not up to anyone here. Your guidance counselor will know what coursework you need to have in order to be placed in any particular class.
I am a little disconcerted though, that you seem willing to throw away topics you haven’t seen as unimportant in a race to get to the next bigger and better math course. Exponential decay is important topic, not only in Precalc, but in a lot of science coursework you may take down the road. “Recognizing” a topic is not nearly the same thing as having learned it. Being rusty on the details is another, expected, matter. But the way your OP reads, it doesn’t sound as though you’ve internalized a lot of the material, merely checked it off on your way through a course.
Please speak to a guidance counselor about which math course you should be taking.
@bjkmom I actually spent most of the summer reviewing the things I know I needed to know on Khan Academy, thanks. I know what I do know, and by recognize it means that I know that all I need to do is refresh. And no, I’m not after the “bigger and better” math course- I’m just confused. Thank you! I will speak to my counselor.
