I’m taking precalc algebra next semester at my community college, and I hear it’s a pain (though I took statistics and did well despite people saying the same thing about it). What should I be prepared for coming in, and how do I do well in that class?
Know the trig identities backwards and forwards.
Precalculus hits heavy on transcendental functions (exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, etc.), as well as rational functions. Find a textbook that covers these topics and get ahead. One of the easiest way to do poorly in a class like this is to fall too far behind, so pay attention in class, ask questions, attend office hours. If there’s something that you don’t understand, it’s best to spend the required time to understand it. Don’t neglect the homework, and if you have some extra time and aren’t feeling 100% with some topics, do a handful of practice problems.
Precalculus is a different beast from Statistics altogether, so you may have to approach it from a different angle. At my CC, it was one of the toughest courses non-STEM would take.
Just put a substantial effort into the class, and you’ll do well. If you have to take further math classes, then getting the material in this close cold is the best possible way to prepare for them. Good luck, and feel free to shoot me a message if you need book suggestions or prep help.