<p>What's the difference between trig and precal?
At my school, you can't take both; either one or the other.</p>
<p>I just want to know what's the main difference between trig and precal?
And which one would be better to take, in terms of needing to know certain concepts for Calculus?</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Precalc at my school included trig… <em>shrug</em></p>
<p>trig is usually for kids who failed alg 2. obviously pre calc prepares you more for calculus(kinda obvious). Trig should have been completed in geom or alg 2. Don’t you have a school handbook?</p>
<p>In my school, Trig = Precalc.</p>
<p>We use books called “Precalculus with Limits”.</p>
<p>At my school, Honors Algebra II/Trig basically = Precalc. Most kids go from this to AP Calc, though some choose precalc (even if then it would just be a repeat course).</p>
<p>You need to be strong in both algebra and trig for calc. So, if you’re strong in algebra but weak in trig, take trig. If you need to improve both areas, take precalc.</p>
<p>I think.</p>
<p>@collegebound, at my old high school topics from trig are not all in geometry…mainly the useful ones -.-</p>
<p>topics in trig NOT in geometry are like the analysis of TRIG functions, solving identities, various keystone formulas like the half angle/double…etc. (all of which you need for calculus)</p>
<p>I would bet on it thats not taught in algebra 2 as well (and if they do, the class is titled incorrectly)</p>
<p>only class to learn it correctly is in a TRIG class or precalc class.</p>
<p>i dont ever see a high school kid take geo -> algebra 2 -> calc
but maybe they let you</p>
<p>If it’s a real trig class, take that. I took non-honors Math Analysis (which supposedly includes precalc and trig), and I wasn’t taught anything. I took Calc BC last year and it was still pretty easy though. The only problem I ever had was the occasional spot of trig. It was manageable, but the only identity I know (aside from the definitions) is the pythagorean identity. Actually knowing trig would be useful.</p>
<p>There’s no trig class here. Trig is introduced in geometry, covered a little bit in algebra II, and then covered more in depth in precalculus.</p>
<p>^Same here, excluding Algebra 2. In geometry they teach you sohcahtoa and you work with degrees. In Math Analysis you’re supposed to learn the unit circle and working with radians.</p>
<p>Lol at my school. This is the hardest math course load possible:
9th grade - Algebra II
10th grade - Geometry (includes sohcahtoa with a calculator)
11th grade - Pre-Calc (trig and some other stuff)
12th grade - AP Calc</p>
<p>I realize this isn’t too odd, but the school I attend has this superiority complex over the surrounding publics (which have AP Comp, Stats). Supposedly, this place is for the best students. Maybe if you define best as “can afford tuition”. A bunch of kids have to retake Geometry and Algebra II that they learned in middle school because the school won’t accommodate a higher math track.</p>
<p>the hardest math courses at my school are
9-Honors Geometry, since ppl can take Algebra in eight grade
10-H Alg.II & H. Pre-Calc
11-AP Calc AB
12-AP Calc BC</p>
<p>…and trig isn’t even an honors course, why wouldn’t my school do that? I would guess AlgII or Pre-calc satisfies what the trig class teaches you?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>We have the exact same thing, just flip Geometry and Algebra II</p>
<p>rsala-as weird as it seems, my school does do it that way with geometry being the advanced freshman course. we can take a pre-calc class but most people can skip out of it.</p>
<p>^^^^bluewind why would you take AB and then BC? BC is just a repeat of AB+ C(another variable i believe).</p>
<p>C is basically Infinite Series, Euler’s Method, L’Hopital’s rule, and a few other choice topics, most of which can be learned very quickly.</p>
<p>At some schools, I think AB and BC are consecutive classes, BC only covering the stuff that is not in AB.</p>
<p>For us, there are 2 or 3 Trig chapters in the Pre-Calc book.
It goes,
Alg I.
Geometry
Algebra II
Pre-Calc
AP Calc AB</p>
<p>They also have Advanced Math Topic (an easier version of pre-calc), Prob & Stat (a complete joke) and AP Stat.</p>