Prerequisites for Calculus I (MATH 141)

Knowledge of these topics is generally acquired in high school. Some are reviewed briefly, but if you have forgotten your previous math courses, you may have to study a bit extra. If you do not have a good working knowledge of this background material, consider taking MATH 130, Calculus I With Review.

Algebra

Simplifying
exponents, radicals, logarithms
fractional expressions
Factoring polynomials
Solving equations
Solving inequalities

Functions

Domain and range
Evaluation
     expressions such as f(x+h)
     calculator use
Write one quantity as a function of another
Special functions:
     linear, quadratic, polynomial
     exponential and logarithmic
     trigonometric
Function composition and decomposition
Inverse functions
Graphs
     points in the plane
     graphs of the special functions above
     reading information from graphs
          domain and range
          increasing and decreasing behavior
          maximum and minimum values

Trigonometry

Radian and degree measurement of angles
The unit circle
Definitions of the six trig functions:
     sine, cosine, tangent
     cosecant, secant, cotangent
Graphs
Inverse functions
Basic identities
     Pythagorean identities
     Reciprocal identities

Special Topics

Translating verbal information into math symbols and vice-versa
Rates
Distance formula
Midpoint formula
Exponential growth and decay

Patience and Fortitude

Always useful!

back to calculus 1
back to Margie's home page