262 core topics
+ 32 prerequisite topics taught
as needed · approximately 74 hours of instruction
including spaced review
An adaptive diagnostic (up to
40 questions) places the student on the course's knowledge
graph — topics already known are credited, and instruction begins exactly
at the learning frontier. Every topic is taught with a worked-example
lesson and auto-graded practice; a topic is mastered at
75%+ and then maintained through spaced reviews on an
expanding schedule. A cumulative quiz follows every 6
lessons. Prerequisite gaps below the course are detected and taught rather
than skipped, so completion certifies the whole tower, not just the top.
| Adding & Subtracting Polynomials
[E] |
Combining polynomials by collecting like terms. |
| Multiplying Binomials (FOIL)
[M] |
Expanding products of binomials. |
| Factoring Out the GCF
[M] |
Undoing the distributive property. |
| Factoring Trinomials
[M] |
Reversing FOIL: finding two numbers that multiply to c and add to b. |
| Special Factoring Patterns
[M] |
Difference of squares and perfect-square trinomials. |
| Solving Quadratics by Factoring
[M] |
Zero-product property: if a·b = 0 then a = 0 or b = 0. |
| Solving x² = k
[M] |
Taking square roots of both sides — remembering ±. |
| Completing the Square
[M] |
Turning any quadratic into a perfect square plus a constant. |
| The Quadratic Formula
[H] |
x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a solves any quadratic. |
| The Discriminant
[M] |
b² − 4ac tells you how many real solutions exist. |
| Vertex of a Parabola
[M] |
The turning point at x = −b/2a. |
| Graphs of Quadratics
[M] |
Intercepts and symmetry of a parabola. |
| Quadratic Models
[H] |
Projectile motion and other parabolic models. |
| Product Rule for Exponents
[E] |
Multiplying powers of the same base adds the exponents. |
| Quotient & Power Rules
[E] |
Dividing powers subtracts exponents; a power of a power multiplies them. |
| Zero & Negative Exponents
[M] |
Anything (nonzero) to the 0 power is 1; a negative exponent flips to a reciprocal. |
| Scientific Notation
[M] |
Writing very large or very small numbers as c × 10ⁿ. |
| Simplifying Radicals
[M] |
Pulling perfect-square factors out of a square root. |
| Operations with Radicals
[M] |
Adding like radicals and multiplying square roots. |
| Rational Exponents
[M] |
Fractional exponents are roots: x^(p/q) is the q-th root of x, raised to the p. |
| Radical Equations
[H] |
Isolate the radical, then square both sides. |
| Exponential Growth & Decay
[M] |
Quantities that multiply by the same factor each time step: y = a·bᵗ. |
| Compound Interest
[H] |
Money growing exponentially: A = P(1 + r)ᵗ. |
| Angle Relationships
[E] |
Vertical, complementary, and supplementary angle pairs. |
| Parallel Lines & Transversals
[E] |
Angle pairs formed when a transversal crosses parallel lines. |
| Triangle Angle Sum
[E] |
The three angles of a triangle always add to 180°. |
| The Pythagorean Theorem
[M] |
In a right triangle, a² + b² = c². |
| Distance & Midpoint
[M] |
Measuring segments in the coordinate plane. |
| Similar Triangles
[M] |
Same shape, different size: corresponding sides are proportional. |
| Perimeter & Area
[E] |
Measuring around and inside basic shapes. |
| Circles: Area & Circumference
[M] |
C = 2πr and A = πr². |
| Composite Areas
[H] |
Adding and subtracting simple shapes to measure a complicated one. |
| Volume: Prisms & Cylinders
[M] |
Volume = base area × height. |
| Volume: Cones, Pyramids & Spheres
[M] |
Pointed solids hold one third of the matching prism; spheres use 4/3 πr³. |
| Surface Area
[M] |
The total area of all the faces of a solid. |
| Special Right Triangles
[H] |
The 45-45-90 and 30-60-90 side ratios. |
| Arc Length & Sector Area
[H] |
A central angle takes the same fraction of the circumference and the area. |
| Function Notation & Evaluation
[E] |
Reading f(x) notation and plugging in inputs. |
| Domain & Range
[E] |
Which inputs a function accepts, and which outputs it can produce. |
| Function Composition
[M] |
Feeding one function's output into another: f(g(x)). |
| Inverse Functions
[M] |
The function that undoes f: f⁻¹(b) is the input that f sends to b. |
| Transformations of Functions
[M] |
How f(x − h) + k slides a graph around the plane. |
| Piecewise Functions
[M] |
Functions defined by different rules on different intervals. |
| Absolute Value Equations
[M] |
|x − a| = b splits into two linear equations. |
| Systems by Elimination
[H] |
Adding or subtracting equations to cancel a variable. |
| Nonlinear Systems
[H] |
Where a line meets a parabola: set the two formulas equal. |
| Complex Numbers
[M] |
The imaginary unit i = √(−1) and numbers of the form a + bi. |
| Operations with Complex Numbers
[M] |
Multiplying complex numbers with FOIL and i² = −1. |
| Quadratics with Complex Roots
[H] |
When the discriminant is negative, the roots come in a conjugate pair a ± bi. |
| Polynomial Division
[H] |
Dividing a polynomial by (x − a) with long or synthetic division. |
| Remainder & Factor Theorems
[M] |
The remainder when p(x) is divided by (x − a) is simply p(a). |
| Zeros of Polynomials
[H] |
Finding all the roots of a cubic by factoring it down. |
| End Behavior of Polynomials
[E] |
Far from the origin, only the leading term matters. |
| Simplifying Rational Expressions
[M] |
Factor top and bottom, then cancel the common factor. |
| Operations on Rational Expressions
[H] |
Multiplying and dividing algebraic fractions. |
| Rational Equations
[H] |
Clearing denominators to solve equations with x below the line. |
| Logarithms
[M] |
log_b(x) asks: to what power must b be raised to get x? |
| Properties of Logarithms
[M] |
Logs turn products into sums, quotients into differences, powers into multiples. |
| Exponential & Log Equations
[M] |
Matching bases and rewriting between exponential and log form. |
| Arithmetic Sequences
[M] |
Sequences that grow by a constant difference each step. |
| Geometric Sequences
[M] |
Sequences that grow by a constant ratio each step. |
| Right-Triangle Trigonometry
[M] |
SOH-CAH-TOA: the three trig ratios of an acute angle in a right triangle. |
| Solving for Sides with Trig
[M] |
Using a known angle and one side to find another side. |
| Degrees & Radians
[E] |
Two ways to measure the same angle: 180° equals π radians. |
| The Unit Circle
[M] |
Exact sine, cosine, and tangent values at the special angles. |
| Trig of Any Angle
[H] |
Reference angles plus quadrant signs extend trig beyond 90°. |
| Graphs of Sine & Cosine
[M] |
Reading amplitude, period, and midline from y = a sin(bx) + c. |
| Phase Shifts & Other Trig Graphs
[M] |
Horizontal (phase) shifts of trig graphs, and the period of tangent. |
| The Pythagorean Identity
[M] |
sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 links sine and cosine of the same angle. |
| Basic Trig Identities
[M] |
Quotient, reciprocal, and even-odd identities. |
| Sum & Difference Formulas
[H] |
Expanding sin(A ± B) and cos(A ± B) to reach non-special angles. |
| Double-Angle Formulas
[H] |
sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x and cos 2x = 1 − 2 sin²x. |
| Trig Equations
[H] |
Isolating a trig function and reading solutions off the unit circle. |
| Law of Sines
[H] |
In any triangle, each side over the sine of its opposite angle is constant. |
| Law of Cosines
[H] |
c² = a² + b² − 2ab cos C generalizes the Pythagorean theorem. |
| Inverse Trig Functions
[M] |
arcsin, arccos, and arctan undo the trig functions on restricted ranges. |
| Asymptotes of Rational Functions
[M] |
Where rational functions blow up and where they level off. |
| Graphs of Rational Functions
[M] |
Holes, asymptotes, and intercepts tell the whole story of the graph. |
| Polynomial Inequalities
[M] |
Sign charts: zeros split the number line into test intervals. |
| Vectors: Components & Magnitude
[M] |
A vector is a displacement: components ⟨Δx, Δy⟩ and a length. |
| Vector Operations
[M] |
Scaling, adding, and dotting vectors — all component by component. |
| Parametric Equations
[M] |
Describing a moving point by giving x and y as functions of time. |
| Polar Coordinates
[H] |
Locating points by distance from the origin and angle from the x-axis. |
| Polar Graphs
[M] |
Recognizing circles, lines, and rose curves from polar equations. |
| Circles & Ellipses
[M] |
Reading centers, radii, and intercepts from conic equations. |
| The Binomial Theorem
[H] |
Expanding (x + a)ⁿ without multiplying it out term by term. |
| Sigma Notation & Series
[M] |
Σ compresses a sum: read the limits, add up the terms. |
| Average Rate of Change
[M] |
The slope of the secant line: (f(b) − f(a)) / (b − a). |
| Vector Components from Two Points
[E] |
Head minus tail, coordinate by coordinate. |
| Magnitude of a Vector
[E] |
A vector's length comes straight from the Pythagorean theorem. |
| Adding & Subtracting Vectors
[E] |
Vectors combine component by component — tip-to-tail in coordinates. |
| Scalar Multiples & Combinations
[E] |
A scalar stretches every component; combinations mix scaled vectors. |
| The Dot Product
[M] |
Multiply matching components and add — two vectors in, one number out. |
| Perpendicular Vectors
[M] |
Two vectors are perpendicular exactly when their dot product is zero. |
| Classifying the Angle Between Vectors
[M] |
The sign of the dot product tells acute, right, or obtuse. |
| 2×2 Matrices: Addition & Scalar Multiples
[E] |
Same-shape matrices add entry by entry; a scalar hits every entry. |
| Multiplying a Matrix by a Vector
[M] |
Each output component is a row of the matrix dotted with the vector. |
| 2×2 Matrix Multiplication
[M] |
Row of the left matrix times column of the right, entry by entry. |
| The 2×2 Determinant
[M] |
Down-diagonal product minus up-diagonal product: ad − bc. |
| Determinant as Parallelogram Area
[M] |
The parallelogram on ⟨a, b⟩ and ⟨c, d⟩ has area |ad − bc|. |
| 2×2 Systems as Matrix Equations
[H] |
A pair of linear equations is one matrix equation with one solution. |
| Circle Equations: Center & Radius
[E] |
Read the center and radius straight off (x − h)² + (y − k)² = r². |
| Circle Through a Given Point
[M] |
The radius is the distance from the center to any point on the circle. |
| Circles by Completing the Square
[M] |
Turn x² + y² + Dx + Ey + F = 0 back into center–radius form. |
| Parabolas: Focus & Directrix
[M] |
In x² = 4py the focus sits p above the vertex and the directrix p below. |
| Parabolas with a Shifted Vertex
[M] |
Vertex, focus, and directrix stay p apart no matter where the vertex sits. |
| Ellipses in Standard Form
[E] |
The larger denominator points along the major axis: a² under it, b² under the other. |
| Foci of an Ellipse: c² = a² − b²
[M] |
The foci sit inside the ellipse on the major axis, c² = a² − b² from center. |
| Hyperbolas in Standard Form
[E] |
The positive squared term tells you the axis the two branches open along. |
| Foci of a Hyperbola: c² = a² + b²
[M] |
Hyperbola foci sit beyond the vertices: c² adds a² and b². |
| Asymptotes of a Hyperbola
[M] |
The branches hug the lines y = ±(b/a)x through the center. |
| Eccentricity as an Exact Fraction
[M] |
e = c/a measures shape: below 1 for ellipses, above 1 for hyperbolas. |
| Classifying a Conic from Its Equation
[M] |
Compare the squared terms: their signs and coefficients name the conic. |
| Excluded Values & Domain
[E] |
Factor the denominator to find every input a rational expression forbids. |
| Simplifying Quadratic over Quadratic
[M] |
Factor both trinomials, cancel the shared factor, and read off what's left. |
| Opposite Factors: the −1 Trick
[M] |
a − x and x − a are negatives of each other, so they cancel to −1. |
| Multiplying Rational Expressions
[M] |
Factor every trinomial first, then cancel across the multiplication. |
| Dividing Rational Expressions
[M] |
Flip the second fraction, then factor and cancel like a multiplication. |
| Adding with Unlike Polynomial Denominators
[H] |
Build the common denominator (x + p)(x + q) and combine the numerators. |
| Subtracting Rational Expressions
[H] |
Distribute the minus sign through the entire second numerator. |
| Rational Equations by Cross-Multiplying
[M] |
One fraction equals another: cross-multiply and solve the linear equation. |
| Rational Equations That Turn Quadratic
[H] |
Clearing an x from the denominator leaves a factorable quadratic. |
| Extraneous Solutions
[M] |
A candidate that zeroes an original denominator must be thrown out. |
| Direct Variation
[E] |
y = kx: find the constant from one data point, then predict any other. |
| Inverse Variation
[M] |
y = k/x: the product xy stays constant, so one point predicts the rest. |
| Combined Work-Rate Problems
[H] |
Add the jobs-per-hour rates — 1/a + 1/b = 1/t — and solve for the time. |
| Computing Terms from a Recursive Rule
[E] |
A recursive rule builds each term from the ones before it — step by step. |
| Explicit vs Recursive Definitions
[M] |
The same sequence can be described step-by-step or by a direct formula. |
| From Recursive to Explicit
[M] |
Convert the step rule to a direct formula, then jump straight to term n. |
| Counting Terms of a Sequence
[E] |
Solve a_n = a1 + (n − 1)d for n: divide the total climb by the step size. |
| The Arithmetic Series Formula
[M] |
Sum an arithmetic series as count times the average of the two ends. |
| Solving Inside the Series Formula
[M] |
Run S = n(a1 + an)/2 backwards to recover n, the first, or the last term. |
| Finite Geometric Series
[M] |
Sum a geometric series with Sₙ = a(rⁿ − 1)/(r − 1) — one power, no term list. |
| Evaluating Sigma Notation
[M] |
Read the limits, substitute each index value, and add the results. |
| Writing a Series in Sigma Notation
[M] |
Find the kth-term formula, then set the limits so the ends match. |
| From Sum Formula Back to Terms
[M] |
Subtract consecutive partial sums to recover a single term. |
| Infinite Geometric Series
[M] |
When |r| < 1 the whole endless series adds to exactly a/(1 − r). |
| Repeating Decimals as Fractions
[M] |
A repeating decimal is an infinite geometric series in disguise. |
| Modeling Savings & Loans with Sequences
[H] |
Deposits, payments, and interest are sequences — model them step by step. |
| Adding & Subtracting Complex Numbers
[E] |
Combine real parts and imaginary parts separately. |
| Multiplying Complex Numbers
[M] |
FOIL, then replace i² with −1. |
| Powers of i
[E] |
The powers of i repeat every four steps. |
| Modulus of a Complex Number
[M] |
The distance from the origin: √(a² + b²). |
| Complex Conjugates
[M] |
Flip the sign of i; the product is real. |
| Dividing Complex Numbers
[M] |
Multiply top and bottom by the denominator's conjugate. |
| Polar to Rectangular
[M] |
x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ. |
| Exact Radical Coordinates
[M] |
The 30° and 60° coordinates carry a √3. |
| Rectangular to Polar (r)
[M] |
The radius is the distance to the origin. |
| Reference Angles
[M] |
The acute angle to the nearest x-axis. |
| Exponential ↔ Logarithmic Form
[E] |
Every logarithm is an exponent: b^k = x and log_b(x) = k say the same thing. |
| Evaluating Logarithms Exactly
[E] |
Read log_b(x) as a question: to what power must b be raised to give x? |
| Change of Base
[M] |
log_b(x) = log_c(x)/log_c(b) — rewrite over any convenient common base. |
| Expanding with the Log Laws
[M] |
Products become sums, quotients differences, powers coefficients. |
| Condensing into a Single Logarithm
[M] |
Run the log laws backward: sums into products, coefficients into powers. |
| The Power Law in Detail
[M] |
log_b(x^k) = k·log_b(x) — even when the exponent is a root. |
| Solving Exponential Equations with Logs
[M] |
Take a logarithm of both sides — or match a common base — to free the exponent. |
| Solving Logarithmic Equations
[M] |
Rewrite in exponential form, or combine logs first, then solve for x. |
| Application: the Richter Scale
[M] |
Each whole step up in magnitude is a tenfold jump in amplitude. |
| Application: the pH Scale
[M] |
pH = −log₁₀[H⁺]: a lower pH means an exponentially higher acid concentration. |
| Application: the Decibel Scale
[M] |
Loudness in dB is ten times the base-10 log of the intensity ratio. |
| Application: Doubling Time
[M] |
Repeated doubling is a logarithm base 2: n doublings multiply by 2^n. |
| Synthetic Substitution
[E] |
Horner's method: evaluate a polynomial with only multiplies and adds. |
| Reading the Synthetic-Division Quotient
[M] |
The bottom row of synthetic division is the quotient, then the remainder. |
| Polynomial Long Division
[M] |
Dividing by a quadratic: match leading terms, multiply back, subtract, repeat. |
| The Remainder Theorem
[M] |
The remainder of P(x) ÷ (x − a) is just P(a) — no division required. |
| The Factor Theorem: Finding a Root
[M] |
x = a is a root exactly when (x − a) is a factor, i.e. when P(a) = 0. |
| Testing Whether (x − a) Is a Factor
[M] |
Compute P(a): a zero remainder means (x − a) is a factor. |
| The Rational Root Theorem: Listing Candidates
[M] |
Candidate rational roots are ±(factors of the constant)/(factors of the lead). |
| Finding Integer Roots with the Rational Root Theorem
[M] |
List the candidates, then test them to pin down the actual roots. |
| End Behavior from the Leading Term
[E] |
Degree parity sets whether the ends agree; the lead sign sets the direction. |
| Excluded Values of a Rational Function
[M] |
Every zero of the denominator is barred from the domain. |
| Holes versus Vertical Asymptotes
[M] |
A cancelling factor makes a hole; a leftover denominator factor makes an asymptote. |
| Horizontal Asymptotes by Degree
[M] |
Compare top and bottom degrees to read off the horizontal asymptote. |
| Sine as a Ratio
[E] |
sin of an angle is the opposite side over the hypotenuse. |
| Cosine as a Ratio
[E] |
cos of an angle is the adjacent side over the hypotenuse. |
| Tangent as a Ratio
[E] |
tan of an angle is the opposite side over the adjacent side. |
| Pythagoras, Then the Ratio
[M] |
When only two sides are given, the Pythagorean theorem supplies the third. |
| The Pythagorean Identity
[M] |
sin^2 + cos^2 = 1 turns one ratio into the other. |
| Exact Values at 45 Degrees
[M] |
Half a square: legs equal, hypotenuse sqrt(2) times a leg. |
| Exact Values at 30 and 60 Degrees
[M] |
Half an equilateral triangle gives every 30 and 60 degree value exactly. |
| Coterminal Angles
[E] |
Add or subtract 360 degrees to land on the same terminal ray. |
| Reference Angles
[M] |
The acute angle between the terminal ray and the x-axis. |
| Signs by Quadrant
[M] |
Which of sine and cosine are positive depends on the quadrant. |
| Degrees to Radians
[M] |
Multiply degrees by pi/180 and reduce the fraction of pi. |
| Values at 0, 90, 180, 270
[M] |
On the axes, sine and cosine are always -1, 0, or 1. |
| Recovering tan θ from One Ratio
[M] |
Combine the Pythagorean identity with tan θ = sin θ / cos θ, then let the quadrant fix the sign. |
| Secant & Cosecant from One Ratio
[M] |
Find the missing ratio by the Pythagorean identity, then flip it: sec = 1/cos, csc = 1/sin. |
| Cotangent from One Ratio
[M] |
cot θ = cos θ / sin θ — the quotient identity read the other way up. |
| Exact Values by Decomposition
[H] |
Split an unusual angle into a sum of special angles, then expand. |
| Combining Two Known Angles
[H] |
Given sines of two angles, build sin(A ± B) and cos(A ± B) as exact fractions. |
| Computing sin(2x)
[M] |
sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x — recover the missing factor with its correct sign first. |
| Computing cos(2x)
[M] |
cos 2x = 1 − 2 sin²x = 2 cos²x − 1 — one squared ratio is enough. |
| Identities That Collapse to a Number
[M] |
sec²−tan² = 1, csc²−cot² = 1, and each function times its reciprocal is 1. |
| Simplifying to One Function
[M] |
Rewrite a product or quotient in terms of sine and cosine, then cancel. |
| Counting Solutions on [0°, 360°)
[M] |
Each attainable value of sine or cosine is hit twice per turn — except at the peaks. |
| The Smallest Solution in Degrees
[M] |
Isolate the function, find the reference angle, then take the least angle in range. |
| Verifying the Right Formula
[M] |
Spot the correct expansion and reject the near-miss sign and swap errors. |
| Evaluating Exponential Functions
[E] |
Plug integer inputs into f(x) = a·bˣ — including 0 and negatives. |
| Graphs: y-Intercept & Asymptote
[M] |
y-intercept a, growth when b > 1, decay when 0 < b < 1, floor at y = 0. |
| Evaluating Logarithms
[M] |
log_b(x) asks: to what power must b be raised to get x? |
| Log Laws in Computation
[M] |
Logs turn products into sums, quotients into differences, powers into multiples. |
| Exponentials & Logs as Inverses
[M] |
log_b and b^x undo each other — reflections across the line y = x. |
| Exponential Equations: Same Base
[M] |
Match the bases, then set the exponents equal. |
| Exponential Equations with Logs
[M] |
Take a logarithm of both sides to bring the exponent down. |
| The Natural Base e and ln
[M] |
e ≈ 2.718 is the natural base; ln is log base e, its exact inverse. |
| Exponential Growth & Decay Models
[M] |
Model y = a·bᵗ: multiply the start by the factor once per time step. |
| Continuous Compound Interest
[M] |
Compounding at every instant uses the natural base: A = P·e^(rt). |
| Doubling Time
[M] |
Doubling every T means y = a·2^(t/T) — count the doublings first. |
| Half-Life
[M] |
Half-life is the time to halve once — y = a·(1/2)^(t/H). |
| Solving Logarithmic Equations
[M] |
Rewrite log_b(expr) = k as expr = b^k, then solve. |
| Vertical Asymptotes vs. Holes
[M] |
A cancelling factor makes a hole; a surviving denominator factor makes an asymptote. |
| Horizontal Asymptotes by Degree
[M] |
Compare the top and bottom degrees to read off the horizontal asymptote. |
| Intercepts of Rational Functions
[M] |
x-intercepts come from the numerator's zeros; the y-intercept is f(0). |
| The Coordinates of a Hole
[M] |
Cancel the common factor, then plug the x-value into what remains. |
| Combinations C(n, r)
[M] |
Count unordered selections with C(n, r) = n! / (r!(n − r)!). |
| Permutations P(n, r)
[M] |
Count ordered arrangements with P(n, r) = n! / (n − r)!. |
| Permutation or Combination?
[M] |
Decide whether order matters, then pick P(n, r) or C(n, r). |
| Pascal's Triangle Entries
[M] |
Every Pascal entry is a C(n, k), and each row sums to 2ⁿ. |
| Extracting a Binomial Coefficient
[H] |
One term of (x ± a)ⁿ: C(n, k)·aⁿ⁻ᵏ, with the sign tracked. |
| Finite Arithmetic Series
[M] |
Sum an arithmetic series with S = n(first + last)/2. |
| Finite Geometric Series
[M] |
Sum n geometric terms with S = a(1 − rⁿ)/(1 − r). |
| Evaluating Sigma Notation
[M] |
Read the limits, apply the standard sum formulas, and add. |
| Infinite Geometric Series
[M] |
When |r| < 1 the endless sum converges to a/(1 − r). |
| Amplitude of a Sinusoid
[E] |
Amplitude is |a|, half the vertical distance from crest to trough. |
| Period in Radians: 2π / b
[M] |
In radians the period of a sinusoid is 2π divided by b. |
| Period in Degrees: 360 / b
[E] |
In degrees the period of a sinusoid is 360 divided by b. |
| The Midline y = d
[E] |
The midline is y = d, the horizontal center the wave swings around. |
| Vertical Shift of a Sinusoid
[E] |
Adding d shifts the whole graph up (d > 0) or down (d < 0) by |d|. |
| Phase Shift of a Sinusoid
[M] |
Factor the b out: sin(bx − c) shifts right by c/b, not by c. |
| Period of y = tan(bx)
[M] |
Tangent repeats twice as fast as sine: its period is π / b. |
| Maximum & Minimum Values
[M] |
Max is midline + amplitude; min is midline − amplitude. |
| Amplitude from Max & Min
[M] |
Amplitude is half the gap between the highest and lowest values. |
| Midline from Max & Min
[M] |
The midline sits at the average of the highest and lowest values. |
| Modeling: Finding the Amplitude
[M] |
Turn a periodic phenomenon's high and low into an amplitude. |
| Modeling: Finding the Midline
[M] |
The model's midline is the center height or the average of high and low. |
| Modeling: Finding the Period
[M] |
The period is the time for one full cycle of the phenomenon. |
| Evaluating a Parametric Path
[E] |
Plug a value of t into each equation to locate the moving point. |
| Eliminating the Parameter: Lines
[M] |
Solve x = t + b for t, substitute, and read off slope and intercept. |
| Eliminating the Parameter: Parabolas
[M] |
A squared parameter eliminates into a quadratic in x — expand carefully. |
| Eliminating the Parameter: Circles
[M] |
x = a cos t, y = a sin t squares and adds to x² + y² = a². |
| Displacement Along a Parametric Path
[M] |
Displacement in a coordinate is its ending value minus its starting value. |
| Distance Between Two Positions
[M] |
The distance between two positions is √(Δx² + Δy²). |
| Polar to Rectangular: Exact Radicals
[M] |
At 30°, 45°, and 60° one coordinate carries an exact radical. |
| Polar to Rectangular: Whole Coordinates
[M] |
Half the special-angle conversions land on a plain rational coordinate. |
| Rectangular to Polar: the Radius
[M] |
The polar radius is the distance from the origin, √(x² + y²). |
| The Modulus of a Point
[M] |
A point's modulus is its polar radius: √(x² + y²). |
| The Circle r = a
[E] |
When r is a constant, every angle gives the same distance — a circle. |
| The Circle r = a cos θ
[M] |
r = a cos θ is an off-center circle of radius a/2 through the origin. |
| Classifying Polar Graphs
[M] |
Sort r = a, θ = c, r = a cos θ, and r = a cos(nθ) by their shapes. |
| Adding Complex Numbers
[E] |
Combine real parts with real parts and imaginary parts with imaginary parts. |
| Subtracting Complex Numbers
[E] |
Distribute the minus sign, then subtract part by part. |
| Multiplying Complex Numbers
[E] |
FOIL the two binomials, then replace i² with −1 and collect parts. |
| Powers of i
[E] |
Powers of i repeat every four steps: i, −1, −i, 1. |
| Complex Conjugates
[E] |
The conjugate of a + bi keeps the real part and flips the sign of i. |
| The Product (a + bi)(a − bi)
[E] |
A number times its conjugate is always the real value a² + b². |
| Dividing Complex Numbers
[M] |
Multiply top and bottom by the denominator's conjugate to clear the i. |
| The Modulus of a Complex Number
[M] |
The modulus |a + bi| = √(a² + b²) is the point's distance from the origin. |
| Adding 2×2 Matrices
[E] |
Add two matrices of the same size entry by matching entry. |
| Scalar Multiplication of a Matrix
[E] |
Multiply a matrix by a number by scaling every entry. |
| Multiplying 2×2 Matrices
[M] |
Each product entry is a row of A dotted with a column of B. |
| The Determinant of a 2×2 Matrix
[M] |
For [[a, b], [c, d]] the determinant is ad − bc. |
| Solving a 2×2 System with Determinants
[M] |
Cramer's rule reads each variable off a ratio of determinants. |