Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

This course has been changed from the previous catalog, the changed field(s) are highlighted in red:

 Course Title:   Precalculus II

 Title Abbreviation:   PRECALCULUS II

 Department:    MATH&

 Course #:    142

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5

 CIP:    270101

 EPC:    n/a

 REV:    2021


 Course Description  

The second course in a two-course sequence for students who intend to take calculus beginning with Math& 151. Topics include right triangle trigonometry and applications, solutions of oblique triangles, unit circle trigonometry and applications, identities, inverse trigonometric functions, solving equations, graphing and modeling, introduction to polar coordinates, complex numbers, vectors and conic sections. Graphing technology required.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: MATH& 141 with a grade of C or higher, or equivalent math placement score.

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Academic Natural Sciences, Quantitative  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
CWU 154
EWU 142
OTHER Meets GUR at 3 BIS
U of W 120
WSU 108
WWU 1TT

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Analyze the relationships between right triangles, circles, and trigonometric functions using radian or degree measurements.
  2. Use trigonometric functions and their inverses to find angles or lengths involving right triangles.
  3. Solve geometric problems using trigonometric relationships including right triangle identities, the Law of Sines, and the Law of Cosines.
  4. Graph and analyze the graphs of trigonometric functions using transformations.
  5. Verify trigonometric identities and use them to solve equations.
  6. Use algebraic and geometric vectors to solve elementary vector problems involving trigonometry.
  7. Identify and graph polar functions and convert between polar and rectangular form.
  8. Analyze and graph conic sections.
  9. Use technology to analyze trigonometric functions and equations.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

Course Contents

  1. Trigonometric Functions
    • Radian and degree measures
    • The unit circle
    • Right triangle trigonometry and applications
    • Solving oblique triangles using the Law of Sines and Law of Cosines
    • Graphs of trigonometric functions.
    • Inverse trigonometric functions and their graphs
    • Applications and modeling including harmonic motion
  2. Analytic Trigonometry
    • Fundamental trigonometric identities
    • Verifying trigonometric identities
    • Sum and Difference formulas
    • Double angle, half angle, and product to sum (optional) formulas
    • Solving trigonometric equations.
  3. Applied Trigonometry
    • Polar coordinates
    • Graphs of polar equations
    • Converting between polar and rectangular forms
    • Polar form of complex numbers (optional)
    • Multiplication and addition of complex numbers in polar form (optional)
    • DeMoivre�s formulas for powers and roots of complex numbers (optional)
    • Vectors in two dimensions
    • Applications using vectors
    • The dot product and applications
    • The cross product (optional)
  4. Other Topics
    • Conic sections
    • Polar form of conics (optional)
    • Rotation of axes (optional)
    • Plane curves and parametric equations (optional)