RU Ready for Some Calculus? - A Precalculus Review -

 Now you can be sure that your AP^® Calculus students have mastered
Precalculus before they even set foot in your classroom. Practice
problems in 21 Precalculus topics that are absolutely free!
 

Are you frustrated that your AP^® Calculus students cannot solve a simple equation, add two fractions, find the domain of a function, or find the value of tan (pi/3) without a calculator? Do you find that when you grade a calculus exam, you are taking more points off for algebra errors than for calculus concepts?

With those thoughts in mind, I have compiled a full precalculus review that covers all aspects of precalculus as it pertains to calculus.  It is called RU Ready?

It uses this premise: You have been given a list of students who will be taking your AP^® Calculus course in the fall. You get them together once in the days before the end of school and talk about the AP^® class they are going to take and you give them this booklet as a summer assignment.

I know that some teachers feel that summer is a time that students should forget about school, but you need to impress upon the students that they are doing this for themselves - to make the transition to calculus an easy and enjoyable one. Students can be as frustrated as you are with their inability to do basic algebra.  In terms of time, it will probably take a grand total of eight hours and if spread out over the summer, it presents no hardship. It has been my experience that mature students have no problem doing this summer work, especially when they realize that it will help them.

In this booklet, I have focused on 21 topics in Precalculus that are important for students to have mastered before entering a calculus course.  These skills are crucial for completing a calculus problem.  I did not include topics from precalculus that rarely show up in a calculus course.  You won't see DeMoivre's theorem here, because Demoivre isn't used in an AP^® calculus course. There is no extra fluff  - everything is important.

My hope is that once you use this booklet as a precursor to your AP^® calculus course, your students' AP^® exam scores will go up for two reasons. First, students will have mastered the precalculus concepts and second, you no longer have to take time out of the calculus lesson to review along the way. Those precious minutes add up.

New! We have now added our popular Test Your Strength series to preacalculus. Students take this diagnostic test at the end of precalculus or during the summer and are provided a detailed analysis of the areas in which they are strong and need help. Used with RU Ready?, students will walk into AP calculus with a knowledge that they know all the prerequisute areas cold.  If you want more detailed information on Test Your Strength, click here.

There are three download versions of RU Ready? They are also available in flashdrive versions so you don't have to download anything.

1.  Student version (FREE of charge). This material is written for students and is easy to follow. Every one of the 21 topics is thoroughly explained. Additionally, 12 - 20 example problems are given with complete solutions for the student.  On the reverse side of the page, there are 12 - 15 problems (without answers) for students to do. 

2.  Solution version ($27.95 / 33.95 plus shipping).  This version is the same as the student version, but the problems on the back side of all pages are solved in detail. Also, you get two 25-question multiple-choice "tests" which will help determine if students really have mastered the topics. You might consider giving these tests as an assignment the first weekend of the course. In addition to these two tests, I have provided a third and fourth test with a combination of problems from tests 1 and 2, scrambled. Of course, all tests have solutions as well.

3. Solution version with Test Your Strength (39.95 / 45.95 plus shipping). This is the same solution version as above but you also get the solution version of Test Your Strength Precalc. This option allows you to assess student strength and weakness and immediately give them the resources to quickly work on these weaknesses,

To get an in-depth idea of the format of RU Ready?, I recommend you download the student versions below. Feel free to make copies and give any or all of them to your students.

OPTIONS
 

    * Flash Drive orders will be mailed within 1 to 2 days

FREE DOWNLOADS

                Free downloads of Test Your Strength

OPTIONS

    * Flash Drive orders will be mailed within 1 to 2 days

PURCHASE ORDERS

We will accept purchase orders. Secure a P.O. from your school, complete the information as to what you wish to order, and email us and we will give you instructions for where to send it. Upon receipt, we will immediately send you your material.

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