Algebra 2 Review/Preview, Session 2

Schedule: We will meet for two weeks, five days a week, 1.5 hours per day. (15 hours total.)

Format: An intro course to prep for a semester of algebra 2, with lecture to cover concepts, and lots of class interaction and individual practice. We will learn concepts and practice them to attain the mastery we can in a short time, in preparation for a longer, graded course during a school year. No grading; homework is optional.

Cost: $275 per person for a group class of 4 or more students; $935 for one-on-one tutoring.

Payment options: Payments can be made via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, cash, or check.

Materials: Paper, pencil, and a graphing calculator like a TI-84, TI-89, HP Prime, or Casio is recommended. No text. We’ll use free worksheets on the Internet for homework and supplements.

For more details or to schedule a class, contact Michael by email at michaelgold@goldams.com or by phone at 281-770-2276.

Class Description.

We will learn some algebra 2 — a “doorway” into later math and science — and will work to develop a real understanding of math.

We will have a mix of lecture, Q&A, and in-class work. We will have some interactive lecture in which students practice concepts and techniques as we go. Everyone will get a chance to ask and answer questions, get feedback, and check their understanding.

You will get some class notes posted everyday on Outschool (you will need to take some of your own notes!), some optional extra reading for understanding, and lots of optional practice work. All classes on Outschool are recorded, so you can watch ones you might have to miss and watch class over again to take notes or review.

Prerequisites: algebra 1 and geometry.

Topics covered:

1. Quadratics and Completing the Square
2. Long Division and Synthetic Division of Polynomials
3. Polynomial Remainder and Factor Theorems
4. The Conic Sections
5. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
6. Sequences and Series

Tentative schedule
Week 1
Day 1: quadratics and the discriminant; completing the square
Day 2: polynomials: long division and synthetic division; solving and graphing
Day 3: polynomials: remainder and factor theorems; solving and graphing
Day 4: conic sections: the circle and the ellipse
Day 5: conic sections: the parabola and the hyperbola

Week 2
Day 6: exponential and logarithmic functions; inverse functions
Day 7: properties of logs; exponential and logarithmic functions; equations and graphing
Day 8: applications of exponentials and logarithms
Day 9: sequences and series: arithmetic and geometric; infinite sums
Day 10: systems of nonlinear equations

Learning Goals.
To know how to analyze and graph polynomials.
To understand the conic sections and their equations.
To understand exponential and logarithmic functions and graphs, and their applications.
To know the difference between arithmetic and geometric sequence and series.
To understand some basics of sequences and series.
To understand how algebra 2 is useful to fields like physics, chemistry, and biology.
To learn some logic and thinking skills that will help all through life in all areas of life.

“For the past 2 years, my son has taken a different math class over the summer with Michael Gold just to sharpen up before the upcoming school year, and the payoff has been tremendous. He loves this teacher’s style, is surprisingly riveted during the class, always on time, and absorbs the equivalent of an entire years worth of work in 2 weeks, helping him to breeze through the academic school year with great grades and a real sense of satisfaction. You’re kids might roll their eyes at you at first, but they will thank you if you are lucky enough to grab a spot in one of Michael Gold’s classes. He is fast, clear, to the point and gives real life application examples to make math make sense. 10 stars if I could.”
–Lia J., parent, about the Outschool class “Summer Algebra 2 Review/Preview, Session 1,” 10 Jul 2021