MATH 1
Precalculus
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Preparation: three years of high school mathematics. Requisite: successful completion of Mathematics Diagnostic Test. Function concept. Linear and polynomial functions and their graphs, applications to optimization. Inverse, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Trigonometric functions. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Where to begin.... S.Y.S. (SAVE YOU SOUL)Calahan has got to be the worst teacher, by far, I've ever had. Her class is RIDICULOUS and extremely PATHETIC. First of all a class being that of 50 minutes, is not enough for this lady to explain how to use basic math in my EVERYDAY LIFE. Like I'm seriously going to use a wave detector while bouncing a ball to detect the waves it makes to find how to draw a freakin sine graph from that. That's the problem with her. She teaches math with examples emphasizing models that can be deferred from everyday life. When it comes to home works, quizzes, and tests, that's what its all about. I spent endless amounts of hours doing my homework online because I didn't know how to solve the problems which were not even based on lectures. Honestly, this class is a waste of time with this teacher. If I would've known better before I took this class, I would've taken it with Greene. I mean seriously,if she's getting so many bad reviews and students were complaining to her inside and outside of class, shouldn't she change her ways of teaching? Her midterms and especially her final are nothing you expect. If a lot of people are failing her class, it totally says a lot about the teacher. This class shouldn't be as hard as she makes it, yet it is.
Where to begin.... S.Y.S. (SAVE YOU SOUL)Calahan has got to be the worst teacher, by far, I've ever had. Her class is RIDICULOUS and extremely PATHETIC. First of all a class being that of 50 minutes, is not enough for this lady to explain how to use basic math in my EVERYDAY LIFE. Like I'm seriously going to use a wave detector while bouncing a ball to detect the waves it makes to find how to draw a freakin sine graph from that. That's the problem with her. She teaches math with examples emphasizing models that can be deferred from everyday life. When it comes to home works, quizzes, and tests, that's what its all about. I spent endless amounts of hours doing my homework online because I didn't know how to solve the problems which were not even based on lectures. Honestly, this class is a waste of time with this teacher. If I would've known better before I took this class, I would've taken it with Greene. I mean seriously,if she's getting so many bad reviews and students were complaining to her inside and outside of class, shouldn't she change her ways of teaching? Her midterms and especially her final are nothing you expect. If a lot of people are failing her class, it totally says a lot about the teacher. This class shouldn't be as hard as she makes it, yet it is.
Most Helpful Review
**** PIC 10A Winter 2012 ***** Homework took FOREVER. Didn't get half of them done. Midterms were a breeze when you reviewed the non-graded exercises. Final was dead awful. So hard, so complicated. Everyone was asking a million questions during the final but it was really just complex and personally I don't know how I could have studied for it much better. Get all your homework done as soon as you can because you will be doing it down to the very last minute. Dr. Cheng himself is so approachable and helpful but lectures were pretty slow at times. If you have a bad TA, go to the other one. I got a B in the class and was disappointed even though I did badly on homework.
**** PIC 10A Winter 2012 ***** Homework took FOREVER. Didn't get half of them done. Midterms were a breeze when you reviewed the non-graded exercises. Final was dead awful. So hard, so complicated. Everyone was asking a million questions during the final but it was really just complex and personally I don't know how I could have studied for it much better. Get all your homework done as soon as you can because you will be doing it down to the very last minute. Dr. Cheng himself is so approachable and helpful but lectures were pretty slow at times. If you have a bad TA, go to the other one. I got a B in the class and was disappointed even though I did badly on homework.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2018 - This class is a good refresher of basics before you take 31A or 31B, so if you want to review easy math in high school and get an A then take this class. There was homework due every Friday, but the questions are easy and basically just a review of what you did in lecture. Discussions are mandatory, but it was only 50 minutes long and it was a good way to go over certain concepts and then after we would just do a worksheet. The midterm was very easy, however, the final was significantly harder. Despite that, there is an extremely generous curve. I did not do well on the final and still got an A in the class which shows how kind the curve is. If you place into this class or want to take it as a math refresh, I highly recommend it as the material is a good stepping stone to calculus and if you do your work it's a GPA booster.
Fall 2018 - This class is a good refresher of basics before you take 31A or 31B, so if you want to review easy math in high school and get an A then take this class. There was homework due every Friday, but the questions are easy and basically just a review of what you did in lecture. Discussions are mandatory, but it was only 50 minutes long and it was a good way to go over certain concepts and then after we would just do a worksheet. The midterm was very easy, however, the final was significantly harder. Despite that, there is an extremely generous curve. I did not do well on the final and still got an A in the class which shows how kind the curve is. If you place into this class or want to take it as a math refresh, I highly recommend it as the material is a good stepping stone to calculus and if you do your work it's a GPA booster.
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Most Helpful Review
Summer 2020 - COVID Edition*** I took this class with FSP. The Peer learning facilitators are amazing. If you come from a disadvantaged school or dont know anything about precalc you will struggle but I promise if you go to OH and schedule 1-to-1 meetings with the plfs you will pass with at least a C. Because of COVID the professor had to go really fast through the lectures which was not convenient but it's manageable. This class will require you to study a lot. Make sure you make study groups. There is two midterms and one final. If you do badly in the first midterm exam you can still pass the class. Professor provides a textbook and he's open to having zoom meetings with you. His writing is a bit sloppy and hard to understand but literally if you ask he will read out loud what it says to you. He wants to help you and so do the PLFs. They are really nice. The exams have about 10-12 questions but multiple parts to it. I recommend reading through the chapters before class to get a jist of what you'll be learning. I HIGHLY recommend asking questions so he can hear your voice. I promise he is the nicest person ever. The plfs are also really kind and have all accommodated to virtual learning appropriately. If you know precalc youll do fine! Goodluck !
Summer 2020 - COVID Edition*** I took this class with FSP. The Peer learning facilitators are amazing. If you come from a disadvantaged school or dont know anything about precalc you will struggle but I promise if you go to OH and schedule 1-to-1 meetings with the plfs you will pass with at least a C. Because of COVID the professor had to go really fast through the lectures which was not convenient but it's manageable. This class will require you to study a lot. Make sure you make study groups. There is two midterms and one final. If you do badly in the first midterm exam you can still pass the class. Professor provides a textbook and he's open to having zoom meetings with you. His writing is a bit sloppy and hard to understand but literally if you ask he will read out loud what it says to you. He wants to help you and so do the PLFs. They are really nice. The exams have about 10-12 questions but multiple parts to it. I recommend reading through the chapters before class to get a jist of what you'll be learning. I HIGHLY recommend asking questions so he can hear your voice. I promise he is the nicest person ever. The plfs are also really kind and have all accommodated to virtual learning appropriately. If you know precalc youll do fine! Goodluck !
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