Seeing discussion about course content for college algebra vs precalculus reminds me that back in the 80s and early 90s when I was finishing up my degrees, those courses were considered to be the same. Textbooks for them were nearly identical except for the covers. (1/n) - ThreadSky

profkinyon.bsky.social • 60 days ago

Seeing discussion about course content for college algebra vs precalculus reminds me that back in the 80s and early 90s when I was finishing up my degrees, those courses were considered to be the same. Textbooks for them were nearly identical except for the covers. (1/n)

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profkinyon.bsky.social•60 days ago

The "precalculus" name eventually became more prominent because it just looks better. Looking at what a lot of places now teach as "college algebra" now is what we taught in so-called "intermediate algebra". I don't see the latter name used much anymore. (2/n)

profkinyon.bsky.social•60 days ago

This isn't a "it was better in the old days" thread, far from it. I just think it's interesting how these things have evolved.

Maybe the class that comes immediately before precalculus should be called pre^2calculus. (It worries me slightly that some people might think I'm serious.) (3/n, n=3)

fibonacci.bsky.social•60 days ago

½calculus² + C

leahwrenn.bsky.social•60 days ago

We have a college algebra course, a precalculus course, a stand-alone trig course, and an intermediate algebra course (which is developmental math and not for baccalaureate credit.). Our precalc class includes some trig as well, but excludes some algebra stuff (e.g., conics).

weaselkidsmom.bsky.social•59 days ago

We have an intermediate algebra (developmental), then precalc 1 and 2 (1 was called College Algebra until about a year ago), and also an applied Algebra and Trig.

cmuirmath.bsky.social•60 days ago

We have an intermediate algebra course (developmental), and a two quarter precalculus sequence, but no college algebra course.

gwenbeads.bsky.social•51 days ago

What I’ve seen is that precalculus includes trig, whereas college algebra doesn’t.

profkinyon.bsky.social•51 days ago

Yeah, that's often the case, but it's not universal.

elviszap.bsky.social•60 days ago

When I was a student (late 1970s) calculators cost too much. To graph a function (plotting pts) was a struggle Calc. was a labor saving devise. Don't plot all points, plot those that matter. Precalc seems to be LEARN A CATALOG OF GRAPHS via applying the Interm. v. thm.
Not sure what is good.

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