Algebra II
See my DCHS site to download assignments, notes & handouts for Algebra II.
What is Algebra?
In the year 825 AD, a Baghdad mathematician named al-Khowarizmi wrote a book about how to solve equations. At the time, his methods were considered ground-breaking. His book was called "Hidab al-jabr wal-muqubala" which roughly translates into "The Science of Transposition and Cancellation." Today, we teach those same methods to every math student, beginning at about 13 years of age. The word "algebra" is a variant on the word "al-jabr" from the title of the book that started it all.
What will we be studying?
The course Algebra II generally includes the study of matrices, complex numbers, factoring, quadratic functions, rational equations, conic sections, division of polynomials, logarithms, and more. Our study of Algebra II will keep us busy from August till May; it is a chock-full year!
DeSoto County requires all Algebra II classes to follow a pacing guide. You can find it here.
There will be homework each day that we cover new material. This is crucial so that you can practice what you have learned. Math is not a spectator sport -- You must DO it to LEARN it!
Can I use my calculator?
We will use calculators for lots of things, but we will frequently have tests where calculators are not allowed. Graphing calculators are powerful tools that will save you a lot of work and trouble, but unfortunately, they also save you from a lot of learning if used improperly! You will be notified well in advance which tests & quizzes allow calculator use and which do not.
What does algebra have in common with a microwave, a computer, and penicillin?
Although algebra has many practical applications, many of the applications of Algebra II are in high-level design & higher mathematics. This is a VERY abstract course, and you may sometimes feel as though you are learning things that nobody uses. Don't worry! These things do have a use, but you have just not seen enough of the wide world yet to know what all those things are. You may say that you are going to be an actor, musician, chef, writer, carpenter, etc. and that you know all the math you'll ever need. Maybe so, but maybe not! But even if you're right, you can still use the thinking and reasoning skills that algebra helps to sharpen and develop. Don't make the mistake of limiting your education to things you can see a use for. We're all surely glad that the inventors of penicillin , the computer, and the microwave oven didn't limit their work to what seemed useful! (All three of these things were developed by people couldn't see the use for such a product. The microwave and penicillin were developed by people who were looking for something else. Computers were so large that the president of IBM once said he thought there was a market for maybe five computers in the whole world!)