Pre-Calculus B

Note: This class is offered as both a Classic course and Honors course. Honors Math is for highly engaged students who like to think deeply and challenge themselves. Honors students will engage with a weekly project, reading, problem of the week, or research topic that will help them dive deeper into the subject and think more critically. These weekly WAM also provides students with an opportunity to explain their deep thinking and push past procedural math to a more complete, conceptual understanding.

Why This Class

Calculus is known as a uniquely challenging field of mathematics, and with good reason: it’s used to predict complex changes in industries from global finance to particle physics. This course uses trigonometry as a “sandbox” where your student can learn the principles of calculus before they take on the real thing in college—and level-up their thinking skills in the process.

Mentors in this course help students explore the non-functional relationships that explain and predict tides, planetary orbits, and other complex multi-variable interactions. Students also study matrices, statistics, and even get to dabble in some pure calculus—the branch of mathematics which enabled human beings to fly to the moon and back. In the live version of this course, students study the classic texts that defined and shaped these revolutionary mathematical ideas.

By completing this course, students become more conscious than ever of how math shapes their world every day. They are fully prepared to tackle calculus and other advanced math challenges in their post-secondary studies and beyond.

Overarching Questions

How can I derive the equations of conic sections?

How are matrices used to design and animate cartoon characters?

How can I use statistics to describe and understand my world?

What do Newton’s axioms and laws of motion say about forces?

How can I find the limits of advanced functions?

Readings for Live Course

The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy by Isaac Newton

This course requires a Scientific or Graphing Calculator. Please see the book list in SIS for details.

Course Details

Recommended Grade: 12th (Senior)

Prerequisites: Pre-Calculus A

Estimated Weekly Hours: 7

Format: Live, self-paced, independent

Credits: 0.5

Please contact our Customer Support Team at support@williamsburglearning.com if you have questions.
Please note that program and course descriptions, as well as reading and materials lists, are subject to change as we continuously improve our curriculum throughout the year. Book and materials lists for the upcoming school year are published in SIS mid to late June. Some courses require subscriptions e.g., Adobe software or online magazines that may not be covered by partner schools.