Precalculus 2: Polynomials and rational functions

• How to solve problems concerning polynomials or rational functions (illustrated with 160 solved problems) and why these methods work.
• Definition and basic terminology for polynomials: variable, coefficient, degree; a brief repetition about powers with rational exponents, and main power rules.
• Arithmetical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication) on polynomials; the polynomial ring R[x].
• Completing the square for solving second degree equations and plotting parabolas; derivation of the quadratic formula.
• Polynomial division: quotient and remainder; three methods for performing the division: factoring out the dividend, long division, undetermined coefficients.
• Vieta’s formulas for quadratic and cubic polynomials; Binomial Theorem (proof will be given in Precalculus 4) as a special case of Vieta’s formulas.
• The Remainder Theorem and The Factor Theorem with many applications; the proofs, based on the Division Theorem (proven in an article), are presented.
• Ruffini-Horner Scheme for division by monic binomials of degree one, with many examples of applications; the derivation of the method is presented.
• Factoring polynomials, its applications for solving polynomial equations and inequalities, and its importance for Calculus.
• Polynomials as functions: their domain, range, zeros, intervals of monotonicity, and graphs (just rough sketches).
• Behaviour of polynomials near to zero and in both infinities, and why it is important to understand these topics (Taylor polynomials); limits in the infinities.
• Rational functions: their definition, domain, zeros, (y-intercept), intervals of monotonicity, asymptotes (infinite limits), and graphs (just rough sketches).
• Application of factoring polynomials for solving *rational* equations and inequalities, and its importance for Calculus.
• Partial fraction decomposition and its importance for Integral Calculus; some simple examples of integration.
• Derivatives and antiderivatives of polynomials are polynomials; a brief introduction to derivatives.
• Derivatives of rational functions are rational functions; antiderivatives can also involve inverse tangent (arctan) and logarithm.

Who this course is for:

• Students who plan to study Algebra, Calculus or Real Analysis
• High school students curious about university mathematics; the course is intended for purchase by adults for these students
• Everybody who wants to brush up their high school maths and gain a deeper understanding of the subject
• College and university students studying advanced courses, who want to understand all the details (concerning polynomials or rational functions) they might have missed in their earlier education
• Students wanting to learn about polynomials, for example for their College Algebra class.

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