Precalculus: An Investigation of Functions

David Lippman and Melonie Rasmussen

Precalculus: An Investigation of Functions is a free, open textbook covering a two-quarter pre-calculus sequence including trigonometry. The first portion of the book is an investigation of functions, exploring the graphical behavior of, interpretation of, and solutions to problems involving linear, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. An emphasis is placed on modeling and interpretation, as well as the important characteristics needed in calculus.

The second portion of the book introduces trigonometry. Trig is introduced through an integrated circle/triangle approach. Identities are introduced in the first chapter, and revisited throughout. Likewise, solving is introduced in the second chapter and revisted more extensively in the third chapter. As with the first part of the book, an emphasis is placed on motivating the concepts and on modeling and interpretation.

In addition to the paper homework sets, algorithmetically generated online homework is available as part of a complete course shell package, which also includes a sample syllabus, teacher notes with lecture examples, sample quizzes and exams, printable classwork sheets and handouts, and chapter review problems. If you teach in Washington State, you can find the course shell in the WAMAP.org template course list. For those located elsewhere, you can access the course shell at MyOpenMath.com. A self-study version of the online course exercises is also available on MyOpenMath.com for students wanting to learn the material on their own, or who need a refresher.

The whole book or individual chapters are available for download below, or you can order a bound printed copy from CreateSpace.com or Lulu.com. If you are providing a link to students or a bookstore to purchase printed copies of the book, please direct them to this page. If you are an instructor and are using this book with your class, please drop us an email so we can track use and keep you updated with changes.

Errata (errors in the 1st edition). Many of these errors have been corrected in Edition 1.5.

Note: On July 3, 2015, Edition 1.5 was released. The links below point to this, the most current version. This edition is page number and problem set number equivalent to Edition 1.0 - 1.4; it features error and typo corrections.