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Trigonometry/Advanced Math

Course Description

This course explores the fundamental principles of trigonometry, focusing on the relationships between the angles and sides of triangles. Students will learn to apply trigonometric functions—such as sine, cosine, and tangent—to solve problems involving right and oblique triangles. The course will also cover the unit circle, trigonometric identities, graphing of trigonometric functions, and the applications of trigonometry in real-world contexts such as physics, engineering, and navigation.

Course Big Ideas

  • Understand and use trigonometric ratios and identities.
  • Solve both right and non-right triangles using the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines.
  • Analyze the graphs of trigonometric functions and understand their periodic nature.
  • Understand advanced topics, such as the polar coordinate system and conic sections.
     

Course Essential Questions

  • What are the relationships between the sides and angles of a triangle, and how can these relationships be used to solve real-world problems?
  • What is the significance of the unit circle, and how does it help in understanding the behavior of trigonometric functions?
  • How can trigonometric identities simplify complex expressions, and how are they used to solve trigonometric equations?
  • In what ways can trigonometry be extended beyond triangles, such as in the study of waves, complex numbers, and polar coordinates?
     

Course Competencies

  • Demonstrate the ability to identify and define the six trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant, and cotangent) and apply them to solve problems in right triangles.
  • Identify key angles in both degrees and radians and use the unit circle to compute the values of trigonometric functions.
  • Analyze the key features of the graphs of trigonometric functions, including amplitude, period, phase shift, and vertical shift.
  • Apply transformations (shifts, stretches, reflections) to the graphs of trigonometric functions.
  • Simplify trigonometric expressions using identities.
  • Use the Law of Sines and Law of Cosines to solve for missing sides and angles in triangles, particularly when the triangle is oblique (not a right triangle).
  • Extend trigonometric principles to complex numbers, polar coordinates, and vector analysis.
     

Course Assessments

  • Unit Quizzes
  • Unit Tests
  • Informal assessments through warm-ups and exit tickets
  • Informal check of daily assignments
  • Course Final Exam
     

Course Units