MAT 116: Trigonometry
Undergraduate course, Southern Virginia University, 2024
The trigonometric functions: the unit circle, graphs, identities, equations, and triangle applications, as preparation for calculus.
About the course
Trigonometry is a companion to College Algebra that uses the trigonometry chapters of the same textbook. It is the bridge between algebra and calculus: students leave able to move comfortably among angles, the unit circle, graphs, and identities.
Textbook: Algebra and Trigonometry 2e from OpenStax, free online.
Prerequisite: MAT 115: College Algebra (may be taken concurrently).
Syllabus
Helpful resources
- Desmos graphing calculator. Graph sine and cosine with sliders for amplitude, period, and phase shift, and the transformations stop being mysterious.
- Khan Academy: Trigonometry. Extra explanations and practice, especially good for the unit circle.
- Paul’s Online Math Notes. The algebra and trigonometry review is a good summary of what calculus will expect you to know.