Tag Archives: vectors

Precal Files: What’s our Vector, Victor? (+ Parametrics)

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(More files and FAQs here) Because it’s required to watch and/or quote when discussing Vectors:

Ok, so even though we did a lot of talk about vectors at TMC last year, I still haven’t gotten full control of them and taught them in a way that shows how gosh darn handy and “easy” they are. This is the NoteTakerMaker I used this year:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here. With this homework:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here. The year before this, I thought because it was such an “easy” topic, that it would be a good chance for my Honors students to practice reading and understanding math without my “mama birding” it for them, which I think is a skill they need for college. So I made a worksheet that condensed the section from the book into one page:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here.  Then the next day I had them read the actual textbook section on the dot product.  How did it go?  Well, let’s just say I didn’t try it again this year.  Maybe I should incorporate more of it throughout the year rather than just springing it on them?  Anyway, here’s this year’s dot product NTM:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here. Then we did some bearings problems:

Precal files from megcraig.org

Oh, see my neat trick about remembering when to use Law of Cosines? C = if you know two sides and included angle and O = all three sides S = otherwise use Sines!

File here. We were told to teach it both ways (geometrically and component-wise). WARNING WARNING WARNING! Some of these have some ambiguous Law of Sines issues!  That I was completely unaware of when I pulled the questions because the key was also wrong!  It lead to a great discussion the following day when the geometric and component-wise answers didn’t match, but it would have been nice to have some warning, so I’m giving it to you now.

ANYWAY, then it was onto parametric equations.  I used this modified introductory activity:

Precal files from megcraig.org

File here. It was quick and went pretty well,  although I secretly like this introduction that I actually made way back when I was a student teacher, which introduces vector equations and ties it into parametric:

Precal files from megcraig.orgPrecal files from megcraig.orgFile here. and coordinating worksheet:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here.  This is the NTM I used this year:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here. Followed by day two:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here.  Then some applications:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here. For the first part, we watched three different dog jumping videos and tried to guess which velocity/angle matched with each one.  See them here, here, and here (!!!! OMG SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE LAST ONE, it’s the famous corgi flop:

Then it’s time for our study guide:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here. Video key here and here.

Or maybe you’d like to use this one if you focused on vector equations as well as parametric:

Precal files from megcraig.orgFile here.

My Thing
Hey, I haven’t done a “my thing” in a while!  With everyone packing for various conferences and vacations (and soon TMC!), I thought it might a good time to mention  ebags packing cubes:

These are the bestest!  You can fit so much in one bag, then stuff the bags into your suitcase. Everything is neat and organized when you get to your hotel, you can just put the bags directly into the closet or dresser drawers, then you don’t feel like you’re living out of a suitcase all week. I have the red, but I’m really digging this tropical blue, too!

Category: Precal | Tags: , ,