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Hi! I'm Mr. Stephenson.

Revised January 31, 2009

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I teach math at Lowell High School in the Lowell Public School District, Lowell, MA, USA.
In academic year 2008-2009 (Fiscal Year 2009), I'll be teaching:
Advanced Math Functions - College
(1421/2)
Algebra II A - College
(1341X)
Do the same thing to
both sides of an equation.
Precalculus - College
(1441/2)
   
Calculus - Honors
(1521/2)

Here are class schedules, assignment sheets, and administrative information:

Sem Period Room Course Name Course # Classword Assignments 1 Assignments 2 Room Plan
S1 1 234 C-Adv Math Functions 1421-002 09s1CAMF 09q1aCAMF 09q2aCAMF 09s1cmp
2 334 C-Precalculus 1441-005 09s1CpreCalc 09q1aCpreCalc 09q2aCpreCalc
3 224 H-Calculus 1521-002 09s1HCalculus 09q1aHCalc 09q2aHCalc
5b 234 C-Precalculus 1441-007 09s1CpreCalc 09q1aCpreCalc 09q2aCpreCalc
7 234 H-Calculus 1521-003 09s1HCalculus 09q1aHCalc 09q2aHCalc
S2 1 234 C-Alg2A 1341X-003
09s2CAlg2A  09q3aCAlg2A  09q4aCAlg2A  09s2cmp
2 334 C-Precalculus 1442-005 09s2CpreCalc 09q3aCpreCalc  09q4aCpreCalc
3 224 H-Calculus 1522-002 09s2HCalculus 09q3aHCalc 09q4aHCalc 
5b 234 C-Precalculus 1442-007 09s2CpreCalc 09q3aCpreCalc 09q4aCpreCalc 
7 234 H-Calculus 1522-003 09s2HCalculus 09q3aHCalc 09q4aHCalc 

 See grades and attendance here: 

 LHS Missed Work Make Up Policy  Absence Policy

Course Links

All

A Straight Line: From Geometry to Algebra   
Derive the equations of a straight line from similar triangles.

Special Lines (Horizontal, Vertical, Perpendicular, Parallel, Identical), Distance, & Midpoint   

Essence of Basic Transformations  

Remainder Theorem, Synthetic Substitution, Synthetic Division  

Inverses: From the Basics  

Precalculus

Blitzer Checkpoint Movies

Calculus

Foliage Trip     
Introduction to Derivatives, Integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.

Lab: The Tangent Line Problem   
Introduction to limits for differentiation.

Lab: The Area Problem   
Introduction to limits for integration.

Larson: p48, Introduction To Limits   

Larson: p49, Example 1, Estimating a Limit Numerically   

Larson: p56, problem 47  

Course Handouts


Graphing Rational Functions  

Other Stuff

You're going to college; so what high school math is really important, what will the colleges expect that you know? How do you prepare for the math placement tests you'll have to take? (If you don't pass the math placement tests, you'll have to take, and pay for, remedial math classes that don't count toward the requirements of your major.)

See Exercises in Math Readiness for University Study.

For a list of useful and interesting math web sites click here. (Updates sporadic.)

Past MCAS tests

Massachusetts Math Framework Learning Standards:

Algebra 1 (pre-requisite for both Geometry and Algebra II)

Geometry

Algebra 2

PreCalculus


4/5/2008: I've just found a wonderful alternative to Geometer's Sketchpad (click image to get it): 

The two main advantages to GeoGebra are: 

  1. it's FREE for everyone; and 
  2. it integrates geometry and algebra, and even some calculus.

My first attempt is All Conics from One Directrix, which I could never get to work in Geometer's Sketchpad, but was easy in GeoGebra.

I intend to use GeoGebra exclusively from now on, and to convert my existing Geometer's Sketchpad constructions to GeoGebra as time permits.

The Tangent Problem

Files:

Conic Sections

Paper Folding and Applications of Conic Sections  
by Bruce Yoshiwara, Professor of Mathematics, Los Angeles Pierce College

All Conics from One Directrix

Matrices

Elimination vs. Augmented Matrix Row Operations:

Polynomials

Remainder Theorem and Synthetic Substitution/Division:

Polynomial Root Theorems:

Pascal's Triangle:

Area and Volume

Volume and Area of a Sphere by Cavalieri's Principle:

Calculus

Derivations of Derivatives

Rules 

Trig Functions 

Other Functions 

Paper Calculator:  

Math Reference Sheets: MCAS: ; MCAS-like:

Grid Paper Generator

Grid Paper:  

Isometric Dot Paper: ; Isometric Line Paper:

Table of Common Logarithms:  

Counting Board:

Graphing Calculator Help

TI calculator Guide Books

Mathcasts

Triangle Concurrency Points: Video, Sketch.

All Conics from One Directrix: Video, Sketch

Area of Trapezoid Inscribed in Semicircle: Sketch

Java Applets

Parabola: Vertex Form, Standard Form

Geometer's Sketchpad (version 3) files and Files:

Tree Height

Classroom Files on the Web

Geometer's Sketchpad (version 4) files and Files:

A Triangle Within a Triangle, Lab Project Instructions

n-gons, n = 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96;  96-gon looks like a circle!

KillBird (Projectile Motion)

Java Applets:

Triangle Angles, Lab Project Instructions

© 2001-2008 by Stephen Kent Stephenson. All Rights Reserved.