Precalculus Investigations: A Laboratory Manual, Preliminary Edition

This book integrates an applied approach to algebra/trigonometry/precalculus mathematics based on real engineering and design problems with mathematics curriculum reform principles and practice. Each lab is based on a real-world application from another discipline, and involves interactive and collaborative learning. Many mathematics instructors are eager to integrate realistic applications in their teaching, but lack the time and resources to develop the necessary connections on their own. For anyone interested in engineering, design and management occupations.

The laboratory investigations in this manual are an outgrowth of a campus-wide interdisciplinary collaboration at Wentworth Institute of Technology. With support from the National Science Foundation, mathematics faculty worked closely with colleagues in engineering, architecture, design, and management to identify field-specific problems that reveal rich connections to fundamental mathematics concepts in algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus.

The authors are full-time classroom mathematics instructors with many years of both college and high school teaching experience. In the spirit of the AMATYC and NCTM standards, they have incorporated a comprehensive "Rule of Four" pedagogy employing multiple representations in modeling real-world problems, interactive and collaborative learning, and regular use of technology. Many of the investigations require data collection in laboratory settings, and almost all involve some sort of hands-on activity. This manual is intended to provide students direct experience with mathematics as revealed in real applications, by modeling workplace experiences of professionals in business and industry. Students who have used these laboratory investigations have commented in course evaluations that they "make you think about the math topic in a whole new way," "keep you thinking of the math applications outside of class," and "helped give an understanding of how the math we are working on ties into everyday life." Other comments included "The labs we did were very realistic," and "I now try to look at a problem in more than one aspect."

Encouraged by these student responses, we believe Precalculus Investigations: A Laboratory Manual, will heighten students' interest in Precalculus. This manual exposes the student to lab projects that incorporate issues of daily life and today's careers such as, medical technology, weather, architecture, life cycles, natural resources, and noise pollution. These lab projects give students the ability to associate and extend the usefulness of mathematics in our ever-changing world.