Topics in a Pre-Calculus

Course
To learn more about a topic listed below, click the topic name to go to the
corresponding MathWorld classroom page.
General

Asymptote

A line or curve that approaches a given curve

arbitrarily closely.

Curve

A continuous map from a one-dimensional

space to an n-dimensional space. Loosely
speaking, the word "curve" is often used to
mean the function graph of a two- or threedimensional curve.

Determinant

(1) A function that assigns a scalar to a

square matrix (or, equivalently, its linear
transformation). (2) The value of this function
for a particular matrix. The matrix has an
inverse if and only if its determinant is
nonzero.

Parametric Equations

A set of equations that together express a set

of quantities as explicit functions of a number
of independent variables, which are known
as parameters.

Plane

A two-dimensional surface defined by linear

equations.

Plane Curve

A curve that lies in a single plane. A plane

curve may be closed or open.

Polar Coordinates

A two-dimensional coordinate system in

which points in two dimensions are given by
an angle and a distance from the origin.

Rational Function

A function that can be written as the quotient

of two polynomials.

Reflection

The operation of exchanging all points of a

mathematical object with their mirror images.

Rotation

The turning of an object or coordinate system

about a fixed point.

Rotation Matrix

A matrix that corresponds to the linear

transformation of a rotation.

Scalar

A value (such as a measurement) that has

only magnitude but not direction. This
contrasts with a vector, which has direction
as well as magnitude.

Spherical Coordinates

A coordinate system in which points in threedimensional space are given by two angles
and a distance from the origin.

Tangent Line

A line that touches but does not cross a curve

at a given point.

Translation

A transformation consisting of a constant shift

with no rotation or stretching.

Complex Numbers

Complex Conjugate:

The result of changing the sign of the

imaginary part of a complex number.

Complex Number:

A number consisting of a real part and an

imaginary part. A complex number is an
element of the complex plane.

Complex Plane:

The set of all complex numbers. Just as all

real numbers can be imagined as sitting on a
line, all complex numbers can be thought of
as points in a plane.

i:

The symbol used to denote the square root of

-1.

Imaginary Number:

A multiple of the imaginary unit i (the square

root of -1).

Conic Sections

Conic Section:

The nondegenerate curves generated by the

intersections of a plane with one or two
nappes of a cone. A conic section can also
be realized as the zero set of a quadratic
equation in two variables.

Ellipse:

A conic section with eccentricity less than

one. It resembles a squashed circle.

Hyperbola:

A conic section with eccentricity greater than

one. A hyperbola consists of two separate
branches.

Locus:

The set of all points (usually forming a curve

or surface) satisfying some condition. For
example, the locus of points in a plane that
are equidistant from a given point is a circle.

Parabola:

A conic section with eccentricity equal to one.

Parabolas appear as the graphs of quadratic
equations and the trajectories of projectiles.

Exponents and Logarithms

e:

The base of the natural logarithm,

approximately equal to 2.718. After pi, e is
the most important constant in mathematics.

Exponential Function:

The function consisting of the base of the

natural logarithm e taken to the power of the
variable.

Logarithm:

The power to which a number (called the

base) is raised to produce a given number;
e.g., the logarithm of 100 to the base 10 is 2.

Natural Logarithm:

The logarithm having base e.

Function:

A relation that uniquely associates members

of one set with members of another set. The
term "function" is sometimes implicitly
understood to mean continuous function,
linear function, or function into the complex
numbers.

Inverse Function:

For a function f, the function f-1 for which f(f1

(x)) = x for any x.

Range:

(1) The set of all values that a function can

take. (2) The difference between the
minimum and the maximum values of a data
set.

Vectors

Cross Product:

A product of two vectors that results in a

vector perpendicular to both.

Dot Product:

A product of two vectors, which results in a

scalar.

Normal Vector:

A vector perpendicular to a surface.

Vector:

(1) A mathematical entity that has both

magnitude (which can be zero) and direction.
(2) An element of a vector space.

Functions

Domain:

(1) The set of values for which a function is

defined. (2) In topology, a connected, open
set.