My Hints and Tips

Transformations

The way i seem to remember things about transformation is that they always seem to be counter intuitive. When you think you have to move x number of units to the left it happens to be the exact opposite of what you have to do. When you think you should make you graph shrink it happens to have to be stretched out. It's quite confusing to me (but so is the rest of math). Let me provide and example.

Example: f(x-7)

This function you can automatically classify it as a line and the minus seven means you just have to move it seven units to the right even though you would think the exact opposite because it's a negative number.

If you want to try it out go to this site
http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/graph.html
(props to Rocio Rodriguez for providing it)

Let's say they give you a function like this f(1/2x)
You would think that it would be smaller because of the the small number. But guess what, THAT'S WRONG!!!"
The function graphed would actually stretch out more that a function that said f(3x). The function f(3x) would actually look more compressed than a function of that said f(1/2x).
(It's crazy but that's math, it's like magic...2+2= Fish)


Trigonometry

Alrighty then, moving on to the trig stuff. Well like Ms. Hwang said, "You have to know your unit circle!!!" When asked to recall the unit circle, my hand twitches and automatically wants to draw it (seriously, no joke).
I haven't reached the stage where I can visualize it, i kind of have to draw it. Memorizing the unit circle took about ummm...25 minutes or so of practice. The way i memorized it was kind of complicated to be quite honest (I'm like that, i over think things). Well for the radians there is a pattern (if you haven't noticed) the denominators repeat themselves like mirror images. Starting at zero and moving counter-clockwise they go 6,4,3,2,3,4,6 only the outcast number in this case changes in this case it is the 2. The numerators are a different story. The numerators for the top half of the circle seem to have a jingle. Try it its pi, pi,pi,2, 3,5. For the bottom half i had to learn it myself with no jingle =(. The coordinates are the easiest things to memorize, the also reflect like mirror images. You just have to remember the first three on the first quadrant and the rest is just repeated (you just have to remember that you still have to change the negative and positive coordinates but that's easy.

When it comes to graphing sin, cos and the rest its a about studying them for me (which reminds me i still need a little work)

What worries me?

Well let's see...i have a list hahaha. I can't seem to graph the inverses like cos-1 x without the stupid patty paper. It sounds silly but only God knows how frustrating it is ( i have to memorize those flash cards). But yeah i think thats about it

P.S: i still am confused about logs