Hi, could anyone help me understand the difference between algebra 2 + trig, precalc, and college algebra? I've seen people say that algebra 2 + trig and percalc are essentially the same thing, but I know that most highschoolers take both with a2+t one year and precalc the next. Then there is the fact that CLEP offers separate exams for College Algebra, and Precalculous, which further confuses me. If college algebra is not precalc, is it algebra 2, or something entirely different? The names may vary by region, we live in New York State if that helps.

Hello all, My kids and I love the Harold Jacobs Elementary Algebra and Geometry books. Has anyone found an Algebra 2 text that has the same feel to it? Engaging and not for naught? I really do prefer a physical textbook as opposed to an online approach. Thanks, Debbie

For various reasons, the scale has tipped to algebra 2 this year over geometry for this year. Dd has done some geometry, and will finish it the next year. She did well with Foerster Algebra 1, and we hope to do Derek Owens Precalculus after geometry. My two thoughts: Foerster Algebra 2, Kolbe honors. Dd wants to be more familiar with her TI84 she got from an older sib, and this is scheduled. She did well with Foerster Algebra 1, and I really like the solutions videos from MWB. I like the idea of the Kolbe syllabus because I want her to cover algebra 2 before she takes the SAT next year, rather than the 12 school months a lot of students need to do the whole book. Since she won't need a whole year for geometry, we may go back and pick up some of the parts Kolbe skips before starting precalc. Derek Owens Honors self grading. This seems like the obvious choice because we plan to use his Precalculus. She did well with his prealgebra and physical science a few years ago, but we have run into problems when she has too many screen-based classes, and she does have a couple already this year. I also sent an inquiry if the self-grading option was still available several days ago, but haven't heard back. I assume this is as easy as contacting the bookkeeper, though, right? A con for this is no solutions videos, which does keep us from butting heads sometimes. Other options we should consider? I like the Chalkdust videos, but they are very long and I'm not sure dd would go for it. I'd be watching and teaching them if she didn't get it from the book. MWB is kind of like that for us, but the videos are shorter and she usually gets what she needs from the book. And the videos are much less expensive, even compared with the Cool Math Guy version. I do have her do the examples on the board with me.

I need to decide what to use for Algebra 2 ... I'll need something that has a relatively inexpensive TM for me since, despite my BS in Mathematics, I'm struggling to remember how to do stuff. (My older kids were very independent and did AoPS online by this age.) Dd is smart, but struggles more in math than her older siblings. We had a rough start with Discovering Mathematics (Singapore) and switched to a bit of Khan Academy and then to Dolciani for Algebra. Dolciani seems to be sticking for her. She is finally developing some confidence. I was planning to do Geometry and Algebra 2 simultaneously, mostly to make sure she doesn't forget what she learned in Algebra 1. I have Jacob's Geometry on the shelf. What should I get for Algebra 2? Any ideas?