Algebra II and Trigonometry

Algebra II and Trigonometry is a two-term mathematics course that is required by NYS Education Department. This course prepares students for its own regents and covers the basics for future mathematics courses. Much of this course will seem like review for many students, but this feeling is deceptive as some teachers are aware of the abilities of certain students and make up for them with increased workloads and stricter grading policies.

Though it is mainly taken by sophomores, it is possible for a freshman with sufficient ability to take it, and in some cases a junior who is one year behind in math will also take it.

Curriculum
The first semester of this course will start off by covering the different sets of numbers, including but not limited to irrational and imaginary numbers. Quadratic/polynomial and systems of equations are dealt with, along with different graphs. As mentioned above, much of this will seem like review.

The second semester involves sequences and series. Also, the basic trigonometric identities are covered. They are analyzed on the unit circle. Trigonometric functions are graphed. Different laws of trigonometric identities are covered along with Pythagorean identities, and they are used to find areas of polygons. The end of the semester covers statistics and probability, but the statistics covered here are merely inferences of reference charts used on the regents.

Teaching style
The current honors teachers are Mr. Aziz Jumash and Mr. Sebastian Stoenescu.

Class
Mr. Lostal employs a straightforward teaching method that allows for little interference. His motto is "Hollywood Math", and occasionally he will use a physical performance to explain a concept. He is known for his "College level German mind".

Upon entering the class, students are expected to sit down quietly and start the Do Now written on the board, and are expected to be quiet and meditate. This is when he most frequently checks homework, however, as the semester is ending he almost always forgets to check homework despite his constant warnings. During his class, students are expected to pay full attention, because "he has eyes like a radar". Two (or more) "secretaries" are employed from the class, and they are instructed by Mr. Lostal to give class participation points in the form of "100s". They also give "0s" (infractions) and record homework checks. A secretary is almost completely well off when it comes to class participation.

Mr. Lostal's teaching method offers little room for change; whatever he says is law, and all problems must be done almost exactly his way. Very rarely can a student propose a better method to solve a problem.

Students are sometimes expected to work on the board. These students are most likely chosen randomly.

In many cases a class can end much after the end bell.

Lostal Fun Facts: - He comes to class very angrily, but ends the class very happily (especially if you're his first class). - He will always mention his German mind, because it is too high level for us commoners to interpret. - He was known as big mouth when he was growing up. - He is Spanish, but loves Germany. - He claims his chalks were given to him by the Japanese Emperor himself. - Meditation is like food and water to him, and all students are required to meditate. - Mr. Lostal often gives credit to those who correct him, or possibly give them a lecture.

Homework
Mr. Lostal's homework is either very difficult or very easy, depending on one's perspective. The difficulty lies in the length - because he expects you to copy his steps, one problem can take up half a page. He assigns pages from his own handouts, and he gives as much as 80 questions a night. The easy part of this is that they are all regents questions and take little thinking to solve.

Mr. Lostal claims to check homework randomly, although he mostly checks those who do not perform well on tests. He checks all classes on the same days, meaning if one class is checked, all other classes will be checked too. He announces that he can check homework at any time of the period, but he mostly checks while students are working. Homework problems are put up on the board in most cases. They are candidates for the test.

Tests
Tests in this class are deceptively hard for some, and excessively easy for others. While all questions are regents questions from the homework, Mr. Lostal can take off many points for not following his exact method for a question. This can sometimes lead a decent math student to failure. A student who quickly catches on his patterns can easily guarantee a 100 or more on all of his tests.

All tests are out of 105-115 (mostly 110), so a student is allowed a 1 question leeway for a 100. Students who score high are expected to help those who score low.

A test is announced 1-3 weeks in advance. They can also be pushed back.