[achenatx]

pretty much this. My 15 year old is in precalc and everything is memorization of steps. So I explain everything to her so she doesnt have to memorize how to solve the problems.

For example in trig they define quadrant I, II, III, IV and whether sin, cos, tan, sec, csc, cot are positive or negative. Im sure they briefly taught why, but for the problems it is just memorization. Most in the class dont understand the relationship between sin/cos and X and Y coords in the unit circle.

I told her it can be faster to memorize, but understand it so you can double check to make sure things are right.

There is no way a poor student can get through precalc unless they are way above the average because their parents likely cant help them at all.