What Makes MAT 170 Different from Other Math Courses?

MAT 170 occupies a unique position in ASU’s mathematics curriculum. Unlike MAT 117 (College Algebra), which focuses primarily on algebraic manipulation and solving equations, MAT 170 emphasizes function analysis, transformations, and preparing for calculus-level thinking.

Key distinction: Where College Algebra asks “Can you solve this equation?”, Precalculus asks “Can you describe the behavior of this function and predict how changes affect its graph?”

The distinction from MAT 142 (College Mathematics) is even starker—MAT 142 is designed for students who need mathematics credit but won’t pursue calculus, covering practical topics like statistics, finance, and logical reasoning. MAT 170 is explicitly calculus preparation. Every topic builds toward understanding limits, derivatives, and integrals.

Important: Research from the Mathematical Association of America shows that students who struggle with precalculus concepts—particularly function composition, transformations, and trigonometric identities—face significantly higher failure rates in Calculus I.

MAT 170 also differs from high school precalculus in pace and depth. ASU expects mastery-level understanding in a compressed semester format. High school precalculus might spend two weeks on logarithmic functions; MAT 170 covers the same material in 3-4 class sessions with the expectation that you’ll achieve ALEKS mastery independently through homework.

Comparison: MAT 170 vs. Other ASU Math Courses

Complete MAT 170 Topic Breakdown

Understanding what MAT 170 covers—and more importantly, why each topic matters for calculus—helps students approach the course strategically rather than just memorizing procedures.

1. Functions and Function Notation (Weeks 1-2)

The course begins with rigorous function analysis beyond what most students encountered in College Algebra. Why this matters for calculus: Derivatives and integrals are functions themselves, so weak function notation skills create compound problems later.

You’ll work with:

• Domain and range determination for complex functions, including those with square roots, fractions, and logarithms
• Function composition (f ∘ g)(x) and understanding how order matters
• Inverse functions including verifying whether two functions are inverses
• Piecewise functions and evaluating limits at boundary points

According to research from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, students who struggle with function notation and composition face significant challenges in calculus when dealing with the chain rule for derivatives.

2. Transformations of Functions (Weeks 2-3)

This is where MAT 170 diverges sharply from algebra courses. Rather than just solving equations, you analyze how functions behave.

Master these transformations:

• Vertical and horizontal shifts: f(x) + k vs. f(x + k) — the horizontal shift is counterintuitive!
• Reflections: -f(x) vs. f(-x) and what each means graphically
• Stretching and compression: a·f(x) vs. f(b·x) and their different effects
• Combining multiple transformations in the correct order

Common mistake: ALEKS tracks your mastery of transformation order. Applying shifts before stretches when the formula requires the opposite sequence will mark answers wrong even if your graph looks close.

3. Polynomial Functions (Weeks 3-4)

Moving beyond quadratics from College Algebra, you’ll analyze higher-degree polynomials. Calculus connection: This section builds the foundation for understanding limits at infinity—end behavior analysis is essentially pre-limit notation.

Key topics:

• Higher-degree polynomials (cubic, quartic, quintic functions)
• End behavior determined by leading coefficient and degree
• Zeros and multiplicity: How multiplicity affects whether graphs cross or bounce at x-intercepts
• Intermediate Value Theorem and locating zeros
• Rational Root Theorem for finding potential rational zeros

4. Rational Functions (Weeks 4-5)

Often the first major difficulty spike for students. Rational functions introduce the concept of asymptotes, crucial for calculus limits.

You must understand:

• Vertical asymptotes: Where denominators equal zero
• Horizontal asymptotes: Comparing degrees of numerator and denominator
• Slant (oblique) asymptotes: When numerator degree exceeds denominator by exactly one
• Holes vs. asymptotes: Recognizing removable discontinuities
• Domain restrictions and graphing complete rational functions

Frequent ALEKS error: Students often confuse holes and vertical asymptotes. When factors cancel, you get a hole (removable discontinuity). When they don’t cancel, you get a vertical asymptote.

5. Exponential Functions (Week 5-6)

Why exponentials matter: The natural number e appears constantly in calculus—exponential functions are the only functions that are their own derivatives, making them central to differential equations.

Topics covered:

• Exponential growth and decay models: P(t) = P₀e^(rt)
• Compound interest: Continuous compounding vs. periodic
• Natural exponential function e^x and its special properties
• Solving exponential equations using logarithms
• Graphing exponential functions and understanding horizontal asymptotes at y = 0

6. Logarithmic Functions (Weeks 6-7)

Logarithms are inverse operations to exponentials. MAT 170 covers them extensively because calculus uses logarithmic differentiation and integration constantly.

Master these skills:

• Properties of logarithms: Product, quotient, and power rules
• Change of base formula: Converting between log bases
• Natural logarithm ln(x) and its relationship to e^x
• Solving logarithmic equations: When to check for extraneous solutions
• Applications: pH calculations, Richter scale, decibel measurements

Critical error to avoid: log(a + b) ≠ log(a) + log(b). This is NOT a property of logarithms. ALEKS penalizes this error heavily since it violates fundamental log properties.

7. Trigonometric Functions – Unit Circle Approach (Weeks 7-9)

Trigonometry in MAT 170 goes far beyond right triangle trig from high school. This is where many students begin to struggle significantly.

Essential mastery areas:

• Unit circle mastery: All angle measures in both degrees and radians
• Six trigonometric functions: sin, cos, tan, csc, sec, cot for any angle
• Reference angles and determining signs in each quadrant
• Graphing sine and cosine: Amplitude, period, phase shift, vertical shift
• Graphing tangent, cotangent, secant, cosecant: Understanding asymptotes

The American Mathematical Society notes that students who memorize unit circle values without understanding the underlying geometry struggle significantly with trigonometric limits in calculus.

8. Trigonometric Identities (Weeks 9-10)

This is often the most challenging section of MAT 170. Many students report spending 2-3x more time here than on other topics.

You’ll need to master:

• Pythagorean identities: sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 and its variations
• Reciprocal identities: csc θ = 1/sin θ, etc.
• Quotient identities: tan θ = sin θ / cos θ
• Sum and difference formulas: sin(α ± β), cos(α ± β), tan(α ± β)
• Double-angle formulas: sin(2θ), cos(2θ), tan(2θ)
• Half-angle formulas and their applications
• Verifying complex identities through strategic manipulation

ALEKS identity verification rule: You must work with one side of an equation until it matches the other. Working both sides simultaneously will mark your answer wrong since that assumes what you’re trying to prove.

9. Inverse Trigonometric Functions (Week 10)

• Restricted domains for arcsin, arccos, arctan
• Range restrictions and principal values
• Compositions like sin(arccos(x)) using triangles or identities
• Solving equations involving inverse trig functions

Understanding inverse trig functions is essential for integration in calculus—many integral formulas produce arctan or arcsin as results.

10. Trigonometric Equations (Week 11)

• Solving equations on restricted intervals (e.g., 0 ≤ θ < 2π)
• Finding all solutions using periodicity
• Equations requiring identities to simplify before solving
• Quadratic trig equations: Treating sin θ or cos θ as a variable

11. Matrices and Systems of Equations (Week 12)

• Matrix operations: Addition, subtraction, scalar multiplication
• Matrix multiplication (not commutative!)
• Row reduction and echelon form
• Solving systems using matrices
• Determinants and inverses for 2×2 and 3×3 matrices

Linear algebra concepts from MAT 170 appear in multivariable calculus (MAT 267) when working with vectors and planes in 3D space.

12. Additional Topics (Weeks 13-15)

Depending on your section, you may cover:

• Polar coordinates: Converting between rectangular and polar forms
• Vectors: Component form, magnitude, direction angle, dot products
• Complex numbers: Operations in standard form, polar form, De Moivre’s Theorem
• Mathematical induction: Proving statements for all positive integers
• Sequences and series: Arithmetic and geometric patterns

Navigating the ALEKS Platform for MAT 170

Most MAT 170 sections use ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces), an adaptive learning platform that tailors instruction to your current knowledge level. Understanding how ALEKS works is crucial for success in this course.

How ALEKS Adaptive Learning Works

ALEKS uses artificial intelligence to create a personalized learning path:

Initial Knowledge Check: When you first access the course, ALEKS administers a comprehensive assessment testing your readiness for all MAT 170 topics. This isn’t graded—it determines where you start. Be honest; guessing inflates your initial assessment and leads to ALEKS placing you in topics you’re not ready for.

Your Personalized Pie: After the assessment, you see a circular “pie chart” representing the course. Filled slices are topics you’ve mastered; empty slices are locked topics you’re not yet ready to learn. The boundary between these represents your learning edge—topics ALEKS has determined you’re ready to learn based on prerequisite mastery.

Learning Mode: You choose topics from your “Ready to Learn” list. ALEKS provides instruction, examples, and practice problems. The platform tracks your accuracy and confidence. When you’ve demonstrated consistent mastery (typically 3-5 problems correct without help), ALEKS marks that topic as learned and updates your pie.

Progress Checks (Knowledge Checks): Periodically—often after learning 5-10 new topics—ALEKS administers unannounced Knowledge Checks. These verify you still retain previously mastered material. If you’ve forgotten topics, they return to “not learned” status, and your pie shrinks. This can be frustrating, but it ensures genuine long-term retention rather than short-term memorization.

ALEKS Strategies Specific to MAT 170

1. Don’t Skip the “Explain” Button

When ALEKS presents a problem, clicking “Explain” provides step-by-step instruction. Many students skip this assuming they know the topic, then get problems wrong and trigger Knowledge Checks. Use “Explain” liberally—even if you think you know the material, ALEKS may want a specific format for answers.

2. Understand Answer Formatting Requirements

ALEKS is notoriously picky about answer formats:

• Fractions should be simplified unless instructions say otherwise
• Radicals should be simplified (√12 = 2√3)
• Some problems require exact values (π/4) rather than decimals (0.785…)
• Trigonometric answers often need specific forms (cos θ vs. √(1 – sin²θ))

3. Use the Calculator Tool Correctly

ALEKS provides an on-screen calculator, but knowing when to use it matters. For “exact value” problems (like sin(π/6)), using the calculator and entering 0.5 will mark your answer wrong—ALEKS wants 1/2. The problem instructions typically specify “exact” vs. “approximate.”

4. Practice Immediately After Learning

ALEKS allows you to practice any learned topic by clicking on filled pie slices. Students who review recently learned topics within 24 hours show significantly better retention on Knowledge Checks. According to learning science research from the American Psychological Association, distributed practice prevents the decay that triggers topic “unlearning” in ALEKS.

5. Track Your Weekly Progress Targets

Most MAT 170 instructors set weekly topic targets (e.g., “Master 15 topics per week”). Falling behind in ALEKS is difficult to recover from because the platform doesn’t allow you to learn advanced topics until you’ve mastered prerequisites. If your instructor requires 75% course completion for a C, that’s approximately 120-150 topics depending on the course setup. Averaging 12-15 topics per week keeps you on track.

Common ALEKS Pitfalls in MAT 170

The “Guess and Check” Trap: ALEKS tracks how often you use hints and answer incorrectly. If you consistently guess, the system flags topics as “not confident” and is more likely to recheck them. This creates a cycle where guessing leads to more Knowledge Checks, which reveal you haven’t learned material, requiring relearning.

Procrastination Compounds: Unlike traditional homework where you can cram before a deadline, ALEKS penalizes procrastination severely. If you wait until the night before a progress deadline, you can’t learn 30 topics in one session—each topic requires demonstration of understanding, and ALEKS paces you intentionally to prevent superficial learning.

Knowledge Check Anxiety: These unannounced assessments stress many students. The best approach is to view them as quality control rather than punishment. If a Knowledge Check reveals you’ve forgotten topics, that’s valuable feedback—you weren’t going to succeed on the exam with that knowledge gap anyway.

Study Strategies That Actually Work for MAT 170

Generic “study harder” advice doesn’t help with precalculus. Here are evidence-based strategies specifically effective for MAT 170’s content and structure.

1. Create a Function Transformation Cheat Sheet Early

When: Week 2 (as soon as transformations are introduced)

Build a visual reference showing every transformation type with examples. This single reference sheet prevents 30-40% of common MAT 170 errors throughout the entire course.

Include these transformations:

• f(x) + k → vertical shift up k units
• f(x) – k → vertical shift down k units
• f(x + k) → horizontal shift LEFT k units (counterintuitive!)
• f(x – k) → horizontal shift right k units
• a·f(x) → vertical stretch if |a| > 1, compression if 0 < |a| < 1
• f(b·x) → horizontal compression if |b| > 1, stretch if 0 < |b| < 1
• -f(x) → reflection across x-axis
• f(-x) → reflection across y-axis

Why this works: Transformation questions appear throughout the course (applying to polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions). This early investment pays dividends for 13 weeks.

2. Master the Unit Circle in Radians

Target fluency: Fill entire unit circle from memory in under 3 minutes

Most students learned the unit circle in degrees in high school. MAT 170 and all calculus courses use radians. Create a blank unit circle template and practice filling it in:

• All angle measures (0, π/6, π/4, π/3, π/2, 2π/3, 3π/4, 5π/6, π, etc.)
• Coordinates (cos θ, sin θ) for each special angle
• Which quadrants give positive/negative values for each trig function

Practice schedule: Daily for weeks 7-11 (trig section). Set a timer—can you complete it accurately in under 3 minutes? That’s the fluency level needed for MAT 170 exams, which won’t provide time to derive every value.

3. Practice Trig Identity Proofs Strategically

Don’t just read worked examples—work them yourself without looking at solutions.

Effective practice approach:

• Start with the more complex side of the identity
• Know your fundamental identities cold (Pythagorean, reciprocal, quotient)
• Look for opportunities to factor or expand
• Convert everything to sine and cosine as a “last resort” strategy
• Never work both sides simultaneously—that’s circular reasoning

Recommended volume: Work 3-5 identity proofs daily from weeks 9-11. This spacing prevents cramming and builds the pattern recognition needed to choose correct strategies quickly.

4. Use Desmos for Conceptual Understanding

Desmos graphing calculator is free and acceptable for MAT 170 (check your specific instructor’s policy for exams).

Use it to:

• Visualize how coefficient changes affect graphs
• See asymptotic behavior of rational functions
• Observe transformations in real-time by using sliders
• Check your work on complex graphing problems

Important: Don’t use Desmos as a crutch instead of understanding concepts. Use it to verify your hand-drawn graphs and build intuition about function behavior.

5. Form a Study Group (But Use It Correctly)

Research shows study groups improve outcomes—but only when used properly.

Effective MAT 170 study groups:

• ✅ Meet after everyone has attempted homework independently
• ✅ Focus on explaining concepts to each other, not just sharing answers
• ✅ Work practice problems together, verbalizing reasoning
• ✅ Quiz each other on unit circle values, identities, and transformations

Ineffective study groups (avoid these):

• ❌ Just copying answers without understanding
• ❌ One person solving everything while others watch
• ❌ Meeting without individual preparation first

6. Attend Office Hours Strategically

ASU provides instructor office hours and often free drop-in tutoring.

Use these resources strategically:

• Bring specific questions, not “I don’t understand anything”
• Show your work—tutors can identify exactly where conceptual gaps exist
• Ask about exam format and what topics the instructor emphasizes
• Request alternate explanations if the textbook’s approach doesn’t click

Pro tip: Office hours during weeks 9-10 (trigonometric identities) are typically packed. Go early in those weeks before the rush.

When Self-Study Isn’t Enough: Recognizing the Warning Signs

MAT 170’s adaptive platform and compressed pace mean falling behind has cascading consequences. Recognizing problems early—before they become insurmountable—is crucial.

Here are clear indicators that self-study isn’t working:

🚨 You’re Consistently Behind on ALEKS Weekly Targets

If you’re supposed to master 12-15 topics weekly but you’re only completing 5-8, you’re falling into a hole that gets harder to escape. ALEKS progress is cumulative—you can’t skip ahead, so falling behind now means impossibly large workloads later.

🚨 Knowledge Checks Keep “Unlearning” Topics

If your pie keeps shrinking because Knowledge Checks reveal you’ve forgotten previously mastered material, that’s a symptom of surface-level understanding. You’re memorizing procedures without understanding concepts—a pattern that will fail spectacularly on exams.

🚨 You Can Do Homework But Fail Quizzes/Exams

This gap indicates you’re relying too heavily on ALEKS hints and explanations. Exams test whether you can apply concepts independently, under time pressure, without access to worked examples.

🚨 Trigonometry Feels Completely Overwhelming

If you reach the trig sections (weeks 7-11) and feel lost, that often indicates gaps in prerequisite knowledge—either from MAT 117 or even earlier algebra. Trying to learn trig identities without solid understanding of function composition and simplification is like building a house on sand.

🚨 You’re Spending 15+ Hours Weekly and Still Struggling

MAT 170 is a 3-credit course, which theoretically means 9 hours of work weekly (3 in class, 6 outside). If you’re consistently exceeding double that—15-20 hours—and still not making adequate progress, something is wrong. Either your study methods are inefficient, or you have conceptual gaps that self-study isn’t addressing.

What Professional Help Actually Provides

When students realize they need help, they often wonder what professional services like Finish My Math Class actually provide that self-study or peer tutoring doesn’t:

ALEKS Platform Expertise: Our tutors work with ALEKS daily across dozens of students. We know the platform’s quirks—answer formatting requirements, common Knowledge Check patterns, which topics ALEKS tends to reset most frequently, and how to efficiently build the pie without triggering excessive rechecks.

Precalculus Conceptual Mastery: There’s a difference between solving a problem and understanding why the solution works. Professional tutors can identify exactly where conceptual breakdowns occur. For example, a student might consistently get transformation problems wrong not because they don’t know the rules, but because they don’t understand function composition—and they don’t realize that’s the root cause.

Time Efficiency: A struggling student might spend 2 hours on 3 ALEKS topics. An expert can explain those same topics in 20 minutes with clarity that leads to genuine understanding, not just procedural memorization. For students juggling work, family, or other demanding courses, this time arbitrage is invaluable.

Exam Preparation: Knowing what to study is half the battle. Professional services identify high-probability exam topics, create targeted practice materials, and simulate exam conditions—something self-study rarely achieves effectively.

Grade Guarantees: When your academic standing, financial aid, or degree progress depends on passing MAT 170, professional services that offer grade guarantees (A or B) remove the risk. You’re not just buying tutoring—you’re buying certainty of outcome.

Many students find that getting professional help with MAT 170 allows them to invest time in other courses where they’re capable of succeeding independently. It’s not about avoiding work—it’s about allocating limited time optimally across all commitments.

MAT 170 Exam Preparation Strategies

ASU MAT 170 exams are typically proctored, either in-person or via remote proctoring services.

Common MAT 170 Exam Format

• Multiple choice questions (40-60% of points): Testing conceptual understanding and quick calculation
• Free response problems (40-60% of points): Requiring full work shown for partial credit
• Time limits: Usually 90-120 minutes depending on instructor
• Calculator policy: Most instructors allow graphing calculators, but check your syllabus—some restrict to scientific calculators only
• Reference sheets: Rarely provided; you typically need formulas memorized

What to Memorize vs. What to Derive

Memorization strategy: Attempting to memorize everything leads to formula confusion under exam pressure. Memorize foundations; derive specialized formulas as needed.

One-Week-Before Exam Checklist

Use this checklist one week before each MAT 170 exam:

1. Review all ALEKS topics from exam period: Go through your filled pie slices, clicking on each and working 2-3 practice problems. This reveals topics you’ve forgotten.
2. Create a formula sheet: Even if you can’t use it on the exam, creating it helps you identify what you need to memorize and what you already know.
3. Work timed practice exams: Find old exams (check ASU’s Test Bank, ask your instructor, or check Studocu for sample problems). Practice under actual exam conditions—no notes, time limit, no ALEKS hints.
4. Identify your weak topics: Which types of problems consistently take too long or result in errors? Focus remaining study time there.
5. Review homework mistakes: Look back at problems where you initially struggled. Can you solve them now without help?
6. Get adequate sleep: Research from the Sleep Foundation shows that mathematical problem-solving deteriorates significantly with sleep deprivation—more than verbal tasks. Pulling an all-nighter before a math exam is counterproductive.

Frequently Asked Questions About MAT 170

When Expert Help Makes Sense for MAT 170

Most students can pass MAT 170 with dedicated effort, effective study strategies, and use of free campus resources. However, certain situations make professional assistance a pragmatic choice rather than an avoidance of work:

You’re Retaking After a Previous Failure: Repeating the same approach that led to failure rarely produces different results. Professional guidance can identify exactly what went wrong the first time—whether conceptual gaps, study method problems, or time management issues—and provide targeted solutions.

Course Load or Life Circumstances Are Overwhelming: Many ASU students work full-time, care for family members, or take 15+ credit hours. If MAT 170 is one of five courses and you’re struggling to allocate sufficient time, professional help isn’t “cheating”—it’s resource optimization. You may be perfectly capable of learning precalculus but simply lack the 15 hours weekly it demands.

Financial Aid or Scholarship Depends on Grades: If falling below a 3.0 GPA costs you a scholarship worth thousands of dollars, investing in professional help for one challenging course makes financial sense. The cost of assistance is typically far less than lost scholarship money or delayed graduation.

You’re on Academic Probation: Students on probation can’t afford another poor grade. Professional services that guarantee specific grades (A or B) remove the risk and allow you to focus on other courses where you’re more capable of succeeding independently.

Trigonometry Is a Complete Mystery Despite Effort: Some students hit absolute walls with specific topics. If you’ve spent 20+ hours on trigonometric identities, attended office hours, watched videos, and still feel lost, that suggests a conceptual gap that self-study isn’t fixing. Professional tutors can often identify and resolve these gaps in a few targeted sessions.

What to Look for in Professional MAT 170 Help

Not all tutoring services are equal. When evaluating professional help, consider:

• ALEKS Platform Expertise: Does the service have extensive experience with ALEKS specifically, or just general precalculus knowledge? ALEKS’s quirks—answer formatting, Knowledge Check patterns, pie management—require platform-specific understanding.
• Grade Guarantees: Services confident in their results offer guarantees (e.g., “A or B or your money back”). This demonstrates they’re not just taking your money and hoping for the best—they’re accountable for outcomes.
• Communication Style: Can you reach them when you need help? Do they respond quickly to questions? Are explanations clear, or do they just give answers without teaching?
• Ethical Approach: Legitimate services help you learn and complete your own work. They don’t encourage academic dishonesty or violations of ASU’s policies. Be wary of any service that suggests they’ll “take exams for you”—that’s academic misconduct that can get you expelled.
• Customization: Does the service tailor assistance to your specific gaps, or do they use one-size-fits-all approaches? MAT 170 students need help with different topics—some struggle with trig, others with rational functions, still others with ALEKS pacing.

Services like Finish My Math Class specialize in courses like MAT 170, offering ALEKS expertise, guaranteed grades, and comprehensive support from homework through exam preparation. For students in situations where passing isn’t just preferred but essential, this type of professional assistance provides certainty of outcome that self-study or casual tutoring can’t match.

Related ASU Math Help Resources

If MAT 170 isn’t the only math course on your academic path, these related pages might help:

• ASU MAT 117 (College Algebra) Help – If you’re considering taking or retaking MAT 117 before attempting MAT 170
• ASU MAT 142 (College Mathematics) Help – Alternative math credit for non-STEM majors
• ALEKS Math Answers & Platform Guide – Comprehensive strategies for succeeding with ALEKS across any course
• Precalculus Homework Help – General precalculus assistance beyond ASU-specific courses

Conclusion: Your Path to MAT 170 Success

MAT 170 represents a significant challenge for most ASU students—it’s more conceptually demanding than College Algebra, covers entirely new trigonometry content, and requires mastery of an adaptive learning platform with unforgiving Knowledge Checks. The course serves a critical purpose: students who don’t genuinely understand functions, transformations, and trigonometry will struggle catastrophically in calculus, so MAT 170’s rigor acts as quality control.

Success in MAT 170 comes down to three factors: solid algebraic prerequisites, consistent ALEKS engagement throughout the semester, and genuine conceptual understanding rather than procedural memorization. Students who recognize when they need help—whether from free campus resources, study groups, or professional services—and seek that help early rather than waiting until they’re hopelessly behind have significantly better outcomes.

This course is passable with the right approach. Focus on understanding the “why” behind procedures, practice consistently rather than cramming, use the ALEKS platform as designed (not as an obstacle to fight), and don’t hesitate to ask for help when self-study isn’t working. Your future calculus success depends on the foundation you build in MAT 170—invest the time and resources needed to build that foundation properly.

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