Precalculus Tutoring
I'm Michael Seutin, a math tutor with 10+ years of experience. I've tutored high school, AP and college precalculus, one student at a time.
- $60/hr in person in the Bay Area: Solano, Napa and Contra Costa
- $50/hr online, anywhere in the US or abroad, taught in English
- Month to month, no contract
What precalculus covers
Precalculus is the step between algebra and calculus. It comes down to three ideas:
Functions
Linear, polynomial, exponential and log functions, and how to read their graphs.
Trigonometry
Angles, the unit circle and the trig functions, built up from right triangles.
A first look at limits
What a function gets close to. It's where calculus starts.
Trigonometry
Trig is a big part of precalculus, and each piece builds on the one before:
The unit circle
Where sine and cosine come from. Once it makes sense, the rest of trig has something to stand on.
Graphs
Sine, cosine and tangent as waves: amplitude, period and shifts.
Identities
Rewriting one trig expression as another, then using that to solve equations.
How I tutor precalculus
Kids usually get stuck when precalculus stops being about getting an answer and starts being about functions: what a graph says, why a formula behaves the way it does. I find the exact spot where it stopped making sense, fix the algebra behind it, then we build up to trig and limits one step at a time.
After precalculus: AP Calculus
Calculus is the next step, and I tutor AP Calculus AB too, at the same rate.
Families abroad
Online sessions are taught in English. For families in Asia and the Middle East, that means early morning or evening, Pacific time:
- Korea: about 5–7am on weekdays, or Friday 5–9pm Pacific (Saturday 9am–1pm in Seoul)
- Singapore and Hong Kong: around 6am Pacific (9pm there, same day), or around 4pm Pacific (7am the next day there)
- Dubai: about 5–10am
Daylight saving moves these by an hour, so we pick the exact time together.
What families say
5.0 from 7 reviews on Google
Michael has been an amazing educational influence on our son, not only have we seen improved math grades, but the patient and personalized teaching methods have improved his self esteem and given our son confidence in learning. We wish we would’ve found Mathjitsu sooner!
My daughter asked her teacher if she could use the technique she learned from her tutor because it’s easier for her to understand. Thankfully, the teacher had no problem with it. What I really love is how he’s able to make math make sense. She went from tears to confidence, and it clearly shows in her grades.
Michael is truly a MathJitsu master. And he’s extremely accommodating with scheduling, always 100% punctual, and flexible with meeting locations, either at home or, in my case, a local Starbucks. If you’re in the American Canyon area and need a math tutor, you would be doing yourself a disservice not to give him a call.
Michael saved my grade in Calc. I was totally lost on integration techniques and series, but he breaks things down step-by-step without rushing. He doesn't just give you the answer—he actually teaches you how to think through the problems yourself. After three sessions, things finally clicked. Highly recommend!
Very detailed in his explanations. He’s very patient and understanding and will stick with you until it clicks with you. 10/10 recommend!
He helped me with my geometry homework. I did it online but it was very efficient and he explained everything in detail. Would recommend👍
Detailed explanations. Was a great help.
Questions parents ask
Is pre-calc harder than calculus?
Usually not. Calculus brings new ideas, but most kids who struggle in calculus are really struggling with the precalculus underneath it: functions, trig and algebra. Get precalculus solid, and calculus gets a lot easier.
How much does precalculus tutoring cost?
It's $50/hr online, from anywhere, and $60/hr in person in Solano, Napa and Contra Costa counties. Same rate as every student, month to month, with no contract.
How can my kid get better at trigonometry?
Start with the unit circle until it makes sense, not just until it's memorized. Most of trig, from the graphs to the identities, comes back to it. Then practice a few problems often instead of a lot at once.
Which precalculus do you tutor?
High school precalculus, AP Precalculus and college precalculus: I've tutored all three. After precalculus comes AP Calculus, and I tutor AP Calculus AB too.
Tell me about your kid
I reply within 24 hours with times that work. No sales call.
A question first? Get in touch.