If the proof of such a trivial consequence of sin2 A + cos2 A = 1 is now reserved only for college-intending students, how does NCTM expect the average high school graduate to understand sec2 A = 1+tan2 A ? To graph (sec2 A) and (1+tan2 A) separately and observe that the two graphs coincide, as suggested in [PEL]? With this in mind, we find it hard to believe that “the mathematics of [the Standards’] core program is sufficiently broad and deep so that students’ options for further study would not be limited” ([N1], ). In education circles, a great merit of the Standards is seen to be.
