<p>Did anyone go from algebra2/trig OR Math B to AP Calculus AB? Is it hard/impossible? How important are the things learned in pre-calculus to succeed in Caclulus AB?</p>
<p>The only thing I learned in Pre-Calc which wasn't covered in Algebra 2 that was particularly useful in Calculus was the Unit Circle and the values of all the trig functions on it. Other things (like analyzing asymptotes) aren't that hard to grasp, and are covered in Calculus anyway.</p>
<p>I didn't learn aanything in precalculus. Granted, my course wasn't AP, and it took some adjusting, but you should do fine.</p>
<p>I don't think you'll have a problem. Your class will, most likely, cover everything you missed as a quick review for the first few weeks. If you are a good math student, and your school will let you, take the leap.</p>
<p>My sister went from Alg. 2/Trig to AP Calc AB. She got an A+ in AP Calc AB. I personally think that pre-calc is simply a continuation of Algebra and Trig. Therefore, it can be extraneous.</p>
<p>Thanks guys.. </p>
<p>I am debating whether I should take it at some local college during the summer or just go straight to AB. I'll probably go straight because I keep hearing that pre-calculus is almost a review of alg2/trig.</p>
<p>I went from Math B to Calculus AB because i moved schools. You will do fine in calc ab as long as you did well in trig.</p>
<p>I could've taken precalc, but precalc here is a lot of the Math B curriculum, it's not a review, they're teaching it like the first time.</p>
<p>I think you should consider your choice. Why bother taking Calc AB next year instead of precalc? You won't have anything to do senior year. Just take precalc with your friends, who cares what it is a review of. If I had to do it all over again I would take precalc with no reservation.</p>
<p>unless you're like the top few kids in your alg2 class or you feel like you are very strong in math, i don't recommend it. there's just so much more you can learn. also, precal will help u out a lot for math2c and sats. there's no NEED for rush.</p>
<p>I went from Math B (equivalent of Algebra 2?) to AP Calc AB as well.</p>
<p>I did not find the transition hard at all. It's definitely possible. You don't need to know how to take basic derivatives or integrals before entering AB Calc, so don't worry about it. As long as you have a good grasp on some precalculus topics such as limits and unit circle trig, you should have no problem.</p>
<p>I was in the same situation and chose to take AB Calc. Well, most of the way through the year I have an A+ in the class, so I highly reccomend it. As long as you're getting solid A's in your present class, go for it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses guys.</p>
<p>Actually, I'm a sophmore in Math B now. UNFORTUNATELY, I didn't take Math A in JHS, so I will finish Math B at the end of junior year. Considering this and that I plan to apply to some very competitive schools, I pretty much need calculus, as I am going for a science major. So I guess I will see if I am going to take pre-calculus at Brooklyn College or some CUNY NEXT summer (junior ---> senior). Right now I am doing very well in Math B (Math 4). But, I know it's easy stuff- proofs! I will just have to wait and see how well I do in the end of Math B (5/6) and see if I can handle the transition without pre-calclulus.</p>
<p>Also,
"As long as you have a good grasp on some precalculus topics such as limits and unit circle trig, you should have no problem."</p>
<p>Are these covered in Math B?</p>
<p>if you learned how to do polar coordinates and solid in trig, then skip it. There's no integration of Polar Coordinates in Calc AB, but it should be helpful down the road.</p>
<p>omg guys i have a 90 in calc (my school is really good in ab) and all i have to say is if you can do basic problems also do BC in like a week its so damn simple its not even funny</p>
<p>I took PreCalculus the summer in-between taking Algebra 2 and AP Calc. There were a few new things in PreCalc -- most of which I don't even remember now -- but the majority of it was just re-inforcing what you learned in Algebra 2. The only thing you really need for Calculus is Trigonometry, but that's not really too difficult or complex...</p>
<p>Nice.. so I guess I don't really need pre-calculus during my summer.</p>
<p>No, as zach pointed out, pre-calc is simply a reinforcement of Advanced Algebra. It's helpful, but not dire for sucess in Calculus.</p>
<p>vtoodler i am going to have to disagree completely, I have seen too many times trigonometry play a role in calculus, i would say there is more precal and trig in calc than there is calc</p>
<p>First of all, trig is covered in algebra II. I took precalc class after taking Algebra II in summer, and I found the two classes to be exactly the same. So don't sweat about taking precalc. </p>
<p>Also, the only thing you need to know about trig in calculus is some identities, the radian circle (or whatever you call them).. Seriously, i don't know why trig is that important in calculus. i'd say computational skills take most part of integration/differentiation. </p>
<p>Trig is only important for Math IIC, which we are not discussing.</p>
<p>off topic..</p>
<p>best_wr: Are all the necessary topics covered for Math IIC in alg2/trig?</p>
<p>zetsui, </p>
<p>I agree that trig is important for sucess in Calculus. However, most high schools, including mines, cover trig in Algebra 2/Trig. That's why the class is called Algebra 2/TRIGONOMETRY!!! Many of the kids at my high school who took both Algebra 2/Trig and Precalc lament that precalc was a waste of their time, and that they wish they had gone straight to AP Calculus AB. </p>
<p>Bottom line killaerone--If you feel that you are very strong in Trig and Algebra 2, then go straight to AP calc. However, if you feel that your Advanced Algebra and Trig skills need work, then you want to take precalc.</p>
<p>Basic trig. is good (as everyone else has said), but many of the topics in precalculus aren't needed at all for calculus. I wanted to skip precalculus before I went to calculus, so I took a summer class at a college just to get credit. If you know trig. well, vectors, etc., then you should be fine.</p>