<p>i got a 4 on the ap calculus ab exam, and im a comp sci/busi. admin major. i know i can waive this class, but i was wondering if i will be given credit as if i had taken math 125, or just simply waived from taking it. Also, does anyone know if skipping calc I to go into calc II is beneficial or if it just makes calc. II that much harder?</p>
<p>Definitely jump into Calc II, you don't want to take Calc I at USC. I passed out of Calc I with AP Calc BC and I've taken CalcII, III, and DIffEq at USC. I'd say Calc II probably required the most work because it was such a broad course. </p>
<p>With regard to credit, passing the AP test gives you 4 units worth of credit and you are waived from Math 125, so it's the same thing as getting credit for that class.</p>
<p>What sort of stuff is taught in Calc II? I'd also like to skip Calc I because I got a 4 on the ap test, but I don't want Calc II to be in over my head if I forget stuff from Calc I.</p>
<p>thats exactly what im worried about</p>
<p>yeah, if you didn't take calc I, will calc II be impossible to get an A in?</p>
<p>Let me ask another repetitive question:</p>
<p>I got a 5 on Calculus AB this year. If I take Calc II SECOND semester, will it be too hard after forgetting some stuff during first semester?</p>
<p>Just watch, we'll all be in the exact same Calc II class second semester. I'll turn to ask someone a question and the whole class will be filled with people who are like, "What the hell is going on??? I forgot everything!!!" lol</p>
<p>I'll try to answer the questions in the order that they were asked:</p>
<p>Like I said before, Calc II is probably the broadest Calculus class there is since so many different things are covered in the course. Concepts range from riemann sums, limits, derivatives, integrals, more complicated integrals, etc to polar coordinates, to series, and ending with taylor/maclaurin series. It's definitely a lot, but that's why there are two midterms and then a cumulative final.
Here is a copy of the final I took when I was in the class Fall of my freshman year to give you an idea of what's covered: <a href="http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/mathematics/private/docs/math126/126fall05.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/mathematics/private/docs/math126/126fall05.pdf</a></p>
<p>I skipped Calc I and I managed to get an A in Calc II, so I wouldn't say it's impossible at all.</p>
<p>I would not recommend skipping a semester between Calc classes, especially if you're an engineer. You will more than likely be in a class full of freshman just like yourselves. Try to get your required math classes out of the way as soon as possible because the stuff you learn may be useful in other courses you take.</p>
<p>So..... what do they teach in Calc I?</p>
<p>The basics of calculus. Probably everything you learned in AP Calculus AB</p>
<p>Son was faced with this decision and decided to take the 125 Math rather than jump to Calc II. He decided to keep GPA up and not stress about Calc his first year. He was not sure just how strong his HS AP calc class really was.</p>
<p>yeah, i might do that. who knows... i might not even take calc period, depending on how i feel at the end of the semester, since i'm undecided</p>
<p>2+2=5, how was Diff Eq? would you recommend skipping 125 and 126 and going straight into that (but spring semester) or would you recommend going to 126? I got a 5 on both AB and BC tests, but I'm not sure what that class covers and how much of it is based on what you learn/should know from 126.</p>
<p>I think you're getting ahead of yourself there. You need to take Math 226 (Calc III) before you take Diff Eq. If you feel comfortable with all the concepts from 126, I'd say jump into 226 and then take 245. Many of the concepts from 126 are foundations for things you will learn in both 226 (multivariable calc) and differential equations. </p>
<p>I thought differential equations was a great course. It's tough, but you have to keep up by doing the homework assignments and the weekly quizzes are definitely helpful.</p>
<p>I had a 5 on calc BC and went into 226 without 126 and did just fine. You should check out that final exam posted above and look at the parts of problem 2 - you should be able to at least identify in each case the "trick" you need to use to evaluate the integral. Also, you should be quite comfortable with basic 125 material (chain rule, simple derivative identities), and be somewhat comfortable with derivatives and integrals in polar coordinates. Half of 226 is multivariable and vector derivatives, lagrange multiplier, etc., and the other half is entirely definite integrals (either multiple integrals or vector line/surface integrals) and you jump full-speed into cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems and parameterization, hence the need to know polar coordinates well to start.</p>
<p>As for diffeq (245?) I didn't really take that so I can't say too much about it, though mostly I've heard good things. I guess prof. Redekopp teaches that now and apparently he is very good...</p>
<p>Oh I see. The 4-year schedule for my major doesn't list 226 as one of the math classes I need to take. Just 125, 126, 218 or 364, and 225 or 241.</p>