<p>Hi. I'm going to self-study for the AP Calculus BC exam. I'm in PreCalculus Honors right now and I have a 97ish math average. I read parts of Calculus for Dummies (derivatives and parts of Integrals) and I understand it, but I don't remember most of it. I already have Princeton Review AP Calculus, but I don't think it is enough. What books would you recommend I use? I would like to avoid using a textbook. If I do need a textbook, then could you please recommend one that isn't too lengthy? I read that Spivak's Calculus textbook is really good and its pretty short compared to other textbooks, but is it easy to read for someone who has no Calculus background?</p>
<p>You probably won’t do well if you don’t use a textbook. Precalc and Calc are worlds apart There are just things to upper level math that can’t be condensed into a preparation book. </p>
<p>Calculus by Finney et. al. would be your best shot at doing well on the AP exam.</p>
<p>Start out with a Dummies or Idiot’s Guide kind of book, then use a textbook for more variety of questions</p>
<p>anybody else? I want to buy whatever books I need so I can start studying over the weekend because I have to sign up for AP exams next week. I want an impression of whether I can handle this or not. Any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>here’s a good tip: you can watch all of MIT’s single variable calculus course online for free.</p>
<p>[MIT</a> OpenCourseWare | Mathematics | 18.01 Single Variable Calculus, Fall 2006 | Video Lectures](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/18-01Fall-2006/VideoLectures/index.htm]MIT”>http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/18-01Fall-2006/VideoLectures/index.htm)</p>
<p>also if you click on the top left there are a bunch of other classes that have free video or audio lectures.</p>