<p>Hello, I was wondering how hard would AP Physics B actually be if you only had Algebra 1? Would be harder than AP bio or AP Chem? because I heard some people say that AP Chem is even harder than Physics B... would necessarily agree with this statement or no?</p>
<p>With only Algebra 1, you’ll be screwed in AP Physics B. In my opinion, AP Chem is easier than AP Physics B because it is less abstract. However, AP Chem requires that you know logarithms and exponents. You might as well take AP Bio since it requires no math.</p>
<p>You don’t need to “know” logs for AP Chem rather than just being able to push the ln button for certain equations.</p>
<p>If you’ve only had Alg1, go for AP Bio.</p>
<p>Both AP Chem and AP Physics require a stronger math background.</p>
<p>Are you kidding? AP Chem requires no math at all, it’s actually a disadvantage if you know too much because you then to start to think, “hey, what is antilog? Oh wait! they meant INVERSE OF LOG!”</p>
<p>I don’t know about you, but our teacher goes over derivatives in our chem class. And we use math on a regular basis.</p>
<p>Concepts that are covered in Algebra 1 are way to mininmal to span AP Chemistry.</p>
<p>In our school, you can’t even take AP Chem if you didn’t have a B or better in Algebra II.</p>
<p>I guess it’s different from class to class.</p>
<p>At my school, have to have concurrency of Algebra II to take AP Chem.</p>
<p>Saying that being to knowledgable of math in AP Chem is just silly…</p>
<p>You definitely don’t need Algebra II for Chem. </p>
<p>We used derivatives to derive integrated rate laws, but that’s only because we all know calculus. It’s easy to memorize the formulas without deriving them.</p>
<p>You will need to know basic trigonometry for Physics, but AP Chem should be fine.</p>
<p>Why does people keep on emphasizing that you don’t need math for AP Chem? With only Algebra I, it means a lack of mathematical experience and with that, you are unable to do some mathematical concepts in AP Chem or you don’t know what the hell you are doing. For example, in kinetics, you have to know exponents really well to find rates. For acid/base, finding a pH requires logarithms. For nuclear chemistry, you are asked to find half-lives. And Algebra II emphasizes exponents and logarithms more than Algebra I does.</p>
<p>Kinetics: Squaring something or realizing that quadrupling a concentration doubles the rate doesn’t require extensive exponent knowledge, or anything beyond Algebra I at least.
Acid/Base Equilibrium: taking -log on the calculator takes care of that</p>
<p>Algebra II should not be a prerequisite for AP Chem. Algebra I is fine.</p>
<p>I guess you’re right. I was trying to say that lack of math will eventually lead to more confusion in AP Chem than for someone who’s doing Algebra 2.</p>
<p>That’s a given, yes. Knowledge of math at a higher level will only help you. </p>
<p>However, we agree that the class is more than manageable with only Algebra I knowledge.</p>
<p>Yeah, with only Alg 1 stick to AP Bio. Not only because the others re</p>
<p>AP Chem? oh there is a part where you are given a differential equation. But it is only used to derive the formula 
for example
d[A]/dt=k[A]
d[A]/[A] = fnInt (k,t,t0,tf)
and goes on…
I strongly suggest that you require Alg II tho, for ap chem</p>
<p>@benhpark
Indeed. :)</p>
<p>I love how the title says AP Physics B, but most of the discussion is on AP Chem…lol</p>
<p>You gotta to love CC. The OP mentions this topic but eventually it deviates to another topic.</p>