I am a junior going into calc, and I will be taking AP chemistry and AP English and I want to decide what math to take. I know calc bc is a hard class but I have always done very well in math classes (95%+). I am just wondering how much time it will take to do well in calc bc. What do you recommend?
Have you taken precalc and trig before and done well in them? If so you probably will be okay with some hard work.
Also you should doublecheck to see if your school requires AB as a prereq for BC (my school was structured this way so that we didn’t cover any AB material in BC), or if they’re offered as separate options.
How comfortable are you with math? How was your performance in previous math classes? Do you think you have a solid understanding of pre-calc topics? I know a lot of people who have taken AP Calc BC, AP Chem, & AP Eng together, along an AP History and FL. It is definitely possible. If you have scored a 95+, then I say go for BC. Do you see yourself benefitting more with a chance to get the AP Credit for Calc I and II and not just I?
A (very) good knowledge of algebra, some trig and definitely precalculus. For each hour of lecture, you should spend about 3+ hours outside of class studying and doing homework - but that’s just an estimate.
Calculus BC is not as difficult as you think. If you already have a strong background in mathematics… i.e., if you are capable of “making sense out of theories and axioms” then you will have no trouble at all by all means.
Derivatives are rates of changes. Integrals are sums. Sigmas and convergence are extension of algebra 2 using calculus.
BC course was very simple for me. The equations might look bewildering at some points, but if you understand the underlying concepts… it is the most fun mathematics course to take.