Self-teaching Calc AB

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'm class of 2010 and I'm thinking of teaching myself Calculus over the summer. I don't have enough room in my schedule next year and I've only done Algebra 1, 2, and Geometry (I will not be doing precalc or any standard math class, but I know basic trig functions). I really just want to take the AP calc test at the end of next to get "ahead".</p>

<p>I'm not a super genious in math, but I took a look at my school's Caluclus text book and talked with a current student and it doesn't seem that bad. Do you think studying Calc on my own would be a good idea in hopes of passing the AP test (the test is mostly derivatives right)? I'm probably just going to buy a used textbook from Amazon or something.</p>

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<p>Calculus is something you should make room for.</p>

<p>What else are you taking?</p>

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<p>Four core (Ap comp sci for math), two art classes (which I’m not giving up), and Info Systems (also not giving up).</p>

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<p>Seems silly to take AP Comp Sci instead of Calculus. Even if you’re planning on majoring in Computer Science, you’ll need to know the math.</p>

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<p>Well, I genuinely enjoy computer science… I took it this year too, and like I mentioned earlier I wouldn’t even be able to take Calc AB.</p>

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<p>The problem is that you could self-study Calculus and probably pass the exam, but you would still be in a position where you might want to retake the class in college. In the end you won’t have gained much. Also, someone applying as a CS major without Calculus scheduled may look a little funny in admissions, though that wouldn’t necessarily make a big difference.</p>

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<p>I’m not trying to skip out on Calculus in college, I just feel it’s something I should be doing (because I will need to know the math, like you said). Plus, I’d get to skip some of the intro math classes once I get into college.</p>

<p>As far as the AP test, is there a certain topic that’s focused on, or is it a broad knowledge thing?</p>

8

<p>I wanted to try something like this over the summer [also 2010] but after asking around, the general gist seems to be that Calculus is important. Especially if you plan on going more into computer science, a strong grasp of advanced math would be needed, and one summer doesn’t really seem like enough time to learn Calculus, unless you’re very intuitively good at mathematics. </p>

<p>Also, you say you have not taken any formal Pre-Cal but know basic trig functions…this is not quite all of what Pre-Cal is about, though it’s part of it.</p>

<p>And you want to do AB over the summer then take the AP Test at the end of the year? What?</p>

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<p>Well it wouldn’t be just summer, I’d be studying up until the exam. I said summer because that’s when I plan to start.</p>

<p>

Oh, I just assumed. In my school system precalculus is trigonometry and math analysis.</p>

10

<p>My son’s school offers a class that combines Trig with Calc AB. The first quarter is Trig, then the rest is Calc AB accelerated to fit into three quarters. He just took the AP test and thinks he got a 4 easily and maybe a 5.</p>

<p>My point is that it is possible, though difficult, to cram in enough trigonometry in a short time to prepare yourself for Calc AB and still be ready for the AP test in one year. But be prepared to work your buns off. Best of luck to you!</p>

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<p>What the **** are you talking about? Calculus is a fundamentally important basis of mathematics. If you don’t learn it correctly, you’re screwed. Take Computer Science by yourself and take Calculus at the school. As a friend of idiots who attempted to do what you’re considering, I can tell you that’s the best route.</p>

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<p>listen, you haven’t even gone any further than algebra 2…and you say your not even that good at math…why would you teach it yourself? that makes no sense whatsoever. precalc you need. if you don’t have that you will be lost in calculus. trust me. screw ap computer science…and get a really good teaching in ap calculus. trust me it is NOT easy.</p>

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<p>Calc isnt a continuation of Alg and Trig. It’s an entirely new subject. If you already took AB and wanted to self study BC, I would understand that, but with a weak math background you def want to take the class. AB Calc is just one of those classes where you should really take and not self-study.</p>

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<p>Understood.
I should probably brush up on my math skills/study precalc first.
In any case, since I can’t take Calc AB anyway, I’m still going to have to learn it outside of school.</p>

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<p>I would not say this is an accurate statement at all. I am only in Alg II as a junior. The only reason being is because I didn’t take Alg I in middle school. In fact I have a high A (97) in Alg II.</p>

<p>I’m in sort of the same situation as you oooh… so good, but I would like to take a course in trig or pre-calc over the summer so I can just do AP… if I preform well. It’s rather hard to find one.</p>

<p>Look at the book you have an see if it makes since from the start?</p>

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<p>I find that precalculus is mostly just a review of everything taught in geometry and algebra. Actually algebra II was like that to me as well. Try finding a precalculus textbook online and see if you understand every concept. You might want to attempt some of the problems as well to gain experience.</p>

<p>I am trying to learn BC Calculus over the summer, but I’m fairly good at picking up math concepts and I am taking precalculus this year, so I really don’t know if you will be able to do it. But anyways, take a look at those textbooks (pretty easy to find. they’re usually the out of print ones or older editions) and see if you feel comfortable moving forward.</p>

<p>Here are a few resources I came across while planning my summer (won’t go crazy with math, but enough each day to finish the course). Note that a few go beyond AB calc and into BC calc…</p>

<p>[HippoCampus</a> Calculus - AP Calculus AB I - Homework Help](<a href=“http://www.hippocampus.org/Calculus]HippoCampus”>HippoCampus Calculus & Advanced Math - Homework and Study Help - Free help with your Calculus & Advanced Math homework) AP Calc, College Calc, Intro Calc</p>

<p>[Internet</a> Archive: Advanced Placement Calculus AB](<a href=“http://www.archive.org/details/ap_calculus_ab]Internet”>Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine) AB Calc page, but you can find BC calc as well</p>

<p>[MIT</a> OpenCourseWare | Mathematics | 18.01 Single Variable Calculus, Fall 2006 | Home](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/18-01Fall-2006/CourseHome/index.htm]MIT”>http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/18-01Fall-2006/CourseHome/index.htm) MIT’s Calculus. It covers all topics in BC and is the main site I will be using in my studies. They said that all of the video lectures should be uploaded by the end of summer.</p>

<p>[YouTube</a> - Broadcast Yourself.](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=19E79A0638C8D449]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=19E79A0638C8D449) Khan academy. Great videos. You can also find videos on the basics and trig/precalc.</p>

<p>[Banner</a>, A.: The Calculus Lifesaver: All the Tools You Need to Excel at Calculus.](<a href=“http://press.princeton.edu/video/banner/]Banner”>http://press.princeton.edu/video/banner/) Princeton’s intro calc.</p>

<p>[Calculus</a> Student Support Site](<a href=“http://www.math.ncsu.edu/calculus/web/videos.html]Calculus”>http://www.math.ncsu.edu/calculus/web/videos.html) NCSU’s calc courses</p>

<p>[Online</a> Calculus Course with Professor Goetz at San Francisco State University](<a href=“http://calculus.sfsu.edu/calculus/assignments.php?n=-1]Online”>http://calculus.sfsu.edu/calculus/assignments.php?n=-1) SFSU</p>

<p>[Dr</a>. Z’s Calculus Handouts](<a href=“http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~zeilberg/DrZhandouts.html]Dr”>Dr. Z's Calculus Handouts) Rutger’s math handouts</p>

<p>[Free</a> Calculus Books Download Free Calculus Ebooks Online Calculus tutorials](<a href=“http://www.freebookcentre.net/Mathematics/Calculus-Books-Download.html]Free”>Free Calculus Books Download | Ebooks Online Read books PDF) Some free calc textbooks</p>

<p>[Free</a> Online MIT Course Materials | Supplemental Resources | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/resources/Strang/strangtext.htm]Free”>http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/resources/Strang/strangtext.htm) Another free calc textbook</p>

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<p>Great post and thanks, I’ll be looking through that.</p>