<p>Hello everyone!
I know you must get sick of all the topics like this, but I need some advice. Thank you in advance:</p>
<pre><code>I am a freshman; soon to be sophomore (obviously). Now, I am going to be in AP Chem and AP Physics next year. These require a lot of math. I skipped a year in math so now I am in Geometry. I was wondering if I had enough time (summer + rest of this school year = 6.5 months or so) to independently learn Trig/Alg 2 and Pre-Calc and then advance to AP Calc BC next year. I know, it would be tough and it may even sound crazy. However, the head of the Mathematics and Science departments is very close to me (by which I mean she is really helpful and knows me well.) I would have a lot of help from internet/books/teachers and parents of course. I just wanted to know if it seemed reasonable or not. I have 100%s on all my math averages, in honors, so my work ethic and intelligence would not get in the way. The only problem is that I don't want to take on such a task and later find out it is impossible.
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<p>Thanks for reading, hope you did not break your jaw from yawning! :)</p>
<p>Oh man idk...sorry but I don't think that's a good idea.</p>
<p>Going directly from geometry to Calc BC? That's just too much imo.</p>
<p>However, if you know that you have the determination to learn trig and pre-calc over the summer, then go for it I guess. But I sure wouldn't recommend that.</p>
<p>Have you even taken regular chem or physics? It would be very hard to learn alg2/trig and even harder to learn precalc. I say just do alg2/trig in the summer and take precalc in school and AP physics junior year. Its seriously not a joke class. AP Chem is only a little easier.</p>
<p>You already skipped one, you're a sophomore, chill out a little bit?</p>
<p>Here's what I would recommend. Take Algebra II Honors online or however you can and then take Pre-calc your sophomore year. Going from Geometry to AP Calc BC is insane. Taking Chem, Physics, and Calc BC as a sophomore.. a little bit too crazy if you are in Geometry now.</p>
<p>^ Yes exactly. Relax. You're a freshman, enjoy the easy classes while they last. Being motivated is a great thing but you're going overboard here. Learning 2 years of math in a summer? From Geometry straight to Calc BC? Besides, there's nothing wrong with taking Calc BC as a junior/senior. That's the highest level math course offered in high-school so what would be the point of finishing it so early?</p>
<p>algebra-based math and geometry/trig math are entirely different stories. most people prefer one over the other. even if you are good at geometry, you may struggle with algebra II and precalculus, particularly if you try to do them both in one summer. the concepts need a bit to sink in, in my opinion. </p>
<p>what happened to me: took alg 1 in 7th grade. took alg 2 in 8th grade. took geometry in 9th grade and, like you, got 100s every quarter. took precalc in 10th grade. got a C. why did i get that C? i had not learned the previous algebra-based math as i should have. if you learn it all too quickly, the same may happen to you. </p>
<p>what you should probably do: take algebra II next year. take precalc/trig that summer (if you are good at geometry, you will probably be better at trig stuff than algebra stuff). then take calc BC your junior year. senior year, depends on what your school offers. basically, don't rush it.</p>
<p>yeah if you're going to do physics you should at least have taken trig/precalc beforehand so vectors will not confuse the hell out of you. preferably calculus.</p>
<p>If you REALLY REALLY REALLY want to, you could do self-study algebra II... I mean, I know someone who self-studied AP calc AB and BC and aced calc 3. So, if you KNOW you're really talented at math, you could skip one... but I would NOT skip all of those classes. It just says suicide to me.</p>
<p>Didn't say this last time, but you probably don't want to be taking AP Physics and Chem together, and you definitely don't want to go into them having only taken beginning algebra.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying everyone.
In my school, Trig and Algebra 2 are one class. And pre-calc is the one that people usually skip. Every other day I audit a trig/algebra 2 class, so by summer I'd already have half the course work done. Also, I am in Pre-AP Chem now, and I don't need higher math for AP. As for AP Physics, the teachers all said that I won't need any more than Trig.
So as far as the sciences go I'll be fine, but skipping the two years in math no doubt is a little crazy, but given a great deal amount of time, commitment and help from teacher, don't you think that it is possible?</p>
<p>Hypothetically :
I learn all the Trig/alg 2 material by the end of this year. (since I sit in the class, I could just take the work home every other day)
During the summer I learn the Pre-Calc stuff
Go into AP Calc BC in the fall.</p>
<p>I think it is atleast worth a try... :)
Thanks eveyone, keep sharing your opinions, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Also, in regards to people saying what is the point. Well, there are independent studies for higher math and programs with local colleges. Since I plan on majoring in a math/science field, it would be nice to be ahead.
If you think about it, it is not 2 years of math condensed into 1 summer, I have half a school year + summer.</p>
<p>What would you do in Precalc if you're covering Trig in Alg II? In my school, Trig & Precalc are pretty much the same thing, and Alg II is different.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people that took geometry their freshman year and sef-studied Alg 2 over the summer, and took pre-calc in the fall as sophomores. But I'm sure you're totally capable of doing so :)</p>
<p>This is doable but difficult. Given your track record, there is no reason to think you can't do it. The challenge will be to be sure you have truly internalized the material. I would see if your teachers will write you some practice tests that you can take while you are doing this. It would be even better if they will grade them for you. At my daughters' school, there is a well-defined path for self-study of pre-calc over the summer. The student has to get hold of their own copy of the textbook, but they are given a syllabus containing week-by-week assignments (including problem sets) to take home. At the end of the summer, they must take a placement test and score 90% or better to be allowed to place into BC Calculus. It's rigorous and in a school full of nerds, only a few actually succeed, but those that do can be assured that they have gained enough command of the pre-calc material that they will not get bogged down in calculus for lack of adequate preparation.</p>
<p>That is good advice. For Trig/Alg 2, the teacher who teaches the class provides me with all the material. In Pre-calc, I could come in during summer a couple of times with questions, and then at the end perhaps they could give me the mid term/ final and the chapter tests. I will borrow some books from the library to start. Thanks.</p>