<p>Hi. I am a rising sophomore planning on taking BC Calc. Freshman year I took Honors Algebra 2 and Honors Geometry and got over 100 in both. I am self-studying precalc this summer (using Barron's EZ Precalc, Cliffsnotes, and a textbook) and hope to test into BC calc next year. Is this a good idea? How much of precalc/trig is actually needed in calculus? I've read some responses in other threads saying that precalc is a total waste of time and that the only topic you really need to know is trig; others say that skipping precalc meant that they struggled in calculus and other higher level math. Also, if you took BC Calc, could you recommend a prep book? Our school uses Amsco's, but I've heard Arco and Barron's are also pretty good. Thanks :)</p>
<p>I would think that the placement test should answer this question. If you score highly, shouldn’t that indicate that you have mastered the material?</p>
<p>Trig is very important. Precalc will also give you lots of good practice with algebra.</p>
<p>^It should, but my school doesn’t exactly have the strongest math aptitude out there…</p>
<p>Also, I’m worried about gleaning over topics that I will really need next year (i.e. some of the harder trig identities, vectors, polar/parametric)</p>
<p>Take Precalc at the local community college.</p>
<p>Does your school not offer Calc AB? This seems like too large a jump between subjects to make over one summer.</p>
<p>Honestly, I just took a year of precalc combined with Calc A and the precalc was a huge waste of time. I’m not sure why I took it because there was really only one chapter of new material. I think you should try to get into AB though, not BC.</p>
<p>If you have a terrible teachers for pre calc like I did, then you don’t necessarily need to take it. My calc teacher (who is absolutely amazing), retaught our entire calc bc class pre calc in two days, although we did have some background knowledge. See if you can get some tutoring from a teacher or friend before the class starts so you have trig and such down.</p>
<p>Also, don’t worry about taking calc bc. The ab class at my school went at the same speed for the first two or three chapters just incase anyone wanted to switch in or out. It’s really not too bad, and my precalc base was pretty sketchy too:) I just got a 5 on calc bc (5ab sub), so I guess that shows that it can be done.</p>
<p>Good luck! If you have questions or need help message me! =)</p>
<p>I would probably stick with AB first if you could. You have PLENTY of time for BC</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Yeah, it probably would be a really big jump from Alg2/Geom to BC Calc. Maybe I could take AB and self-study BC for the AP exam…</p>
<p>Trigonometry is needed for both Calc AB and BC so you should take it. Pre-Calc however covers topics found in Calc BC (parametric equations / polar coordinates / series), logarithms (used in both AB and BC) and things that aren’t in AP Calculus at all but are in Multivariable Calculus (if BC is Calculus II then this is Calculus III). That being said it isn’t useless (its covered in the SAT II Math Level 2 exam) If you feel you are quite proficient in math then go ahead and take AP Calculus.</p>
<p>bump . . . any other CCers want to share their thoughts?? Thanks :D</p>
<p>It’s a medium sized jump. Some school districts put a little trigonometry into Algebra 2 so you can do that. It isn’t too hard to self-study trigonometry–I wish my school doesn’t have you waste an entire year (afterwards I feel like “that’s it?”) each on Precalc/AB and you can’t skip it unless your parents get really mad and contact the principal…</p>
<p>I’m really not that worried about trig/polynomials/logs. What I AM worried about are polar coordinates and parametric equations. I don’t know if I can learn everything about those topics required for Calc in such a short period of time. Are these required in AB and/or BC? Thanks :)</p>
<p>Parametrics and polar coordinates aren’t too bad. Khan Academy gives a good overview of polar coordinates</p>
<p>[Polar</a> Coordinates 1 | Precalculus | Khan Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/polar-coordinates-1]Polar”>http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/polar-coordinates-1)
[Polar</a> Coordinates 2 | Precalculus | Khan Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/polar-coordinates-2]Polar”>http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/polar-coordinates-2)
[Polar</a> Coordinates 3 | Precalculus | Khan Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/polar-coordinates-3]Polar”>http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/polar-coordinates-3)</p>
<p>and parametrics.</p>
<p>[Parametric</a> Equations 1 | Precalculus | Khan Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/parametric-equations-1]Parametric”>http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/parametric-equations-1)
[Parametric</a> Equations 2 | Precalculus | Khan Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/parametric-equations-2]Parametric”>http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/parametric-equations-2)
[Parametric</a> Equations 3 | Precalculus | Khan Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/parametric-equations-3]Parametric”>http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/parametric-equations-3)
[Parametric</a> Equations 4 | Precalculus | Khan Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/parametric-equations-4]Parametric”>http://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/v/parametric-equations-4)</p>
<p>Rob1995, BC also tests calculus with parametric equations and polar coordinates, so Khan Academy videos alone aren’t enough. It’s basically differentiation, tangent lines, and areas so its not hard to learn.</p>
<p>Polar and Parametric are not only easy to learn, but you can pick up what you missed easily through the BC class, you don’t really lose much.</p>
<p>My friend did this but after self studying pre calc for 2 months he studied Calculus for a month and nearly finished all of the Calc AB material, he was placed in BC calc and got a 5 on the exam. He took BC his sophomore year.</p>
<p>Look, I am not going to lie, calc bc is difficult without first taking calc ab and/or precalc. In precalc you really work hard on functions to strengthen your understanding of them. You also cover trig and everything that comes along with that. Calc bc is very fast paced and calc ab is there to begin the dumping of info. I suggest either taking precalc and afterwards bc (skip ab) OR take ab and then bc (skip precalc). Personally I suggest the first more, because that is what I did and I am doing better than I thought. (I am also good at math and had a super high grade in algebra 2 hon.) THAT IS JUST MY SUGGESTION! :)</p>