Teach myself Calculus?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>Currently a senior in high school, my math education is lacking. I feel cheated by the educational system, and thus have decided to take my future math education into my own hands. Right now I am in pre-calculus but that won't be enough to prepare me for a future in geochemistry, physics, or economics.</p>

<p>So I have set a goal to teach myself all the calculus covered on the AP AB exam while I simultaneously take pre-calculus. I am willing to use any resource possible to achieve competency. Although I don't have access to a physical teacher, I can use MIT lectures and the Khan Academy to learn from.</p>

<p>What books should I use to base my studies on? Also, what are fundamental topics covered in early college calculus class and what are the best way to learn/practice them? How can I improve my math to be up to par with other students entering top public universities (UT, UNC, Penn State,,,)?</p>

<p>Thanks for any help or suggestions.</p>

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<p>Welcome to home schooling! I use [Online</a> Videos | Online Courses - Math & Science online video courses](<a href=“http://www.thinkwell.com%5DOnline”>http://www.thinkwell.com). Their lecture series is great, includes problems, answers and tests. I used their stuff for AP macro micro and gov, got a 4 on al of them (sophom,ore and junior years). I encourage you to try that. I tried a textbook, and i didn’t like it. Khan academy and MIT lectures are great supplements.</p>

<p>Oh, the thinkwell course is made for AP calc AB. There is also a BC course</p>

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<p>Pauls online notes are pretty good, and mit open courseware is ok.</p>

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<p>[Khan</a> Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/]Khan”>http://www.khanacademy.org/) is also a good site. You may also want to get a textbook. We use “Calculus” by Stewart; it’s an average textbook. </p>

<p>However, if you really want to go far more in-depth and beyond what’s on the AB (or even the BC) exam, there are books like Apostol and Spivak. However, they are much more theoretical and may not be helpful toward your major/career goals.</p>

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<p>I use paul’s notes all the time!</p>

<p>[Pauls</a> Online Notes : Calculus I](<a href=“http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcI/CalcI.aspx]Pauls”>http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcI/CalcI.aspx)</p>

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<p>PR is a great book for teh AP calc exams</p>

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<p>[AP:</a> Calculus AB](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>AP Calculus AB – AP Students | College Board)
[Elementary</a> Calculus](<a href=“http://www.math.wisc.edu/~keisler/calc.html]Elementary”>http://www.math.wisc.edu/~keisler/calc.html)
[Free</a> Online Course Materials | Textbook | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/resources/res-18-001-calculus-online-textbook-spring-2005/textbook/]Free”>Textbook | Calculus Online Textbook | Supplemental Resources | MIT OpenCourseWare)</p>

<p>Older editions of the Larson/Hostetler/Edwards book are good for introductory calculus.</p>