<p>Well, if you’re getting a C in AB, I would not recommend BC.</p>
<p>Why don’t you talk to your AB teacher about it, too?</p>
<p>I’m not really sure, “putting things into words” is a greater aspect of calculus then any other math or quantitative study. Are you sure you’re accurately assessing where you’re failing to grasp and articulate calculus?</p>
<p>Yes. On the quizzes in my class, we have to provide written explanations for each answer. I always get all the points for the math portion but get only half points for each written answer. Takes most of my quizzes down to D’s but then I get high Bs on the tests because there are no written explanations.</p>
<p>Can you provide an example of what you’re referring to? I’m not sure I’m envisioning the proper thing for a written explanation since in calculus, a written explanation can only be, this equation describes this, performing this operation finds this, all of which you’d need to know to solve the problem.</p>
<p>Example:
y=(120-x)(324+2x) find max
y’=-4x-84
y’=0 so
0=-4x-84
4x=84
x=21
plug y’(21.1)=-number
y’(20.9)=+number
I take the derivative of the equation since maximum and minimum points are found where the slope of the function is 0 (turning point) and taking the derivative gives the equation which describes the slope of y. I set y’=0 and solve for x. I confirm it’s a maxima by checking values slightly above and slightly below X confirming they’re - and +, respectively.</p>
<p>That literally is the set of words which describe exactly what happens above, and it’s impossible to know one part of that answer without knowing the other…</p>
<p>I don’t have an example with me, but I’ll bring home a quiz tomorrow to put an example.</p>
<p>Written explanations in calculus class? Sounds like BS. The most explanation you need on the AP exam is pretty much “series converges by the ratio test.”</p>
<p>Hey, I’m just telling you what my teacher does. It’s how she knows we “really” know it. Eh… I’m working on it :]. We had a test today lol.</p>
<p>Well, I think I understand exactly where the teacher is coming from, I guess I’m having trouble seeing the disconnect between doing really well on one part and not the other and seeing how exactly that works may help me to understand what it is you’re not quite grasping (which almost certainly has to be over thinking the problem in my mind).</p>
<p>I don’t know. I think it might have something to do with my dyslexia, why I can’t but things into words. Either that or I’m a calculus idiot :].</p>
<p>I don’t think you’re an idiot… I’m just saying, to me, I think there is an easy fix that exists here which is why I’m anxious to see an example.</p>
<p>I’ve tutored way too many students in calc and this just seems to me like one of those, “easy fixes”.</p>
<p>^^ I hope so. Like I said, I’m working on it with a tutor.</p>