How did you pass Calculus? Any tips?

[Euphoric]

I am in the school of Business, majoring in Accounting but may switch to either Finance or Business Management and Marketing because this management class is really piquing my interesting and seems far more interesting than Accounting.

So, I am taking 4 classes this quarter, 3 seem manageable as long as I study the material, and do the work.

But this is my first time taking a Calculus class, and it's Business Calc I (Math 135), I never took a Calc class before and even in my AP HS (which was a ghetto school so even with AP we didn't have great resources), they never taught us. I am rusty and forgot most material, Lol.

So, this class meets once a week and the teacher is a dud, he's nice, but assumes you're just as godlike as him in Math. So, tips appreciated.

 

[CrimsonShadow]

My advice is this:

Don't skim over anything. Make sure you understand everything, even things that don't seem important to you right now.

If you do this, it will reward you for the rest of your education. If you do not, and you pass through things early on without understanding exactly what's going on, the later topics will absolutely slaughter you. Eventually you'll just be lost overall and struggling to tread water and pass tests -- and no one wants to be there.

So do whatever you need to do to make this happen:

• Talk to your teacher
• Ask questions (don't be afraid to speak up)
• Go to office hours
• Go to student tutoring
• Ask your friends and other students

Read things 10 times over if you have to. Learning math has never been easier due to the endless wealth of available resources out there on the internet. Blogs, Youtube, free online lessons, iPhone programs; don't be afraid to look outside of your school if you need to.

Anyway, I hope this helps (it helped me out a lot), and best of luck

 

[Euphoric]

My advice is this:

Don't skim over anything. Make sure you understand everything, even things that don't seem important to you right now.

If you do this, it will reward you for the rest of your education. If you do not, and you pass through things early on without understanding exactly what's going on, the later topics will absolutely slaughter you. Eventually you'll just be lost overall and struggling to tread water and pass tests -- and no one wants to be there.

So do whatever you need to do to make this happen; talk to your teacher, ask questions, go to office hours, go to student tutoring, ask your friends and other students. Read things 10 times over if you have to. Learning math has never been easier to the endless wealth of available resources out there on the internet. Blogs, Youtube, free online lessons, iPhone programs; don't be afraid to look outside of your school if you need to.

Anyway, I hope this helps (it helped me out a lot), and best of luck

Yeah the first class he went over stuff that wasn't in the book Math 130 material, and I understood until he just started throwing out forumulas and stuff. So I can't really study that, next week he is going to go by the book, so hopefully it'll be easier. There's only 3 exams. Midterm, Takehome, Final.

 

[iTz the Badger]

The derivative of 4x is 4.

Source: Calculus in highschool

 

[NRF CharlieMurphy]

There are typically tutor/meeting sessions where a TA gets paid to help anyone who shows up.

To be honest, you'll probably learn more from them, as they will figure out a way to help you understand.

 

[Euphoric]

There are typically tutor/meeting sessions where a TA gets paid to help anyone who shows up.

To be honest, you'll probably learn more from them, as they will figure out a way to help you understand.

Ya I have a lot of free time usually, I only have class M-W and it's one class each but, I think, I shall go to one.

 

[NRF CharlieMurphy]

Ya I have a lot of free time usually, I only have class M-W and it's one class each but, I think, I shall go to one.

The first one i went to I felt ashamed because I generally didn't understand some stuff (it was Calc II actually for me).

Without it I would have failed. The TA was awesome. I would recommend it every time. Just an hour with someone who understands that A) You don't get it and B) you want their help is just priceless.

Good luck sir.

 

[Euphoric]

The first one i went to I felt ashamed because I generally didn't understand some stuff (it was Calc II actually for me).

Without it I would have failed. The TA was awesome. I would recommend it every time. Just an hour with someone who understands that A) You don't get it and B) you want their help is just priceless.

Good luck sir.

Ya and I would think that since they're students and young too, they would understand better to explain it. We haven't really done anything, and this teacher doesn't give homework, so WTF am I supposed to practice? All he said is, hey, do these online math lab problems, and do as many as you want at the end of each sections.

What a fuck tard.

 

[Ram]

As was mentioned, make sure to go through the textbook (assuming the course has one) at a slow and steady pace, reading the theory and doing the examples presented in the different sections. Once you can do the examples, move on to the end-of-section problems. Practice practice practice...that's how I, and many people I know, do well in Calc. Also, do not be afraid/ashamed/etc. to seek out help in person, online, whatever. Pay for a tutor if you have to, because in the end it will be very worth it. Good luck!

 

[Skkra]

Ya I have a lot of free time usually, I only have class M-W and it's one class each but, I think, I shall go to one.

All I can say is, study study study. Do whatever you have to do to just get past it. Even if you get a D, fuck it... "D's get degrees!"

For what it's worth, as a computer science major who was forced to go up until Calc 4... fuck calculus. I've never hated math so much in my entire life. And I usually love math. For some reason my brain just doesnt want to understand calc.

 

[Euphoric]

I'll use this thread to ask around. I'm going to have fun today and than straight studying, this was our real first week of Calc.

 

[Euphoric]

All I can say is, study study study. Do whatever you have to do to just get past it. Even if you get a D, fuck it... "D's get degrees!"

For what it's worth, as a computer science major who was forced to go up until Calc 4... fuck calculus. I've never hated math so much in my entire life. And I usually love math. For some reason my brain just doesnt want to understand calc.

I think it's a class they just make you take. I don't think real world business you will use that much of it.

That's why I went to Business, I enjoy math and problems, I'm a logical person. But than there's Calc.

 

[Rodrigue]

Post whatever you're having trouble with here. I took advanced calculus and physics this year so I might be able to help you out. I'm sure others can help too. I'm majoring in dentistry so calculus might not be my forte but I'll be more than glad to help out

 

[Tony at Home]

If you have a modern TI calculator- know this:

This device can do so much more than most people think it can do. Alot of calculus things that you may think need to be done longform can just be put into a TI if you know exactly what to do.

For example: getting the area of a curve segment that's been rotated around the X or Y axis- a TI can actually get that.

 

[Insuperable]

I had to teach myself calc 1, 2, 3, 4, linear algebra, and complex analysis so far.

If you're dorming, try to find a friend in any math/science department (AMS, Math, Physics, Engineering, etc), as they're always required to take up to ~calc 2/3.

 

[ryublaze]

1st time u take Calc it's rough. u should make sure u know basic geometry and algebra before entering the class.

Go through the textbook, you don't necessarily have to read everything in the chapter (although it would help), just looking at example problems should be enough. Do all the even problems at the end of the chapter (so you can check your answers in the back, this helps a lot). My Calc I and II teacher forced us to do the problems even though he didn't collect the homework. I was probably the only person who did all the homework and I was one of the few who managed to get an A in both classes.

If you're stuck on a problem or you're confused, go to office hours (people say it's a waste of time but trust me it helps a ton depending on how good your teacher is). If he sees that you're trying he might be a little more lenient towards your grade.

You can also look up the problems online and 90% of the time you'll find it along with the answer (i use Yahoo Answers). But make sure you try doing the problem first, don't just look up all the answers. Also ask for help from friends or someone in your class if you need to.

Do any extra credit your teacher offers, even if it's just a little it'll help boost your grade so you can pass the class.

Formulas- there are a lot of formulas to remember. Take one section of your notebook and write them all down.

Personally I don't think Calc is that bad, but then again I'm asian so...

 

[ryublaze]

All I can say is, study study study. Do whatever you have to do to just get past it. Even if you get a D, fuck it... "D's get degrees!"

For what it's worth, as a computer science major who was forced to go up until Calc 4... fuck calculus. I've never hated math so much in my entire life. And I usually love math. For some reason my brain just doesnt want to understand calc.

i had no idea u were a CS major...i only had to go up to calc 2 lol. might PM u later

and yea, fuck calculus...

 

[Faded Dreams V]

Tips:
1. Do all your homework. Like....all of it. Don't skip any problems. You need to be able to answer everything.
2. Whenever you don't understand a problem in your HW (or it gives you trouble), write down the question, steps, and answer on a separate notebook, even if you've solved it already. You can go back to this notebook to refresh your memory before an exam.
3. Keep a little pad where you write down every single formula ever given in the class and any future math class you take. I kept mine from pre-algebra onwards. It's nifty.
4. Never assume you'll understand a problem on your own if you don't get it when the professor teaches it. If you don't understand something, ask either during or after class.
5. Take advantage of tutors if you really feel you need it, especially for material you don't understand from past math classes that isn't taught now.

I got an A in calc. Decided to minor in math afterwards. :3

 

[DavS13]

Calc 1 is pretty straight forward, I think if you just do the assigned homework and study a little you should be fine. I also heard that business calc is easier than regular calc, but I don't know for sure. You get to a point in your education where you basically have to teach yourself because the class time is so limited. Like I'm taking calc 4 this quarter and it only meets twice a week, I doubt I could pass unless I do alot more an my own.

 

[4x4lo8o]

Engineering student here, I love Calculus(not really)

In my experience the hard part of Calc 1 was the trig. If you sort of just scraped by in Trigonometry or PreCalc(or whatever your prerequisite was) there's a lot of identities and formulas and stuff you might be expected to know that it seems like the professor is just conjuring out of thin air. If it's the first week and you're already feeling like you're struggling you may want to brush up on that and some algebra. Not having a strong grasp on Algebra is another thing that trips people up, but luckily since you're in a buisness Calc class they're probably not expecting most of the students to come in with a super strong grasp on the fundamentals

 

[G4S Claude VonStroke]

Use YouTube and khan academy. It helped me a lot when I had to take calc classes in couple years ago.

 

[Haze]

dafucks a calculus?

 

[Euphoric]

What if you're rusty or don't know some of the prerequisite material?

SUMARY OF THE COURSE:

I A Beginning Library of Elementary Functions (Text: Ch. 1.1 – 1.2)
1.0 Introduction. Basics, Terminology and Notations
1.0.1 Elementary Functions: Graphs and Transformations
1.1 Linear equations and inequalities
1.2 Review Exercises
II Additional Elementary Functions (Text: 2.1 – 2.6)
2.1 Quadratic Function
2.2 Elementary Functions
2.3 Quadratic Functions
2.4 Rational Functions
2.5 Exponential Functions
2.6 Logarithmic Functions
2.7 Review Exercises
III The Derivative (Text: 3.1 – 3.7)
3.1 Introduction to Limits
3.2 Limits and Continuity
3.3 Infinite Limits
3.4 The Derivative
3.5. Basic Differentiation Properties (Derivatives of Constants, Power Forms, and
Sums)
3.6 Differentials
3.7 Marginal Analysis
3.8 Review Exercises
IV Additional Derivative Topics (Text: 4.1 – 4.6)
4.1 The Constant e and Continuous Compound Interest
4.2 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions
4.3 Derivative of Products and Quotients
4.4 Chain Rule
4.5 Implicit Differentiations(*)
4.6 Related Rates(*)
4.7 Review Exercises
V Graphing and Optimization (Text: Ch. 5.1 – 5.5)
5.1 First Derivative and Graphs5.2 Second Derivative and Graphs
5.3 L’Hôpital’s Rule
5.4 Curve Sketching Technique
5.5 Absolute Extrema. Optimization
5.6 Review Exercises
Homework:
1. Review Exercises (Ch.1 – Ch.5)
2. http://mylabsplus.depaul.edu exercises

My Professor: http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=361193


So after this weekend, I'll just spend all day studying, and stuff. Luckily it meets once a week, so I have time.

 

[Euphoric]

Tips:
1. Do all your homework. Like....all of it. Don't skip any problems. You need to be able to answer everything.
2. Whenever you don't understand a problem in your HW (or it gives you trouble), write down the question, steps, and answer on a separate notebook, even if you've solved it already. You can go back to this notebook to refresh your memory before an exam.
3. Keep a little pad where you write down every single formula ever given in the class and any future math class you take. I kept mine from pre-algebra onwards. It's nifty.
4. Never assume you'll understand a problem on your own if you don't get it when the professor teaches it. If you don't understand something, ask either during or after class.
5. Take advantage of tutors if you really feel you need it, especially for material you don't understand from past math classes that isn't taught now.

I got an A in calc. Decided to minor in math afterwards. :3

He doesn't really give HW.

 

[Stew Bones]

Khan academy