How to be successful in calculus

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Well i'm not that good at math (not terrible). I can pull of B's but I really want an A in my calculus class. What are some good techniques to follow? Thanks

I'm interested in this too. I'm retaking calculus this summer and I need to do much better than my last go around!

I'd recommend that you shouldn't miss a calc class as it's hard to play catch up, especially when the information is new and challenging at the same time.

The instructor usually puts up practice problems, attempt those practice problems in order to reinforce the material. Attend office hours to help with challenging problems that come up regularly.

Don't be afraid to ask questions in class.Take advantage of tutors your institution provides.

Originally Posted by TheBatman

Well i'm not that good at math (not terrible). I can pull of B's but I really want an A in my calculus class. What are some good techniques to follow? Thanks

Originally Posted by EyesOfTheWorld

I'm interested in this too. I'm retaking calculus this summer and I need to do much better than my last go around!

Enjoy.

Also handy.

This won't help you much, but I personally found calc 2 way more challenging than anything I've done in the first 2 years of med school.

(Most of my classmates disagree, so hopefully that makes you feel better)

http://www.wolframalpha.com/
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http://www.wolframalpha.com/

Practice problems man. Calculus isn't hard, study right and you'll get that A.

Originally Posted by U Wot M8

http://www.wolframalpha.com/
http://www.wolframalpha.com/
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That's only useful when you know how to use it.

Originally Posted by Agent B

That's only useful when you know how to use it.

The syntax is pretty straightforward though. You can just google it.

Originally Posted by TheBatman

Well i'm not that good at math (not terrible). I can pull of B's but I really want an A in my calculus class. What are some good techniques to follow? Thanks

Have you tried watching Khan academy videos? He seems to help people a lot in different subjects.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL987ABEB108DC4EB0

Practice problems, practice problems, practice problems. Literally the only way to learn.

Also, make sure you brush up on your algebra skills and trig. Algebra manipulations are VERY important. Even something as simple as (a/b)/(c/d) = (a*d)/(b*c) can help a ton, as well as x^-1 = 1/x. Know your factoring and your quadratic equation. Learn how to identify the functions within functions, will help a ton for chain rule.

Originally Posted by Lamel

Practice problems, practice problems, practice problems. Literally the only way to learn.

Also, make sure you brush up on your algebra skills and trig. Algebra manipulations are VERY important. Even something as simple as (a/b)/(c/d) = (a*d)/(b*c) can help a ton, as well as x^-1 = 1/x. Know your factoring and your quadratic equation. Learn how to identify the functions within functions, will help a ton for chain rule.

Yep. Do practice problems and make a "cheat sheet" for yourself and write out the most efficient ways of solving all types of problems.

Also, I've found out that every time I think "oh this type of problem won't come up on the exam, it's too long" I'm wrong. That problem always comes up on the exam.

The lamar site is excellent, really helped me with series convergence tests.

Originally Posted by Josh7

Yep. Do practice problems and make a "cheat sheet" for yourself and write out the most efficient ways of solving all types of problems.

Also, I've found out that every time I think "oh this type of problem won't come up on the exam, it's too long" I'm wrong. That problem always comes up on the exam.

You mean like trig substitution? XD

Originally Posted by sliceofbread136

Practice problems man. Calculus isn't hard, study right and you'll get that A.

When my engineering friends also got B's in our Cal II class, I decided I shouldn't be too hard on myself for mine.

The book Calculus Made Easy is super old but very helpful! It definitely helped me.

Office hours, office hours, office hours! If you don't understand a concept, a practice problem, an example, etc. find someone who will clarify and point you in the right direction. If you don't understand how to do something, don't just brush it off as a particularly hard problem. I find it helpful to write down the topics that I need to review and doing more practice problems/review in my trouble areas, and bringing the material I found hardest to my professor or tutor (which is also super helpful to have!!)