Any Calculus 1 tips?

[altamont850]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Anyone have any advice for someone taking Calculus 1 for the first time? All of my other classes are going very well but Calculus is a thorn in my side.

I understand most of the concepts but sometimes I have trouble answering questions quickly (which is required when taking exams). I'm currently studying derivatives and I understand the rules and procedures but sometimes I'll work for 20 minutes on a single question and I know this is less than ideal. I still can make and "A" in this class but I really need to tighten up. Can anyone whose taken and aced this class give me any advise that might help my studies? I'd really appreciate it!

 

[ig0tfish]

Do as many practice problems as you can. I know it varies for each department but what my school does is base our exams almost completely off homework, so those who can master the homework are pretty much guaranteed to do well on the exams.

 

[aSagacious]

Get a solid foundation in trig so you can remember most relations cold. This will help you get through questions much faster, as there's usually some simple rearrangement/substitution that makes the problem easier than it first appears.

 

[unhappytnt]

I am not too fond of math but I found calculus I to be easy. It could be because all we did was derivatives and I did that back in high school. Just know the L'hospitals rule down cold and you should be fine I think.

 

[JESSFALLING]

You might see if khanacademy.org helps you. I have found it to be helpful.

 

[jowen88]

i found this resource awesome http://justmathtutoring.com/
and fyi, I got a C in calc 1 and got multiple interviews and acceptances if it helps ease your mind 🙂

 

[GomerPyle]

Yeah...use your brain. Math is easy.

 

[88845]

Ah, Calculus I. The class that signified the beginning of my love affair with strong coffee. That's what helped me push through it.

 

[JRWPREMED]

PatrickJMT on YouTube got me through Calculus I and II. I think someone above mentioned justmathtutoring, which is Patrick's website, but he charges for the videos there. You can go to his YouTube page and find his playlist on Calculus I. It was a life-saver.

Good luck!

 

[Wubbles]

We had to do a timed derivative skills test where you had to score 100% or two 90%'s to pass the class. Just practice, practice, practice to get fast. It starts to become second nature.
Also, I second the PatrickJMT recommendation, he works more complicated problems than Khan and helped me through trig.

 

[nuance]

Do as many practice problems as you can. I know it varies for each department but what my school does is base our exams almost completely off homework, so those who can master the homework are pretty much guaranteed to do well on the exams.

We had to do a timed derivative skills test where you had to score 100% or two 90%'s to pass the class. Just practice, practice, practice to get fast. It starts to become second nature.

I cannot emphasize this enough: PRACTICE. Practice. Practice until it hurts. Practice until your roommates start referring to you as Leibniz. Practice until you could write the test yourself.

This is how I study math, and I got A's in both semesters of calculus for math majors/engineers.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Yeah...use your brain. Math is easy.

:/ So what's hard for you then? I hate math so much!

 

[GomerPyle]

:/ So what's hard for you then? I hate math so much!

I am not good at verbal reasoning...I guess your either a math/science guy or a english/history guy. I am the former.

 

[kpcrew]

practice so you don't make mistakes
i can't even remember how many times i've forgotten to do chain rule

 

[altamont850]

Thanks for all the advice guys!


I was really just frustrated about one problem but I really appreciate all the useful advice.

I just needed some sleep (when I woke up I did many problems expeditiously and without error).

I checked out PatrickJMT and his youtube channel seems very helpful. I guess I'll spend the rest of Spring Break practicing calculus (it is the only class giving me any problems).

Thanks!😀

 

[maybemed2013]

You need the solution manuel... if it was not for the solution manuel I would of failed Orgo 1 and Cal 1 and do the problems over and over again.

 

[IMSingular]

Get the book from Schaum's Series and go through all solved problems and solve all the practice problems.

 

[altamont850]

Get a solid foundation in trig so you can remember most relations cold. This will help you get through questions much faster, as there's usually some simple rearrangement/substitution that makes the problem easier than it first appears.

I spent some time reviewing trig before calculus and this is so valid.

I often simplify derivatives of inverse trig functions where the derivative contains trigonometric
expressions. I often see how I can simplify using identities and this makes derivative simplification so much quicker.