Calculus compared to Precalculus

[Snowman334]

So, I am currently taking Precalculus. On the first Exam, I got a D, however, on the second (mainly based on logarithms) I did much better, I think, as the grade has not been posted yet, but I could answer most of the questions. (I have joined a study group and the professor has been doing more workshop style classes lately, which I find especially beneficial).

Basically, I am struggling to keep my head above water in pre calc. The last mathematics class I took was MA82, Intermediate Algebra, a remedial class. I received a B in this class. (Mostly because I didn't do the homework... I had not realised that I wanted to go to medical school at this point. Since then I have turned my academic habits around).

Ok, so here is what I am wondering. How much more difficult is Calculus than Precalculus? I am a little hesitant to take it as many schools that require calculus will let you sub statistics, but at the same time, I sort of feel that that would be taking the easy out. And I sort of want to take calculus, but will I be able to do well in calculus 1 and then 2 if I am fighting tooth and nail to do well in precalculus? And input is appreciated!

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[schrizto]

I got A's in math in high school before anything calculus. I got a B+ in pre-calc. In AP calc I was failing and had to drop. I'm not trying to scare you, it's just personal experience. I find calc to be very different than pre-calc, but you really have to try it yourself and see.

 

[Notsosmart]

Calculus is difficult but it is not too difficult to learn. You did not do well in Algebra therefore you will not do well in Pre-Calculus (natural progression). You need to make sure that you know all of your basic math well and build on top of it. If you do your homework regularly and spend more time working on your weaknesses. I believe you can do well in Calculus. Good luck.

 

[Moosecakes]

Highly agreed with above poster. Practice makes perfect in these math, chem, physics classes. do all the problems he assigns, then twice as many similar problems. Sure you'll spend and extra 2 hours on homework but you will be amazed at how much you'll learn!

 

[ILikeDrugs]

I found calc I to be easier than pre-calc. I got an A in calc and a B in pre-calc. By the way, why are you taking pre-calc before taking trig. I think having a basic understanding of trig would be necessary in order to be successful.

 

[seelee]

So, I am currently taking Precalculus. On the first Exam, I got a D, however, on the second (mainly based on logarithms) I did much better, I think, as the grade has not been posted yet, but I could answer most of the questions. (I have joined a study group and the professor has been doing more workshop style classes lately, which I find especially beneficial).

Basically, I am struggling to keep my head above water in pre calc. The last mathematics class I took was MA82, Intermediate Algebra, a remedial class. I received a B in this class. (Mostly because I didn't do the homework... I had not realised that I wanted to go to medical school at this point. Since then I have turned my academic habits around).

Ok, so here is what I am wondering. How much more difficult is Calculus than Precalculus? I am a little hesitant to take it as many schools that require calculus will let you sub statistics, but at the same time, I sort of feel that that would be taking the easy out. And I sort of want to take calculus, but will I be able to do well in calculus 1 and then 2 if I am fighting tooth and nail to do well in precalculus? And input is appreciated!

It is hard to say because difficulty is dependent on so many factors (the way the subject is taught, textbook, tests, professor, etc.) In my experience as a calc tutor, students had a hard time with calculus because so much of it is conceptual. That being said, you need to have a firm math foundation before taking it. If you are just squeaking by then you have foundation issues and need to learn the basics.

I found calc I to be easier than pre-calc. I got an A in calc and a B in pre-calc. By the way, why are you taking pre-calc before taking trig. I think having a basic understanding of trig would be necessary in order to be successful.

That depends on the course and the school, my precalc class covered trig.

Calculus is difficult but it is not too difficult to learn. You did not do well in Algebra therefore you will not do well in Pre-Calculus (natural progression). You need to make sure that you know all of your basic math well and build on top of it. If you do your homework regularly and spend more time working on your weaknesses. I believe you can do well in Calculus. Good luck.

I agree with this, you need to be comfortable with algebra to do well in calculus. If you feel you are deficient, maybe take a summer algebra course or buy a math tutor program (I used one after returning to school after a 5 year hiatus) and go through it over the summer.

I never took statistics so I can't comment on which is easier but I will say that there is nothing wrong with taking the easier road once in a while. You will have plenty of opportunity to get challenged on the road to medical school.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

I was always under the impression that pre-calc doesn't count toward the year of math. I thought calc, calc II, and statistics were the only ones that counted. Have I been looking at this wrong all this time? lol

 

[drareg]

my last math class before college was geometry lol ... that was back in high school. I signed up for precalc so i could prepare for calculus. Basically, precalc was 10x harder than calc for me. The reason why is because you will be learning 10x more material in the same time frame. In calculus there are porbably like 4 concepts you learn the whole semester.

I found that precalc was adequate preperation for calculus although you learned much more than you will use in calclus. it still gets your mind working in the way that calclus needs it to. i did well in precalc and calc but worked alot harder in my precalc class. youll be fine. just work hard and practice as many problems as you can.

 

[orthomyxo]

I found calc I to be easier than pre-calc. I got an A in calc and a B in pre-calc. By the way, why are you taking pre-calc before taking trig. I think having a basic understanding of trig would be necessary in order to be successful.

Really?? I'm sleeping through pre-calc and still getting A's.

 

[vickpick]

i guess for some calc may be harder than pre-calc, but for me it was easier mainly because i took precalc in HS and never did HW and got a B... In college I nut myself up and did hw and got an A in calc 1 and 2..

dont worry you'll bounce back up if you try to understand the concepts rather than only memorizing the equations..

 

[c5212]

pre-cal/calculus sucks period.... HOORAY FOR AP/COLLEGE STATISTICS 😀😀😀

 

[Snowman334]

Thanks for the input guys! You've all been very helpful. I am pretty sure that, assuming I get a good grade in precalculus, I am going to go on and pursue calculus! I feel that I am smart and resourceful enough to be able to do well even if I find myself lost. Thanks again for the responses! I really appreciate it! 🙂

 

[ILikeDrugs]

Basically, precalc was 10x harder than calc for me. The reason why is because you will be learning 10x more material in the same time frame. In calculus there are porbably like 4 concepts you learn the whole semester.

This is true, and it's something that I completely forgot about. A pre-calc book is 2x as many pages as a calc book, and on top of all that, you will only learn 1/3 of the book for calc i.

 

[boaz]

Pre-calc is a hodge-podge of miscellaneous annoying math tricks.

In calc I you get learn about one of the greatest achievements of the human mind, and that all in one semester.

Enjoy. 🙂

 

[circulus vitios]

Learn the trig functions and some trig identities. Be comfortable with basic algebra like factoring, simplifying, rearranging equations, multiplying/dividing by fractions, etc. Actually DOING calculus is nothing more than algebra and some trigonometry. If you're not good at algebra, you will be by the end of calculus. I sucked at math all through high school but I absolutely rocked AP Calc, and I'm rocking Calc I right now in college.

 

[Beckie]

My recommendation is to go get one of those books that breaks the material down better than the annoying text books.

For instance... there is a book called ...Precalculus DeMystified.

Then do as many practice problems as you can until you feel comfortable. I think a lot of people don't realize that math takes a lot of practice. I think that is the secret to doing well in math. Just keep practicing. If you don't understand something, see the professor after class or get a tutor. Please don't give up!

Yes, I do agree with what the above posters said... Calculus is harder than Pre-Calculus. Pre-calculus gives you the basics for Calculus... just like arithmetic gives you the basics for algebra... etc. They are all building blocks that are very important in your "math development."

 

[EyEnStein 07]

My personal opinion is that there are many people that can go on to calculus without even taking pre-calculus. Sure pre-calculus is said to be what lays the foundation for you to learn calculus but you can do just as well. The main important thing is learning small tricks that you may learn in algebra (again covered in pre-calc) that will help you. But calculus will be an introduction of new concepts that you have not seen before.