How much math in general/organic chem?

[Anabolism]

I have a weak background in math thanks to slacking in HS.

At my school the math sequence goes like this
Pre-Algebra -> Elementary Algebra -> Intermediate Algebra -> Pre-calculus/Trig --> Calculus

I've only completed the Elementary Algebra and know the Pre-calculus/Trig is a good place to be at to do well in algebra based physics. However, in the mean time I'd like to start taking some of the pre-requisites so...is my current standing enough to do well in gen/organic?

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[metallica81788]

Organic doesn't have any math. Or maybe very little and basic math.

Gen Chem you need a good bit of algebra and stuff, though.

 

[GregoryMD]

Gen chem II, at least at my school, is almost entirely math based. And I share your hatred of math (Although I took calculus during the summer, but it was super rushed with a bad professor, so I retained like maybe one thing from the entire class) Gen Chem I wasn't too bad though, mostly concepts and I like those.

 

[Anabolism]

What kind of algebra concepts are used in the Gen Chem?

 

[billw]

There is no math you can't learn along the way in gen chem, but you should be ready to deal with quadratics and logarithms, in addition to a lot of plug-and-chug algebra.

There is very little math in organic and it will all be math that you have already seen in gen chem.

 

[JJMrK]

The only math you'll need in either course is algebra.

 

[deuce924]

The only math you'll need in either course is algebra.

Agreed...

 

[Anabolism]

Thanks for the replies everyone, it's much appreciated!

 

[tennisball80]

Has anyone taken a calculus based general chemistry course?

 

[BlueElmo]

What kind of algebra concepts are used in the Gen Chem?

Equationd and stuff. Just basic things.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Has anyone taken a calculus based general chemistry course?

They offer that?😱

I knew there was calc based physics but calc based chem sounds kind of neat...albeit challenging.

I haven't taken organic but gen chem has a good amount of algebra. It's been okay so far, mostly plug and chug and manipulating units in equations.

 

[jtimmer1]

you'll have to be able to do quadratics for gen chem II. Just buy a ti-89, it will make your life easier.

 

[plasmidgreen]

Personally, I think that everyone in science should know at least basic calculus... everyone is so afraid of math, though I feel it is essential to the way we think. Not to be offensive or anything, but it makes me feel uneasy for some reason that people with doctorates in science/medicine don't necessarily have to know basic calc

 

[plasmidgreen]

Has anyone taken a calculus based general chemistry course?

That would probably be more like pchem

 

[xBODOMx]

Personally, I think that everyone in science should know at least basic calculus... everyone is so afraid of math, though I feel it is essential to the way we think. Not to be offensive or anything, but it makes me feel uneasy for some reason that people with doctorates in science/medicine don't necessarily have to know basic calc

This. When I went to high school I was terrible at math. I think the problem is people try to start college higher in math than they fully understand.
I ended up starting fro the bottom and now I'm taking calc. Its easily my favorite subject.

 

[snorlax]

My general chem was calc based. in gen chem I, mostly everything was derived with calculus (class was mostly about quantum mechanics). and in gen chem II, we had to use calculus to derive all of our equations for thermodynamics, kinetics, etc.

So if you go to a school that makes chemistry calc-based like mine, you will be seriously disadvantaged if you don't take calculus in high school. especially since only the top 5% of my general chemistry classes was given an A.

 

[riverjib]

No math in orgo. Limited math in chem. Algebra and very limited calc in physics. I've found that most intro science courses incorporate far less math than they require for registration, even calc-based physics.

In fact, I took up to calc 4 and linear algebra because I liked math, and figured that I wouldn't bother learning advanced math later. I think that a decent command of algebraic concepts and math you can do without a calculator is far more advantageous for med school than higher-level math. That's definitely true for the MCAT!

 

[Morsetlis]

Everybody should know calculus.

 

[riverjib]

Everybody should know calculus.

Yeah. That's a basic requirement for med school, even those that only require one semester. But applying calculus is entirely different. When I took chem and physics as an engineering student, we learned to apply calculus we hadn't learned yet.

When I returned to school years later as a "pre-med," I re-took all the BCPM classes. The "pre-med" chem and physics courses were much easier. I think I used less calculus in PChem (a junior-level chem major class) than I did in Physics I for engineers. I'm not even sure why calculus is required for med students. At most, you'll be required to understand how to apply basic derivatives in a first-year physiology course. But that level of calculus can be taught just as easily as multi-variable calc can be taught (for the purposes of PChem) to undergrads who haven't seen it yet. It's not conceptually or mathematically difficult.

Seriously, for med school, you just have to have some ability to work with variables. The higher-level mathematical principles you might need can easily be taught in an hour or so.

 

[BlueElmo]

Everybody should know calculus.

Besides, calculus is fun.

 

[Handinhand]

you'll have to be able to do quadratics for gen chem II. Just buy a ti-89, it will make your life easier.

This. I felt like everyone else was such a bunch of suckers, sitting there working out quadratics, while I was just letting my calculator solve them.

Gen Chem II has a lot of math, but it's not difficult at all.

 

[Morsetlis]

Also, learn how to operate your calculator ;p

 

[Dannyw]

gen chem has basic algebra and some logs. It's not very difficult.