How to get A in Calc II?

[TheInstitute]

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title says it all

 

[RunawayGrape]

Study and do practice problems.

 

[Endoxifen]

Calc is easy if you do the legwork. Just do the practice problems and ask questions when you have them.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

There are a few threads on this exact topic. Practice problems + Khan Academy + Paul's Online Math Notes.

 

[anperry]

Study and do practice problems.

I concur. Just finished Calc II last semester, and the professor assigned TONS of problems for us to do. I kept a nice binder of my fully-written solutions for these problems (always being sure to rewrite/correct in red pen the correct solution to those problems I solved incorrectly), and before any quiz or exam, I would review these homework problems, which helped immensely. For concepts I felt particularly shaky on, I would find extra unassigned problems in the textbook, and do those too.

Ultimately, doing LOTS of problems is key (assuming you always take the time to understand the solutions to the problems you miss). Good luck!

 

[Gilakend]

I got an A in calc two, I would study for all the tests but I think the thing that helped me the most was tutoring. Most schools have a free tutoring, so the week before every test I would spend some time in the math center going over problems and asking for verification/guidance when needed. It made the class a breeze. One of the best things I read on forum was that "in college its the kids that get A's that go to tutoring", even if I didn't feel like I needed it I would go.

 

[leonardoson]

As with any math class. Practice. There's lot's of little tricks in calculus, which end up being algebraic or trigonometric manipulations so you can actually do the integral (assuming semester system). You learn them through doing.
Just do all the homework, any questions you have go to the teacher or look at a solution AND UNDERSTAND EVERY STEP in the solution.

 

[terra330]

I got an A in calc 2, by a pretty large margin too (class average was about 40 points below my score).

Most of the actual calculus isn't hard IMO. The trick is to
A) Master algebra / trig -- by far the hardest part in my experience
B) Work on improving your speed in addition to understanding the coursework. I finished most exams with half the time allotted remaining. Helped to have that buffer when you realize that you used the wrong technique of integration rather late.

 

[Conflagration]

Hey, OP! I'm a math major and I got A's on Calc II and III.

As long as you understand the concepts (derivatives are slopes at given points, integrals measure areas under curves) then you should be fine. Go through any problems in your homework and rework them if you're stuck on a concept. Khan Academy has great videos to help with concepts too.

 

[chrisjh]

How to get an A in Calc II:
Calc is overtalked. The subject itself is deceptively easy. At least in my classes, the hard part is in showing your work.
You need a ridiculuously tedious attention to detail when showing work to 4 point a calc class