How to teach myself pre calc, trig, and Calc 1?

[SouthernSurgeon]

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Why though?

Because you need to learn concepts, not how to plug numbers into a fancy calculator that does all the work for you

 

[mathlegend]

You really don't need a calc for it...you can do most by hand. Using a calculator will result in you being dependent on it...that's bad in cases of no calculator exams and future courses where you have no calculator exams

 

[xnfs93hy]

Because you need to learn concepts, not how to plug numbers into a fancy calculator that does all the work for you

So you're telling me that I shouldn't need to use a calculator to find the square root of something like 45843756575?

I understand what you are saying. I am able to do most things in Algebra w/o using a Calculator but there are some things I'm pretty sure you need a calculator for. Well, kind of. I mean, you don't REALLY need to use a calculator at all, but there are just some things where it makes it so much easier.

 

[mathlegend]

I think what we mean is that you shouldn't rely on the calculator to find things such as derivatives or integrals.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

So you're telling me that I shouldn't need to use a calculator to find the square root of something like 45843756575?

I understand what you are saying. I am able to do most things in Algebra w/o using a Calculator but there are some things I'm pretty sure you need a calculator for. Well, kind of. I mean, you don't REALLY need to use a calculator at all, but there are just some things where it makes it so much easier.

You say you want to "teach yourself calculus" - that's the whole point of this thread. Solving the square root of 45843756575 won't get you any closer to that goal; neither will a TI-89.

Of course calculators have utility - I used one today. That wasn't the point. You definitely don't need it to learn calculus, and using a scientific calculator's advanced functions can be an easy crutch that should be avoided if you are going to try and self-learn advanced math.

 

[xnfs93hy]

I think what we mean is that you shouldn't rely on the calculator to find things such as derivatives or integrals.

Yeah, you can do that by yourself. So can a calculator but it isn't necessary.

Is that what you mean SIM?

 

[LovinPsych]

I'm really confused Jefgreen , you ask how , advice is given but I feel from my point of view that you already have your mind set on what to do ? 😕 Like you're fighting what others say? In any case of learning imo you shouldn't use a calculator at all, cause pencil and paper is something you'll always have , whereas a machine , you won't always need or have . I agree with most here . My impression was that you wanted to know what calculator was good in some cases of use not to overall teach yourself how to do calculus so to speak . It contradicts the purpose of the thread...

I tutor math and I notice students on any math level who rely on calculators forget the material , so in most cases calculators are a hender and disables your ability to learn , if over-used .

 

[xnfs93hy]

I'm really confused Jefgreen , you ask how , advice is given but I feel from my point of view that you already have your mind set on what to do ? 😕 Like you're fighting what others say? In any case of learning imo you shouldn't use a calculator at all, cause pencil and paper is something you'll always have , whereas a machine , you won't always need or have . I agree with most here . My impression was that you wanted to know what calculator was good in some cases of use not to overall teach yourself how to do calculus so to speak . It contradicts the purpose of the thread...

I tutor math and I notice students on any math level who rely on calculators forget the material , so in most cases calculators are a hender and disables your ability to learn , if over-used .

I am just trying to understand what was meant by "No Calculator"

I assume it means NO CALCULATOR but there are some things in Alegbra II I need to use a calculator for. Such as finding the square root of a large number or something. But again, I also said, even then a calculator isn't needed but helps a lot.

Whatever. I'll stop arguing and looking like and idiot and just assume that a calculator should not be used at all.

But just out of curiosity 😀...Do you let your students use a calculator? If so, what do you permit them to use it for?

And what is something you would TYPICALLY not allow them to use it for?

 

[135892]

So you're telling me that I shouldn't need to use a calculator to find the square root of something like 45843756575?

I understand what you are saying. I am able to do most things in Algebra w/o using a Calculator but there are some things I'm pretty sure you need a calculator for. Well, kind of. I mean, you don't REALLY need to use a calculator at all, but there are just some things where it makes it so much easier.

You can buy a calculator for $1 that will find the square root of 2323445 for you. I guess what I meant earlier was: You don't need an expensive calculator...

 

[Maygyver]

I would love to see where in a calc book you are asked to find the square root of 3252526262352. High level math doesn't just mean big numbers. If you need a TI-89 for calc, then you shouldn't be doing calc. Heck, if you need a TI-84 for calc, you probably shouldn't be doing it either.

 

[xnfs93hy]

I would love to see where in a calc book you are asked to find the square root of 3252526262352. High level math doesn't just mean big numbers. If you need a TI-89 for calc, then you shouldn't be doing calc. Heck, if you need a TI-84 for calc, you probably shouldn't be doing it either.

It was just an example...

 

[DearSky]

It's not impossible...but it's close to that?
It really depends on you and how well you can self-study.
​

 

[physics junkie]

Jeff, calculus doesn't require calculators. It is not about number crunching. Like we said, this is a different type of math. No calculus textbook is written so that the use of a calculator would be beneficial because all calculus professors understand that its not the way that calculus should be taught. It is conceptual. Conceptually setting up the solution is the difficult part--not computing it. Thats monkeys work.

If anything I would suggest a $10 subscription to calc101.com to help you through the more challenging integrals.

To be honest I was so comfortable with not showing up with a calculator to a test that I remember being shocked when in statistical thermodynamics a professor asked questions that required computations.

Here is a picture from my photobucket of calculus being used in an intro quantum physics course. See any numbers? Nope.

Edit: hahahaha I just noticed that I used mathematica to evaluate the integral. I was so lazy back in the day.