[BadgerHut]

WTF is with some of these answers? Dude asks "how can I study most effectively for calc I." He gets replies that say "that class is easy" or "why are you taking that class man" or "your major must be stupid." How is this helpful?

[simondice]

(08-29-2014 11:08 PM)BadgerHut Wrote:  

WTF is with some of these answers? Dude asks "how can I study most effectively for calc I." He gets replies that say "that class is easy" or "why are you taking that class man" or "your major must be stupid." How is this helpful?

Because it's that easy if you do the work.
1) Understand concept: why it works and how it works. If you don't get it, ask T.A or professor and read the book.
2) Do the drills till you get it.

There's no other way to understand math.
Understanding the proofs (how to do an specific method) and pretend you're teaching it to someone who is really lost is the best way to learn.

Calc 1 has:
- Limits
- Derivatives

That's it. There are sublets in derivatives, but that is just memorizing and understanding concepts pertaining to it.

Example:

Derivative of X^3
the way to find a derivative of any number X^n is by bringing down the n to the coefficient and subtract exponent by 1.

n*X^(n-1)

So derivative of X^3 (or d/dx(X^3)) = 3*X^2

[clever alias]

(08-29-2014 11:08 PM)BadgerHut Wrote:  

WTF is with some of these answers? Dude asks "how can I study most effectively for calc I." He gets replies that say "that class is easy" or "why are you taking that class man" or "your major must be stupid." How is this helpful?

because this doesnt merit its own thread, simondice nails it

1. he knows whats expected of him
2. he has all the materials to do whats expected of him
3. he just has to do whats expected of him

if he doesnt have all the materials to do whats expected of him, he can google any question he has and get an answer, or go see his professor during office hours

this is becoming learned helplessness, "calc is hard, gonna let other people direct me on how to do it"

[Hades]

Calculus is not terribly difficult. Pay attention in class, write notes, and ask somebody who's taken classes that are much more difficult to break it down for you.

If they can't explain to you what calculus is (or fail to reference the fundamental theorem of calculus) inside of two or three minutes then they're a fuckup and you should find somebody else. Try to get that holistic understanding of what constitutes calculus early so when you learn the minutiae, the "why" you must learn it will make sense.

[andy]

I'm taking this class because I'm working on an engineering degree, I should have been more specific. As for working hard, or not wanting to work hard, I'm not really worrying about the work, so much as I'm worrying about retaining the knowledge, as I'm doing the work. I realize it's a basic class for some of the posters here (Calc I), I just want to know how others approached this. My background in math is average at best, I passed pre-calc, and audited a Calc I class during the summer, so I'm familiar with the material. My question would be this - what would be an ideal work/study schedule, if I want to know of all of this shit? Maybe I am overthinking this, but I'm just asking others, what worked for them, in terms of planning and study.

[Goodtimez]

Do the work and you'll be fine

Pretty straightforward, man

:-). Good luck! Get 'em!!

[simondice]

Doing the proofs for the concepts and methods. If you can derive where they come from you're good. Understand how and why they work

Then try the homeworks and drills, making sure you try the toughest problems, these will make you think.

You should be fine after that.

[clever alias]

i wouldnt worry about retaining it. if youre an engineer, all of this will continue to build on itself and youll have continuous exposure, its not like youre doing calc 1 now and calc 2 in 3 years. just do the work and make sure you stay on top of things. dobt just phone it in

[Santoro]

Most universities will have a math tutoring program for cheap or free. Seek it out, prepare/actually try the assignment before you show up, and they will help you. Talk to/email your prof about it

If all else fails, a private tutor is a also a pretty cheap option considering that you'll get one on one experience. Email the admin for the math department, they usually keep a list of older math/engineering majors that offer private tutoring for very reasonable rates

[Rang off the Pipe]

My advice for Calc I:


-brush up on your algebra skills...you'll need them
-get a decent understanding of limits and how that relates to what a derivative actually is
-know the derivative rules for the various types of functions...some are more intuitive than others (ex: d(3x^2)=6x or d(sinx)=cos x)
-closely examine the important theorems (in this case continuity, extremas, etc.)


I've loved math since I was a kid, and did it all the way up to multivariable material.

[Ingocnito]

I took Calc 1 online in a very condensed course. 5.5 weeks for entire class !!!

It owned me during first 2 weeks, but the key I discovered was to have as many example problems at my finger tips, very organized and referencable.

I literally spend 35-60 hours a week on just this one class because the professor's response time was too long for questions and help, and I would have had incomplete assignments otherwise. This of course included a LOT of TI Calculator work and learning. I essentially self-taught myself this class. I will never forget it either, daunting.

Think of Calculus as the "math that employs all other forms of math."

*Final Note* - attack Calculus, don't shy away from it. Dig in and dig in hard aggressively, and constantly consistent. I aced it with a little extra credit, otherwise I may have got a very high B or low A. It took doing all the work available to obtain an A. It was meant to be a tough class, so treat it as such.

I know half a dozen people who had to take this class twice to pass, don't be one of them!

[Ingocnito]

Also, realize that Calc 1 is a turning point for many in math. Once you've made it through Calc 1, providing you got at least a B, that understanding will translate well into more advance Calculus as well as many forms of math for engineering, electrical math, etc. Good Luck !

[andy]

Well, I'm not an engineer yet - I completed my Associates Degree last year, so this and Calculus II are what I need to transfer to NIU for their Mfg. Engineering Tech Program.

[komatiite]

Calc 1 was actually kind of easy, but make sure you stay sharp- calc 2 was just brutal. You'll need to be good at derivatives to do U substitution in integral calculus. Good luck, use the internet to your advantage! Paul's online math notes was a gold mine for me.

[Hades]

100% with Komatiite here, Paul's Online math notes are gold. I had most of his blog posts saved on PDFs in case his site went down or the campus internet was knocked out.

[jake1720]

Pauls online math notes. Khan Academy. It took me 2 years to figure out how to ace engineering.

Do problems until you can't do them wrong. Not until you can do them right. Until you can't screw them up if you tried.

Then you'll be on your way to a 4.0.

[Balkanite]

Cal II was the real struggle, not Cal I.

[Cattle Rustler]

I thought this thread said

Cutting through cutlass class

I was going to page elmech to give us his cutlass supreme wisdom