I'm going into my first college Calculus Course, Calculus with Analytic Geometry. I have tried to start learning a little on my own but get stuck on the first chapter of some of the Calculus books I have found on the internet. Some are Crowell and Slesnick’s Calculus with Analytic Geometry,Ron Larson and Bruce Edwards Calculus, Thomas Calculus Early Transcendentals, Michael Spivak Calculus. I then also see Calculus with either single variable or multivariable. The topics in these books become way too hard just from the first chapter. Should I just wait for the class and go along with what courses is recommended? I'm lost.
Asked
Active
Viewed 1,298 times
1
-
Haha, yes, I can imagine you are having some difficulty. – Simply Beautiful Art Jan 02 '17 at 21:35
-
A lot of students skip trig and go to calculus. If you are one of these, try to do some self-learning on trig. The calculus is easy once you figure out what all the notation is and means. I seen most struggle on the algebra. – randomgirl Jan 02 '17 at 21:38
-
@randomgirl Hi again, and I don't think trig is the problem. I think the concepts are being hard to swallow, since he doesn't make it past "chapter 1". – Simply Beautiful Art Jan 02 '17 at 21:40
-
I have took courses on Trig and Algebra. At this point idk if there is something I'm missing or what. I'm not bad at math or anything, I know I haven't been taught how to write a proof in the first chapter of a book tho. - @randomgirl – Alexander John Jan 02 '17 at 21:41
-
1That is perfectly fine. Quick question, what are some basic topics in the first chapter? Does it expect you to know some things you don't? – Simply Beautiful Art Jan 02 '17 at 21:42
-
@SimpleArt In basically all those books listed they ask for proofs as a "Theory" topic under most of their exercises. The first topics would be on absolute values and inequalities(which I have learned). I could get through a few problems but continuing the book would be meaningless if I can't complete the first chapter fully. – Alexander John Jan 02 '17 at 21:46
-
Well, you do have to get comfortable with algebra at the least. Perhaps look a bit at the link I've provided for a different source of learning Calculus. – Simply Beautiful Art Jan 02 '17 at 21:48
-
I will look at it for sure. Thanks. @SimpleArt – Alexander John Jan 02 '17 at 21:51
-
Related but not duplicate: suggest textbook on calculus and What are the recommended textbooks for introductory calculus? – Simply Beautiful Art Jan 02 '17 at 21:53
-
Yes. You should wait for the class to start. If you don't have the pre-requisites listed in the course catalog, you should contact the teacher of the course to make sure you know what is expected on day one. – John Douma Dec 16 '21 at 21:27
1 Answers
1
While not exactly a book, Paul's online notes provide material from algebra/pre-calc all the way up to Calculus III and differential equations.
You will also notice that under the "contents" tab, there are links to
Some of the books you've mentioned I've heard of, and from what I can see, some of them are probably bad places to start, depending on your level of skill. Clearly if the first chapter is too much, you should put the book down or wait until another day or find another book.
You will also find plenty books will probably assume you have background knowledge. Multi-variable Calculus, for example, requires you to understand single-variable Calculus.
AFAIK, the general starter for how you should tackle your first Calculus course should be something like
Limits
Derivatives
Integrals
And applications should be sprinkled in between.
Also don't forget that if you think your getting it but maybe one particular problem is stumpting you, MSE is happy to try and help.
Simply Beautiful Art
- 74,685