Calculus

[The37thElement]

For anyone who is/has been in calculus, what is it like? I am only in honors algebra 1 and I kind of want to look ahead to what my senior year will be like. Everyone says algebra 2 and calculus are scary, what is your viewpoint?

[Typhlosion]

IT IS HELL. The professors will start abstracting math problems so much and your task is to get what he'll say on the board and relate that to what you're currently learning.

Good luck, and I hate limits.

[NeuroTiger]

It's quite difficult but certainly interesting...good luck! ;)

[workingatperfect]

It was pretty simple for me honestly. If you're really good this year, you might be worried more about Geometry than Algebra 2. Typically if you're good at one, the other is harder for you. But it really depends on how you go about learning it. I was lucky to have teachers that were more concerned with how well you understood it instead of how many formulas you could memorize. And of course when the formula makes sense to you, you remember it.
Good luck :)

[Croconaw]

I'd be more concerned about Geometry, if I were you. Trust me, as I'm currently taking Geometry. I do have a 75% in Geometry, but I had straight A's in Algebra I. I've just about had it with shapes. I loved Algebra, but Geometry is like living hell to me. I can't wait for next school year so I can finally get rid of it and go to Algebra II. Enjoy Algebra while it lasts.

[Elvalight]

lololol I haven't even started algebra DX but as is with anything else, always take one thing at a time, learn all the steps leading up to it. Never skip anything. It is all important :)

[unknownuser]

Worry about Algebra I at the moment and the classes you'll have to take after that (I'm guessing Algebra II, Geometry, Trig, and/or College Algebra). See how those go for you and then wait till senior year to decide. I thought I was good at math, then College Algebra/Trig hit me junior year and I was terrible at it, so decided not to take Calc next year and went with Stats instead.

[flappybird]

Interesting. But the problems are boring and require concentration and labour. A necessary evil, I would say, if you want to learn Mathematics, Physics, Economics etc.

[Camazotz]

If you want to go into a math or math-related science field, it will be necessary, and depending on your interest in it will probably dictate how well you do. I'm going to school for psychology, so rather than take calculus my senior year, I took AP Statistics, which is infinitely more useful for my future and very related to the field.

My school's guidance counselors pushed all the Honors/AP kids to take calculus because "it looks good to colleges" that you had experiences with it, but it's totally unnecessary if you're going to college for something that never uses it. So if you want to be an engineer and like math, take calculus and you should do well if you study hard. If you want to be a marine biologist, don't take calculus unless you have a serious interest in it.

You're too young to know what you want to do with your life, but in a few years you might have an idea of what things you'd be interested in going to college for. Don't limit yourself and keep your options open. Personally, I had it with Honors math after Algebra 2 in tenth grade (Algebra 1 in eighth grade, Geometry in ninth) and went to on-grade Pre-Calc/Trig in eleventh grade, and AP Stats in twelfth.

[Emfinite]

I am in 11th and have Trig now.. Next year is calculus... Trig grade is 93 this year..

[JonnyH]

If you are very good in Algebra, Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry there is a chance that you won't fail Calculus. Also you must have good study habits in order for you to pass or get a higher grade in Calculus.

[CharlieHorse]

one option is to not take it if it's not required, and instead, if you plan to go to a college, take it there where the professor can really get into it and teach it for the students to learn it. I've seen that in most cases, highschool is about getting the grade, not necessarily the knowledge, where college is where the real stuff is.

But of course it depends on other factors too.

[txtwister13]

I'm a math/computer science major at college, if you want to be successful at calculus you absolutely must have a strong foundation in algebra and trig. if you have a good foundation you should be fine, if not your going to be in trouble...i know, i had some friends who didn't pay much attention in algebra and trig and they went under pretty quick when they took calculus.....and what they say about college is true, its much faster paced, you have less opportunity to get help from the instructor and the instructor only tells you part of what you need to know and your expected to figure out the rest....good luck!

[Foamy]

yeah pay attention to trig... but seeing as you are (were) only in algebra 1, there mayyyyy be a chance that you wont even get a calculus class until college... considering there is at least geometry and algebra 2 beforehand, and possibly pre-calculus as well.

but anywayyyy...limits then derivatives then integrals. seems like all separate topics but they all mesh together in the end. throw in a lot of trig and algebra knowledge, and youre in for a wild ride.

[xXoblivionXx]

I just completed algebra2, it wasn't too bad. I'm taking trigonometry next semester and then pre calc. Because I want to graduate early I'm not going to take calculus senior year I might take statistics instead