Struggling with Calculus

Hey.. I am struggling with Calculus.. I really had the derivative concept down.. But ever since we've gone into relative extrema, I've gone downhill, now we are doing integrals and area under curves and I don't understand the concept at first, but get it hours later.. I have the class from 7am to 8am and it is pretty early.. How can I understand the concepts of calculus?? Everybody knows what is going on while I am alone not knowing anything...

How come precalculus concepts are so easy compared to calculus??

Help!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reefer

Hey.. I am struggling with Calculus.. I really had the derivative concept down.. But ever since we've gone into relative extrema, I've gone downhill, now we are doing integrals and area under curves and I don't understand the concept at first, but get it hours later.. I have the class from 7am to 8am and it is pretty early.. How can I understand the concepts of calculus?? Everybody knows what is going on while I am alone not knowing anything...

How come precalculus concepts are so easy compared to calculus??

Help!!

---

Read this tutorial and see if this demystifies concepts you're struggling with.

--Chris

Nope, still makes no sense.

This doesn't belong in the Chat Room. Moving...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reefer

Hey.. I am struggling with Calculus.. I really had the derivative concept down.. But ever since we've gone into relative extrema, I've gone downhill, now we are doing integrals and area under curves and I don't understand the concept at first, but get it hours later.. I have the class from 7am to 8am and it is pretty early.. How can I understand the concepts of calculus?? Everybody knows what is going on while I am alone not knowing anything...

How come precalculus concepts are so easy compared to calculus??

Help!!

---

Okay, most people struggle with calculus at first. You are definitely not alone.

I seriously doubt that everyone else in your class knows what's going on, you might feel that way, I know I did when I was in Calc I, but most people struggle with their first calculus course.

I found what helped me was going into my professor's office and just talking about things I didn't understand. I also asked LOTS of questions.

Another thing I did was do EVERY single homework problem that was assigned within 24 hours of the class. If you get stumped on one, and you've tried several times to try and get it and you just can't, I suggest highlighting it and asking someone about it. And don't erase any of your work...everytime you try something, you think you're on the right track, and you're not just flip to the next page and try again. Do not erase your work. Often times when I did a problem and didn't get the correct answer, all my calculus work was done correctly, it was just the algebra that tripped me up.

Also, if you have conceptual questions while doing your homework write them down inside your notebook!! This really helped me in Calc II! That way you won't forget it and you can ask your teacher or a classmate about it.

Hope this helped, these strategies seemed to help me a lot!

Good luck!

I'm just finishing Calc II and I can easily say that most students felt the way you did at some point. I can also assure you that there are people just as confused as you are but aren't brave enough to ask questions.

Take elizsimca's advice. Ask questions about _everything_ you don't understand. If there isn't enough time during the lecture, make a note of the problem in your notes so you can ask your professor after class. Also do all the homework plus more if you don't understand a topic. Only practice will increase your math abilities.

Try to find some people you gel with and then do homework with them. Peer learning can help, as you all can fill in the blanks when one of you have trouble.

Best of luck. Ask questions and utilize the office hours of your professor!

I am a junior in high school taking Calculus.. I am barely getting a C(I have a 70.5% in the class, thanks to my derivative benchmark test) I have other classes to attend after my Calculus class and I can't go afterschool for help because I have athletics after school.. So it's almost impossible to ask my teacher.. My lunch period also doesn't work either..

We are doing definite integrals and there are some stuff I don't get.. And I am still lost on relative extrema/concavity/increasing+decreasing intervals, etc...

We have a test on Tuesday and I am thinking I'm going to fail! Mainly because my teacher is using easy problems from integrals, but he is being really through on relative extrema.. And that's the part I am lost on!!

I want to try to get a B in my math class.. I have 9 weeks until the semester ends and I want to bring it up to a B badly!!

Well, it seems like the only way you are going to get a B in Calculus is by getting extra help. Maybe hiring a private tutor to come help you would be a good thing. Maybe putting in lots of extra hours on the weekend would be a good thing too (I am struggling a little bit in one of my upper level physics classes and I will literally study for 4 hours on Saturday and all day Sunday for the following week). It sucks, but if you want to get a good grade you have to prioritize.