How can I prepare for Calculus II during break after finishing Calculus I?

[othic]

I just finished up Calculus I and I have heard Calc II is a harder class, so I was looking to try and get a head start during the break before I start next semester. What do you guys recommend: trying to read ahead and start on my own, or just reviewing and practicing what I have already learned? I hope this the appropriate section, and thanks in advance for any suggestions/advice!

 

[mathman]

Why not do both?

 

[djeitnstine]

Read http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcII/CalcII.aspx" for your Calc 2 interests

 

[lion0001]

I just finished up Calculus I and I have heard Calc II is a harder class, so I was looking to try and get a head start during the break before I start next semester. What do you guys recommend: trying to read ahead and start on my own, or just reviewing and practicing what I have already learned? I hope this the appropriate section, and thanks in advance for any suggestions/advice!

i recommend you start early because there might be some sections that will require more time than the others, so if you start early you'll have extra time if you get stuck.

Try Professor Paul's Online notes which is available to anyone ,this is his website
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcII/CalcII.aspx

there is a link to download his book , and there is no more crystal clear than his book in calculus 1 ,2 or 3 , read his notes

EDIT : the credit for the link provided goes to djeitnstine because he posted it 4 minutes before me also because he types faster than me :)

 

[othic]

Thanks for the replies guys. mathman the only reason I asked is because I have heard a few people say that most students that self teach don't really grasp concepts, or something along those lines. So if that was true, I was going to just review. I have already been using that professor's notes for Calc I Should that be sufficient along with practice problems from the book? Thanks again!

 

[lurflurf]

What does this calc 2 involve? Most calc 2 classed have significant computational aspects. Become a robot at performing such rotine computations. This way you can focus next of a conceptual and theoretical understanding.

 

[othic]

It's the second half of our calculus book so:
-Applications of Integration
-Integration Techniques, L'Hopital's Rule and Improper Integrals
-Infinite Series
-Conics, Parametric Equations and Polar Coordinates
-Vectors and Geometry of Space

 

[jburt]

Go over the 2nd half of your CALC II book. . and you could also use justmathtutoring.com . There are Calculus content videos from Calc. I through Calc. II. . They really help by offering examples and how to work through them

 

[1stepatatime]

Hello Othic,

I was just in your same situation at the start of this last semester, from my personal experience I went through a ton of Integrals and Trig the summer before I took Calculus II. That helped tremendously. If you have Calc I (Limits, Derivatives and Integrals) and Trig (solving equations, graphs and identities) down solid, you should do fine if your algebra is on good foundation. I saw a fair amount of logarithmic functions as well (Integrating natural log and e^x functions).

Our class followed:
-Volumes of Revolution (Integrals mostly)
-Techniques to deal with more sophisticated Integrals including applications (know your trig derivatives/integrals)
-Some Differential Equations (need Integrals and Derivatives here)
-Parametrics (may have seen a few in trig?)
-Polar Coordinates (knowing your trig here is helpful along with Integration)
-Conics (maybe you saw some in pre-calc?)
-Series (Limits and a few Integrals)

I read here that what's tricky about Calculus II is that the new material as you progress isn't related to each other as much as Calculus I was, which I found was an accurate description. So having a solid background will take care of that. You'll learn also more intuitive approaches to problems as well. This is just what helped me personally, so it may be different to you. In each section though, you're bound to see your fair share of Integrals.