I didn't learn things in Calc 1 that is needed in Calc 2

[Nothing000]

I have a pretty big problem. I just got out of my first Calc 2 class and we are using James Stewarts Calculus 5th edition. The problem is that we are starting on ch. 12 in the calc 2 class, but we only went up to chapter 7 in my calc 1 class. I talked to my prof. and he said I should self teach myself very fast the 4 chapters(!) that we failed to learn in Calc 1. Here is the way the chapters are set up all the way to the end of calc 2:
1 - Functions and Models
2 - Limits and Rate of Change
3 - Derivatives
4 - Applications of Differentiation
5 - Integrals
6 - Applications of Integration
7 - Inverse Functions
8 - Techniques of Integration
9 - Further Applications of Integration
10 - Differential Equations
11 - Parametric Equations and Polar Coordinates
12 - Infinite Sequences and Series
13 - Vectors and the Geometry of Space
14 - Vector Functions

 

[Nothing000]

The calc 2 class covers ch 12-14. So I have not done ch 8-11.
Here is what those chapters consist of:

---------CHAPTER 8 - Techniques of Integration
8.1 - Integration by Parts
8.2 - Trigonometric Integrals
8.3 - Trigonometric Subsitution
8.4 - Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions
8.5 - Strategy for Integration
8.6 - Integration Using Tables and Computer Algebra Systems
8.7 - Approximation Integration
8.8 - Improper Integrals

---------CHAPTER 9 - Further Applications of Integration
9.1 - Arc Length
9.2 - Area of a Surface of Revolution
9.3 - Applications to Physics and Engineering
9.4 - Applications to Economics and Biology
9.5 - Probability

---------CHAPTER 10 - Differential Equations
10.1 - Modeling with Differential Equations
10.2 - Direction Fields and Euler's Method
10.3 - Separable Equations
10.4 - Exponential Growth and Decay
10.5 - The Logistic Equation
10.6 - Linear Equations
10.7 - Predator-Prey Systems

---------CHAPTER 11 - Parametric Equations and Polar Coordinates
11.1 - Curves Defined by Parametric Equations
11.2 - Calculus with Parametric Curves
11.3 - Polar Coordinates
11.4 - Areas and Lengths in Polar Coordinates
11.5 - Conic Sections
11.6 - Conic Sections in Polar Coordinates

 

[Nothing000]

So my question is which of these sections should I self study? I plan on self studdying the sections I need within the next 7 days, so I want to only study the sections that are most important. My professor said the most important ones are the one dealing with Integration, but I still can't study every section from those chapters. What sections would you recommend for me to studdy. I preffer to study no more than 10 sections.

 

[LeonhardEuler]

I would say that most of those sections are important in themselves, but the ones most important to vector calculus would be 9.1, 9.2, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, and 11.4. These will be important to undertanding the concepts of vector calculus, but I could see something from 8.1-8.5 popping up as part of a question on a test. You should catch up on the rest eventually, but I think these are the most important.

 

[mattmns]

You could probably skip all of chapter 10, and sections 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, and do the rest if that is not too much.

edit...

If you are starting with Sequences/Series ch12, then you could cover sections 8.1-8.5 and also 9.1, 9.2 (as Leonhard said) right now. Then later on, maybe a week or so before you finish Sequences/Series you could do Chapter 11. Unless I am mistaken, you won't need anything from chapter 11 for chapter 12.

 

[Nothing000]

Ok, Euler, you say I should do sections:
9.1
9.2
11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4

And Mattmns, you say I should do everything on my list except Ch. 10 and section 9.3 - 9.5?

 

[Nothing000]

Sorry Mattmns, but I don't think there is any way I can do all the stuff you mentioned.
But Euler, you say that the sections from ch 8 are not too important for understanding of more advanced topics?

 

[Nothing000]

Are you sure that the stuff in ch 8 isn't to most important? He did say that the integration stuff is most important. Do you really think that doing all that stuff from ch 11 is important? I was under the impression that the polar coordinate stuff was the least important.

 

[Nothing000]

Thanks for helping me guys. I plan on start studying these sections in about one hour from now, so I really apreciate the fast responses to my questions.

 

[Nothing000]

What do you guys think about this:
8.1 - Integration by Parts
8.4 - Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions
9.1 - Arc Length
9.2 - Area of a Surface of Revolution
11.1 - Curves Defined by Parametric Equations
11.2 - Calculus with Parametric Curves
11.3 - Polar Coordinates
11.4 - Areas and Lengths in Polar Coordinates

 

[Maxwell]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Chapter 8 is what you're supposed to be covering in your Calc 2 class. There is no possible way you can teach yourself that material "quickly."

If you did not cover that material in Calc 1, and you're not going to do it in Calc 2, when are you supposed to learn integration?

I used the same textbook you did in my Calc class. We started at chapter 8.

However, if you really need to do crash course, just FOCUS on chapter 8. The other stuff you will barely use, and if you do, you can learn it as you go along.

Integration is incredibly, insanely, big time important.

Honestly, I think you should drop your current class and find one that will focus on chapter 8. I spent over a month in my Calculus 2 class learning the techniques of integration.

 

[Nothing000]

Or am I making too big of a deal out of this? Should I just skip all of those chapters I did not learn and just go straight into ch 12-14? Do I really need any of the stuff from ch 8-11?

 

[Maxwell]

Also, you will take a class on Differential Equations. Don't worry about covering them now.

 

[Nothing000]

Maxwell, how long are you going to be online?

 

[Maxwell]

Or am I making too big of a deal out of this? Should I just skip all of those chapters I did not learn and just go straight into ch 12-14? Do I really need any of the stuff from ch 8-11?

NO! You NEED, NEED, NEED the stuff in chapter 8. It is INCREDIBLY important. You will be using integrals, or have to understand their function for your ENTIRE time as an engineering student.

Every single class you take you will be integrating or seeing integrals.

 

[Maxwell]

Maxwell, how long are you going to be online?

I'll be online all day.

 

[Nothing000]

Thats what I thought. So you think I should just focus on Ch. 8?

 

[Nothing000]

Cool. I might need to ask you advice throughout the next couple of hours, is that going to be ok? I am freaking out.

 

[Nothing000]

I don't mean I am going to talk to you for four hours straight, I just mean I might need to ask you a a question every 20 minutes of so. While I try to figure out what I should do.

 

[Maxwell]

Yeah, I'll be here if you need anything.

And don't freak out. It's just the guys earlier in the thread gave you suggestions about which topics you need for the vector calc material. And they are right -- for the vector calc material.

However, as an electrical engineering student, having never taken a class where you were given an in-depth treatment on the techniques of integration will REALLY hurt you.

I'd definitely recommend you find a class that goes over chapter 8 for most of the curriculum.

 

[Nothing000]

Thanks Max. I am going to research my options real quick. I will probably write you back within the next 20 to 30 minutes.

 

[Maxwell]

Ok, cool.

It's just the thought of taking a class like electromagnetics without ever seeing a class on integration is pretty frightening.

 

[Nothing000]

Man, I just checked to see what classes are open, and the only other calc 2 class open conflicts with my chemistry class! I am currently talking to my Calc 1 professor via email, and she equally agrees that this is insane. She is checking into it the issue to.

 

[Nothing000]

Dude, I feel just like that face at the end of you last post.

 

[Maxwell]

Man, I just checked to see what classes are open, and the only other calc 2 class open conflicts with my chemistry class! I am currently talking to my Calc 1 professor via email, and she equally agrees that this is insane. She is checking into it the issue to.

Did you by any chance take your Calc 1 class at another school?

Because this is what I'm seeing:

Calc 1:
1 - Functions and Models
2 - Limits and Rate of Change
3 - Derivatives
4 - Applications of Differentiation
5 - Integrals
6 - Applications of Integration
7 - Inverse Functions

--------------------------
8 - Techniques of Integration
9 - Further Applications of Integration
10 - Differential Equations
11 - Parametric Equations and Polar Coordinates

-------------------------
Calc 2:
12 - Infinite Sequences and Series
13 - Vectors and the Geometry of Space
14 - Vector FunctionsSo where do you learn the material from chapters 8-11? The only reasonable thing I can think happened here is that you took your Calc 1 class at another school.

 

[NorrisP]

that calculus a stuff compiled

 

[Nothing000]

Alright, alright. I got the whole thing figured out. I contacted my professor from calc one (by the way I did take calc 1 at the same school) and she talked to people in the math department and it turns out that this professor I have for calc 2 is just a temporary professor and he was under the impression that our calc 2 started on ch. 12. When I talked to him he must have thought that I took calc 1 at a different school just like you thought. So the main guys at the math dept contacted this calc 2 prof. and told him the correct protocol for our calc series, and he was told to start on Ch. 8. I have no idea why no one else in the class as asking about this.
So he already started lecturing on ch. 12 today (which was the first day of class), so I bet he feels dumb. When I told him that we only coverd up to ch. 7 in calc one he looked at me like I was stupid or something. So this makes me feel A WHOLE LOT BETTER.

 

[Nothing000]

By the way, this professor got his PhD at some big wig school (I think CalTech), so I bet that is the way they do it there. I just go to a cheap state school. That is probably why he thought that we should be so far into the book.

 

[Maxwell]

Haha, glad to hear it. That settles that.

 

[Nothing000]

I went from this:
To this:

 

[Nothing000]

I am glad I got all this worked out. Thanks fot all the help.

 

[mattmns]

Cool, I sort of wondered about that, because my calc 2 class covered what would be 7-9, a little of 10, and chapter 12 in your book. Good to hear that you don't have to cover all of that material that quick!

 

[Nothing000]

Indeed matt. I really couldn't had done it. At least not successfully.

 

[Maxwell]

Looks like he definitely doesn't have a problem with his self esteem.

And I just saw this at the bottom of his page:

Final Examination
May 1, 8:00-9:50 am

OUCH!

 

[Nothing000]

That picture is pretty funny huh? But I don't understand what you mean about the final exam time. What is wrong with that?

 

[Nothing000]

Whoa! He already corrected his syllabus online. I can't help but to think that I saved the day. If I had a website I would put pictures of Superman, Batman, Spidermam, Green Lantern, and a picture of me at the top of the page.

 

[Nothing000]

Now it says that we will cover Ch. 7,8,11,12.

 

[Maxwell]

That picture is pretty funny huh? But I don't understand what you mean about the final exam time. What is wrong with that?

And I think it's good he corrected his website. Even though you were the only one who said something to him (that you saw), I can imagine PLENTY of people were freaking out over this issue. I'd wager he lost a couple students!

Oh, and about the exam time, I was just thinking about how much an 8 am final exam sucks. At least I can't stand them.

 

[leright]

I think your math department needs to have a meeting to think through their math curriculum then...first of all, most schools cover chapters 8, 9, and 12 in calc 2 and chapters 1-7 w/ parametric eqs in calc 1. Vector analysis/calculus, polar coordinates, and geometry/calculus in 3d are usually calc 3 topics. This is how it is at my school, and how it is at many other schools.

second, the topics that you're missing out on are VERY important and I don't see how they were just 'skipped'. I wouldn't worry at all about chapter 10 (DE should be covered exclusively in DE class), but you should see ALL of chapter 8 and know it well, and some of chapter 9 (arc length and maybe area of surface or revolution, but this might have been covered in calc 1).

Keep in mind that your calc sequence won't cover EVERYTHING in the textbook, like the DE, the probability, and many of the applications...these will be covered in suqsequent classes. (DE, prob/stats, and engineering/science classes)

edit: sorry, I just read the thread, and found that you corrected the problem. :p

 

[leright]

Did you by any chance take your Calc 1 class at another school?

Because this is what I'm seeing:

Calc 1:
1 - Functions and Models
2 - Limits and Rate of Change
3 - Derivatives
4 - Applications of Differentiation
5 - Integrals
6 - Applications of Integration
7 - Inverse Functions

--------------------------
8 - Techniques of Integration
9 - Further Applications of Integration
10 - Differential Equations
11 - Parametric Equations and Polar Coordinates

-------------------------
Calc 2:
12 - Infinite Sequences and Series
13 - Vectors and the Geometry of Space
14 - Vector Functions


So where do you learn the material from chapters 8-11? The only reasonable thing I can think happened here is that you took your Calc 1 class at another school.

Most schools put chapter 8 into calc 2 and maybe chapter 9 too. Chapter 10 isn't covered until thestudent gets to diffEQ. Chapters 11, 13, and 14 are defnitely calc 3 concepts, except for maybe parametric EQs, which is a calc 1 topic. EVERY single school that operates on semesters use this curriculum, or a similar one.

 

[leright]

Alright, alright. I got the whole thing figured out. I contacted my professor from calc one (by the way I did take calc 1 at the same school) and she talked to people in the math department and it turns out that this professor I have for calc 2 is just a temporary professor and he was under the impression that our calc 2 started on ch. 12. When I talked to him he must have thought that I took calc 1 at a different school just like you thought. So the main guys at the math dept contacted this calc 2 prof. and told him the correct protocol for our calc series, and he was told to start on Ch. 8. I have no idea why no one else in the class as asking about this.
So he already started lecturing on ch. 12 today (which was the first day of class), so I bet he feels dumb. When I told him that we only coverd up to ch. 7 in calc one he looked at me like I was stupid or something. So this makes me feel A WHOLE LOT BETTER.

If he would have skipped chapter 8 then he would have made a big mistake.

 

[Nothing000]

Damn straight!

 

[Aneleh]

wow good for you pointing out that mistake! I wouldn't have noticed if that happened in my math class since the profs like to skip back and forth between chapters all the time.

 

[JSBeckton]

Are you sure that you are not in calc 3? If calc 2 goes through to ch14 what's left? Did you transfer from a school that does calc in 2 semesters to as school that does it in 3? If so I'd suggest that you go back and take calc ! again to get those missed chapters, In my opion Chapter 8 & 9 are essential and probabally the hardest chapters to teach yourself. I guess that some of the techniques for integration are not common, others like integration by parts are essentail. Forget chapter 10 but you need chapter 11 although its not too hard but its a lot easier to see worked out rather than just reading.

If you are a engineering major I would seriously advise you to go back and take the class that teaches those chapters again because you will need that informatiom throughout your major, gaurenteed!