Calculus Really need to read the textbook?

[Ethan Hummel]

Hello everybody, I am taking a calculus 1 course at my local community college this summer. I was wondering if it is absolutely necessary to read the textbook in math because I see it that the professor teaches the theory and techniques in lecture, and covers the same exact material. Right? What was it like when you went to college? Thank you for any feedback.

 

[micromass]

Yes, you absolutely need to read the textbook.

 

[jedishrfu]

Why not read it? There may be more ideas than you think and you may see something that will prompt a question to the prof.

Also some profs, teach one thing in class and then test on stuff from the book + the lecture notes.

 

[Ethan Hummel]

Why not read it? There may be more than you think and you may see something that will prompt a question to the prof.

Also some profs, teach one thin in class and then test on stuff from the book + the lecture notes.

It takes a lot of time

 

[jedishrfu]

It takes a lot of time

says the lazy student.

 

[micromass]

It takes a lot of time

Yes, studying calculus should take a lot of time.

 

[Ethan Hummel]

says the lazy student.

Yeah not going to lie. I don't find it necessary to waste my time though when the professor would cover it in lecture

 

[Ethan Hummel]

Yes, studying calculus should take a lot of time.

I don't get why i would waste my time though when the professor is going to cover the same material in lecture.

 

[micromass]

Yeah not going to lie. I don't find it necessary to waste my time though when the professor would cover it in lecture

1. You won't make it very far in science
2. You won't properly understand calculus
3. It's not a waste of time

But sure, you might pass the course this way.

 

[Ethan Hummel]

1. You won't make it very far in science
2. You won't properly understand calculus
3. It's not a waste of time

But sure, you might pass the course this way.

As long as I pass and get that A

 

[micromass]

As long as I pass and get that A

Yep sure. If that's your goal, then you don't need to read the textbook at all.

 

[Ethan Hummel]

Yep sure. If that's your goal, then you don't need to read the textbook at all.

Is that sarcasm

 

[jedishrfu]

As long as I pass and get that A

What did you expect us to say? Why did you even bother to ask this knowing what we would say?

I really hope the prof gives you a problem found only in the book and that its one of the tricky ones. Only then will you understand that there's more to getting an A than getting an A. Why not try for a perfect grade of no mistakes now?

Eventually you'll discover that Calculus is child's play compared to the more advanced courses you'll be taking in the future.

 

[Ethan Hummel]

What did you expect us to say? Why did you even bother to ask this knowing what we would say?

I really hope the prof gives you a problem found only in the book and that its one of the tricky ones only then will you understand that there's more to getting an A than getting an A.

Well he wouldn't because that's not fair

 

[micromass]

Is that sarcasm

Not at all. If your only goal is to pass the course, then you don't need to read the textbook at all. No sarcasm.

I just find it incredibly stupid to take a course without trying to properly understand the subject completely.

 

[micromass]

Well he wouldn't because that's not fair

It is fair.

 

[Ethan Hummel]

Not at all. If your only goal is to pass the course, then you don't need to read the textbook at all. No sarcasm.

I just find it incredibly stupid to take a course without trying to properly understand the subject completely.

Well if I get an A doesn't that mean I do understand the material comprehensively?

 

[micromass]

Well if I get an A doesn't that mean I do understand the material comprehensively?

Not at all.

 

[jedishrfu]

Well he wouldn't because that's not fair

You have so many misconceptions about college. It might not be fair in high school but in college anything is fair even if he mentions some obscure book that pertains to his or her lecture. I've had profs like these and its darn hard to get even a B in the class.

I think its time to close this thread.