When Should You Take Calculus and Analytic Geometry?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the course titled "Calculus and Analytic Geometry," including inquiries about its timing in relation to the standard calculus sequence (Calculus 1, 2, and 3), its difficulty compared to Calculus 3, and its content focus. Participants share personal experiences and perspectives on the course and related textbooks.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the scheduling of the "Calculus and Analytic Geometry" course and its difficulty relative to Calculus 3.
  • Another participant notes that many schools incorporate analytic geometry into their elementary calculus courses and mentions its inclusion in Pre-Calculus courses, highlighting topics like conic sections.
  • A participant reflects on a textbook from the 1990s titled "Calculus and Analytic Geometry," expressing admiration for its content despite not understanding it fully, and describes it as tedious and lengthy.
  • Another participant shares their experience with a lengthy calculus textbook that served multiple terms, suggesting that such texts are often used as references rather than for cover-to-cover reading.
  • One participant mentions a specific Precalculus textbook they found particularly useful after self-studying, indicating a preference for certain educational materials.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the specifics of the "Calculus and Analytic Geometry" course, including its timing and difficulty compared to Calculus 3. Multiple perspectives on the integration of analytic geometry into calculus courses are presented, indicating a lack of agreement on the course's structure and content.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference personal experiences with textbooks and courses, which may not reflect standardized curricula or universally applicable insights. The discussion includes subjective evaluations of educational materials and their effectiveness.

mathdad
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My question is not a math question.
I know about the calculus sequence (CAL 1, 2 and 3). I plan to go through all 3 in time. There is no rush for me. However, I know there is a course by the title of Calculus and Analytic Geometry. I want to know when this course is given. Is it given after Calculus 3? Is the course harder than Calculus 3? What is the course all about? I like the title.
 
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That was what the Calc I-III courses I took had in their titles. I would say most schools have elementary calculus courses that include treatments of analytic (coordinate) geometry. It was also taught in our Pre-Calculus course, but of course you can do more with it after learning some calculus. It included things like conic sections and translation/rotation of axes.
 
Back in the 1990s, a former friend had a textbook by the title Calculus and Analytic Geometry. I was so impressed with the math content, but of course, did not grasp one single page. I remember the book was very tedious and thick. There must have been over 300 pages and heavy.
 
My old Calc textbook is nearly 1200 pages, but it served for 3 terms. :)
 
RTCNTC said:
Back in the 1990s, a former friend had a textbook by the title Calculus and Analytic Geometry. I was so impressed with the math content, but of course, did not grasp one single page. I remember the book was very tedious and thick. There must have been over 300 pages and heavy.

Remember not all books are intended to be read cover to cover :p. Although one can often benefit from doing so.

My differential equations lecturer often referred to our text as a 'phone book' in the sense that it's primary purpose is to serve as a reference for looking up theorems or definitions etc. Such books do not cater well to the autodidact however.
 
MarkFL said:
My old Calc textbook is nearly 1200 pages, but it served for 3 terms. :)

I purchased one of those to use after completing my David Cohen Precalculus self-study (not every question, of course). I still have not found a better Precalculus book than David Cohen's Third Edition.
 

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