Question

Calculus 2

Answer 1

I disagree with the claim that you don't need calc 1 for calc 2.  You definitely need to understand derivatives and basic integrals to do the more advanced integration techniques in calc 2.

You need to be good with algebra, trigonometry, limits at infinity and series summations, too

Answer 2

You'll be okay! Calc 2 doesn't actually build too too much on top of calc 1 (in that you could do calc 2 before calc 1 if you wanted). But it might help you to review limits and basic derivatives (of things like e^x, sin(x), cos(x), polynomials, and simple chain rule like sin(3x)). If you keep up with the class, do practice problems, and ask questions when you need help, you should be okay!

Answer 3

\- In the first couple weeks you will do something called Riemann sums. Brush up on Σ sum notation.

\- Most of the course is about integrals. The main challenge here is you are reverse-engineering derivatives, so problems are open-ended. It doesn't have to be scary, but be ready to accept trial and error as the approach. Don't feel bad if you don't know "how" to do a problem. You shouldn't expect to. They are hard. Try stuff. Try other stuff. No one can master integration like you can master differentiation.

\- Most students end up hating Riemann sums in the beginning because they are tedious. But don't discount the idea of them. They are what integrals are built on, and you have to understand the idea to set up integrals for word/application problems.

\- At the end, you may study what's called infinite series (adding up infinite numbers). Usually it's too hard to find the actual sum, but we are interested in whether the answer is a number or just infinity (and then you can ask a computer to approximate). They will give you several methods to test whether that happens. Learn the tests word-for-word instead of purely by example. If you don't know what they say, you will not understand how to apply them or when.